“The Roman Winkle” from “Fun” (1864)

The Roman Winkle

Italy: — And is it for this that I have been “Complimented by Telegram?”

Engraving

Fun 28 (13 September 1862)

Courtesy of the Suzy Covey Comic Book Collection in the George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida.

The cartoon, which shows Napoleon III pushing the Pope onto the ice, plays the viewer’s knowledge of Dickens’s novel and the illustrations by Robert Seymour and Hablot K. Brown (Phiz).

Pickwick Papers (sitemap)

Mr. Pickwick Slides by Phiz

[You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the University of Florida library and (2) link your document to this URL in a web document or cite the Victorian Web in a print one. — George P. Landow]

The cartoon alludes to the following passage from Pickwick:

[Mr. Winkle, stooping forward, with his body half doubled up, was being assisted over the ice by Mr. Weller, in a very singular and un-swan-like manner, when Mr. Pickwick most innocently shouted from the opposite bank—

'Sam!'

'Sir?'

'Here. I want you.'

'Let go, Sir,' said Sam. 'Don't you hear the governor a-callin'? Let go, sir.'

With a violent effort, Mr. Weller disengaged himself from the grasp of the agonised Pickwickian, and, in so doing, administered a considerable impetus to the unhappy Mr. Winkle. With an accuracy which no degree of dexterity or practice could have insured, that unfortunate gentleman bore swiftly down into the centre of the reel, at the very moment when Mr. Bob Sawyer was performing a flourish of unparalleled beauty. Mr. Winkle struck wildly against him, and with a loud crash they both fell heavily down. Mr. Pickwick ran to the spot. Bob Sawyer had risen to his feet, but Mr. Winkle was far too wise to do anything of the kind, in skates. He was seated on the ice, making spasmodic efforts to smile; but anguish was depicted on every lineament of his countenance.

'Are you hurt?' inquired Mr. Benjamin Allen, with great anxiety.

'Not much,' said Mr. Winkle, rubbing his back very hard.

Last modified 22 February 2016