a friend once observed that it took Oliver Twist five pages just to cross a street. No wonder that wasn't a popular book assignment...

Dickens had a famously unhappy marriage. I think he may have used working on a novel as his way to hide. Hence the wordiness.

"Be right there! Just gotta write this character across the street, honey!"

andychrism: I love the way your mind works.. really

andychrism:

sueh: ditto

Aw shucks, y'all!