Just around the corner from Luce e Limoni Sicilian restaurant is an exhibition well worth visiting: Extra/Ordinary Women, at the Dickens Museum.
It is often said that behind every great man stands a great woman, but in the case of Charles Dickens, there were many. The Extra/Ordinary Women exhibition at the Charles Dickens Museum, just around the corner from Luce e Limoni, offers a fascinating opportunity to explore the lives and influence of the women who surrounded, supported and inspired one of Britain’s most celebrated writers.
Drawing on the Dickens Museum’s remarkable collection, widely regarded as the most extensive archive of Dickens-related material in the world, the exhibition shines a light on the real individuals who helped shape both the man and his work. It also invites visitors to consider how these women may have influenced some of his most memorable fictional characters, offering intriguing connections between life and literature.
Among the highlights of the Extra/Ordinary Women exhibition is a striking portrait of Dickens’s daughters, Katey and Mamie, shown to the public for the very first time. This intimate image provides a rare glimpse into the author’s family life, revealing a more personal side to a figure often defined by his public success. Another notable item is a cookbook belonging to Catherine Dickens. Far from being a mere domestic artefact, it reflects her role as a skilled hostess who helped establish Dickens’s social standing, while also reminding visitors that she was a published writer in her own right.
The Extra/Ordinary Women exhibition also features a compelling document connected to Angela Burdett-Coutts, one of the wealthiest and most influential women of her time. A draft preface for an educational manual, marked with Charles Dickens’s handwritten edits, illustrates their shared commitment to social reform. Visitors will also encounter personal belongings linked to Ellen Ternan, whose long and complex relationship with Charles Dickens continues to spark discussion.
What emerges throughout the Extra/Ordinary Women exhibition is a richer, more nuanced picture of Dickens’s world. While his novels have sometimes been criticised for presenting limited portrayals of women, the reality of his life tells a different story. He was surrounded by women who were creative, intelligent and influential in their own right: artists, performers, writers and philanthropists.
Extra/Ordinary Women brings these voices to the forefront, offering visitors a chance to rediscover Dickens through the remarkable women who helped shape his legacy.
When you visit the exhibition, be sure to stop by at Luce e Limoni Sicilian restaurant for lunch or dinner!
You’ll find us at 91-93 Gray’s Inn Road, Chancery Lane, London WC1X 8TX
Call Us 020 724 23382 | Email Us flavours@luceelimoni.com
