The Dickensionator

A Dickensian machine (found the picture here).

Today is the 200th anniversary of Charles Dickens' birth. In honour of this occasion on BBC Radio 5 Live last night they were explaining how to use the Dickensian Name Generator.  I thought this was quite funny and couldn't find it anyway on the web so decided to put it up here.

What you need to do is this:

1. Take one of your great grandparents' first names as your first name.
2. Take the name of your primary school as your surname, after you've got rid of any extra words like "Saint", "Street" or "School".

I ended up with Charles Lindale which sounds quite Dickensian. Have a go yourself.

I've only read 4 or 5 of Dickens' books, unlike my Mum who's read everything he ever wrote, so I'm not an expert by any means. There are some things that other writers do better but his books are certainly full of colour, compassion, humour, great plots and great characters. And he's a very good observer of what it means to be English, which in turns out hasn't changed that much in 200 years:

1. Class distinctions.
2. Sceptical about the good intentions of politicians.
3. Law abiding.
4. Don't like showing emotion in public.
5. Fear of public embarrasment - won't talk about religion, sex or politics in public.
6. Bad at hospitality, but good at charity and compassion.
7. Endlessly creative at making money.
8. Confused about the distinction between British and English.

I'm not saying that all of these are good things.  As an English Christian I find myself fighting against some of my Englishness, particularly point 5.  Why is it that I find it so hard to talk to people about the things that are most important to me?

What do you think it means to be English (or do I mean British?  See point 8...)