In May of 1842, near the end of his North American tour, Charles Dickens and his wife stayed three days in Daley's Hotel at the corner of King and Clarence Streets. While in Kingston Dickens visited Fort Henry, Kingston Mills and the Rideau Canal, and Kingston Penitentiary. You can read about the tour in his book American Notes (1850); his time in Kingston is included in chapter 15.

That long-ago visit is being commemorated this December by the Downtown Kingston! Business Improvement Area with their What the Dickens Walk on Brock event. KFPL is participating with a fun contest open to all adults. Perhaps you'll (re)discover a classic Dickens novel!

Contest Details

The contest will run from Monday December 13 through Thursday December 30. Either pick up an entry form from the Central Branch or download the PDF and print your own copy at home. You need not be a KFPL member to participate.

How It Works

Visit the eight participating downtown businesses on or near Brock Street, and look for the Charles Dickens book cover and quotation in each window (see the example below). Please observe all masking and physical distancing rules! 

Fill in the "Title" blank on the entry form for each participating business, and include your name and contact information. Scan the QR code if you'd like to reserve a copy of the book.

Drop off your completed entry form no later than 6 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 30 at either the ground-floor service desk at the Central Branch or through the outside book drop at the Central Branch.

All correct entries received at the Central branch by 6 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 30 will be entered into a draw in January for one of four $25 gift certificates from Novel Idea Bookstore (limit of one prize per household).

The KFPL What the Dickens Walk on Brock Contest is sponsored by the Friends of Kingston Frontenac Public Library, which is funding the prizes.