Few people would argue that Charles Dickens, the acclaimed author of such novels as ‘Oliver Twist ‘, ‘The Olde Curiosity Shoppe‘ and ‘Great Expectations‘, was one of the world’s finest fiction writers.  His storylines are spellbinding, while his characters are skilfully created and utterly believable!  But, did the great man invent all of those amazing characters purely from within his imagination?  It appears that in the case of ‘Great Expectations‘, perhaps he did not!

Those who have read the book will recall that the unfortunate young Miss Havisham was jilted. 

From that moment on she never again sets foot outside her house, spending her remaining years in her wedding dress in a house where the dining-room table is still laid with what should have been her wedding breakfast. 

As the decades pass, everything around her turns slowly into rot and decay. 

A more dramatic piece of characterisation would have been difficult even for Dickens to dream up.  But, was the tragic figure of Miss Havisham entirely dreamt up by Dickens?

In 1856, thousands of miles away on the other side of the world from Dickens’ home in England, and five years before the book publication of ‘Great Expectations‘ in 1861, a nervous young bride is in the bedroom of her home on the day that she is to be married at St. Stephen’s church in Sydney, Australia.  She is about to experience the happiest day of her life – or so she believes!

Outside in the street a long line of horse-drawn carriages wait to escort her and her husband-to-be to the church, as soon as he arrives at the house.  A large group of sightseers and well-wishes gather in the street to see the grand society wedding.  Sadly, their wait is to be in vain, as it soon becomes apparent that Eliza Emily Donnithorne has been jilted!

A now-familiar story begins to unfold. 

Still wearing her wedding dress, she shuts herself away in a house where the dining-room table is laid with what should have been her wedding breakfast…

So, why was Eliza Donnithorne jilted?

Born in Sydney, Australia in 1832, Eliza was the daughter of Sara and James Donnithorne.  James was a wealthy and influential businessman; a former judge of the East India Company.  (Dickens was known to have had contacts within the East India Company).  Much respected in Sydney society, the family lived in a large Georgian house known as Camperdown Lodge in Newtown, New South Wales.

In order to maintain his position of importance and respectability, James Donnithorne tried on more than one occasion, to persuade Eliza to accept an arranged marriage to a number of wealthy bachelors from ‘good’ families.  Eliza however, knew her own mind and resisted all such attempts by her father to ‘marry her off’ – she had fallen in love with a virtually penniless shipping clerk by the name of George Cuthbertson.

Obviously furious about this liaison, and the damage that it may do to his reputation, James Donnithorne would have been determined to take any steps possible to prevent his daughter marrying just a common clerk.  Whether he was threatened or bribed, Cuthbertson suddenly left Australia, eventually ending up in India.

What no-one knew at the time of the proposed marriage was that Eliza was carrying George Cuthbertson’s child.  Because of this situation she would suffer yet another heart-break.

The moment the child, a daughter, was born, it was whisked away probably on the orders of Eliza’s father, and given to one of the servants working at Camperdown Lodge by the name of Anne Kelly.  Kelly was given instructions, and no doubt a good financial incentive, that she was to bring the child up as her own.  Eliza, once again the victim of her father’s ruthlessness, was heartlessly told that the child had died at birth.

The publication of ‘Great Expectations‘ was a triumphant success for Charles Dickens, but for Eliza Donnithorne it served only to intensify her sadness.  She came under intense public scrutiny as people would travel from miles around to stand and stare at the desolate, shuttered mansion; hoping perhaps to catch a glimpse of the reclusive woman within.

There is no conclusive evidence that Charles Dickens did in fact base the entire character of Miss Havisham on the unfortunate bride-to-be Eliza Emily Donnithorne, but the similarity of the two incidents seem too closely linked to be sheer coincidence.

Eliza Donnithorne died in 1886 at the age of 54, a heartbroken woman, and was buried in Camperdown Cemetery, Newtown, New South Wales; ironically in the same grave as her father. 

George Cuthbertson died in India in 1858, from wounds received during the Sepoy rebellion of 1857/8.

Eliza never knew that the man she hoped would one day return to marry her, died a mere two years after their proposed marriage date.

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Further history-related articles that you may be interested in:  Origins of ‘The Winding Country Lanes of England’ … Origins of Traditional Wedding Customs … A Unique and Unusual Farm Gate … She Became the Fastest Typist in Europe … The Man Who Sold Coals to Newcastle … The Civil War Origin of the ‘Humpty Dumpty’ Nursery Rhyme … Smith’s Crisps and the Little Blue Salt Bag …Britain’s First Railway Murder …

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