Boz Strikes

Author says: what if Charles Dickens was a terrorist? Please note that the opinions expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect the views of the author(s).

on this day the "disaster within a disaster" the Staplehurst rail crash was perpetrated by Charles John Huffam Dickens (better known as the notorious terrorist called "Boz").

The first seven carriages of the train plunged off a cast iron bridge that was being repaired. The only first-class carriage to remain on the track was the one in which he was travelling, disguised as a bourgeous author returning from France.

Forced to work at the age of twelve, his father's debts had forced the family to move into Marshalsea debtors' prison, except for Charles, who resided in the home of a Mrs. Roylance -- four miles from his employment. To carve out a living for himself and his family, the boy was responsible for preparing bottles of black shoe polish for market. He earned six shillings a week.

This two year stint branded Dickens internally, "...the sense I had of being utterly neglected and hopeless, of the shame I felt in my position ... cannot be written".

Author says to view guest historian's comments on this post please visit the Today in Alternate History web site.

Imagine what would be, if history had occurred a bit differently. Who says it didn't, somewhere? These fictional news items explore that possibility. Possibilities such as America becoming a Marxist superpower, aliens influencing human history in the 18th century and Teddy Roosevelt winning his 3rd term as president abound in this interesting fictional blog.