That Drood Dude
@thatdrooddude.bsky.social
Founder of The Spike that Intervenes Theory of ‘The Mystery of Edwin Drood’ (published in the summer 2024 edition of ‘The Dickensian’). Author of ‘Solving Drood’ and ‘Hollywood Clones’.
Pinned
Whether you believe the cover was Collins, Fildes or in-betwixt, you have to agree that the Verger has moved from the top-left of the background to the top-center, next to the Cathedral door, in line with the pointer finger of the figure atop the spiral staircase.
Anita and I on a secret mission with some of Our Finest (we were disguised as civilians, of course). 😉
December 2, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Anita and I on a secret mission with some of Our Finest (we were disguised as civilians, of course). 😉
Even prior to the “It was the best of times” passage, Dickens writes “Recalled to Life,” the recurring theme throughout the novel. Similarly, he introduces “the spike that intervenes” in the opening paragraph of ‘Drood,’ picking it up again in many other forms throughout his unfinished masterpiece.
December 2, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Even prior to the “It was the best of times” passage, Dickens writes “Recalled to Life,” the recurring theme throughout the novel. Similarly, he introduces “the spike that intervenes” in the opening paragraph of ‘Drood,’ picking it up again in many other forms throughout his unfinished masterpiece.
1970’s Pilates ball
December 2, 2025 at 12:19 AM
1970’s Pilates ball
Perhaps John Jasper never wanted to kill then quick-lime his nephew Edwin Drood; perhaps he wanted to quick-lime opium housed in crypts at Cloisterham Cathedral in order to rid hisself, his town, and his nation from the evils of the drug.
December 1, 2025 at 6:54 AM
Perhaps John Jasper never wanted to kill then quick-lime his nephew Edwin Drood; perhaps he wanted to quick-lime opium housed in crypts at Cloisterham Cathedral in order to rid hisself, his town, and his nation from the evils of the drug.
That Great Black Scarf
November 29, 2025 at 9:15 PM
That Great Black Scarf
The spike that intervenes, intervening.
November 29, 2025 at 9:13 PM
The spike that intervenes, intervening.
Dickens's Wall Clock with Professor Michael Slater
YouTube video by Charles Dickens Museum
youtu.be
November 27, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Got our flowers planted just before the rains here in Florida. :::whew:::
November 26, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Got our flowers planted just before the rains here in Florida. :::whew:::
Rosa seeking sanctuary in Cloisterham Cathedral.
November 26, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Rosa seeking sanctuary in Cloisterham Cathedral.
Google’s AI (Gemini’s) interpretation of The Spike that Intervenes Theory of The Mystery of Edwin Drood:
November 22, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Google’s AI (Gemini’s) interpretation of The Spike that Intervenes Theory of The Mystery of Edwin Drood:
“Since the mace was omitted, Jasper must be acquitted!”
November 22, 2025 at 4:13 AM
“Since the mace was omitted, Jasper must be acquitted!”
For fun, I asked an unbiased judge, ChatGPT, which Drood theory would hold the most water in the court of law, and it was Mark Wheats’ “Spike that Intervenes Theory” that prevailed. (Keep in mind that this doesn’t even include “The Shell Game Theory of Drood”).
November 22, 2025 at 2:24 AM
For fun, I asked an unbiased judge, ChatGPT, which Drood theory would hold the most water in the court of law, and it was Mark Wheats’ “Spike that Intervenes Theory” that prevailed. (Keep in mind that this doesn’t even include “The Shell Game Theory of Drood”).
If someome goes out of their way to acknowledge your book, never reply by trying to sell them another book. (Yes, I had this happen once.) 🤣
youtu.be/9RxU-64P4cw?...
youtu.be/9RxU-64P4cw?...
Be sure to drink your Ovaltine
YouTube video by TheDeliverer
youtu.be
November 21, 2025 at 11:19 AM
If someome goes out of their way to acknowledge your book, never reply by trying to sell them another book. (Yes, I had this happen once.) 🤣
youtu.be/9RxU-64P4cw?...
youtu.be/9RxU-64P4cw?...
I asked AI about one of my books, and though it’s accurate when conveying back cover information, there comes a point where I can tell AI never read my story, so it starts fudging (like a middle schooler fudging a book report in front of class).
November 20, 2025 at 8:18 PM
I asked AI about one of my books, and though it’s accurate when conveying back cover information, there comes a point where I can tell AI never read my story, so it starts fudging (like a middle schooler fudging a book report in front of class).
“It’s not what you cover in class, it’s what you uncover.”
-Walter Lewin
-Walter Lewin
November 18, 2025 at 2:53 PM
“It’s not what you cover in class, it’s what you uncover.”
-Walter Lewin
-Walter Lewin
Dickens may have changed Mr Tope’s position on the cover because Rosa is tipping off readers by looking back at him and his mace (the spike that intervenes), so Dickens had Charles Collins (or Luke Fildes) move the verger next to the arch instead.
(Be sure to fully open pics.)
(Be sure to fully open pics.)
November 15, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Dickens may have changed Mr Tope’s position on the cover because Rosa is tipping off readers by looking back at him and his mace (the spike that intervenes), so Dickens had Charles Collins (or Luke Fildes) move the verger next to the arch instead.
(Be sure to fully open pics.)
(Be sure to fully open pics.)
Rosa may have made that “great black scarf” for Jasper and given it to him on Christmas Eve. Note below that as Miss Twinkleton censors stories for her pupils, she reveals that her students are learning embroidery, tambour, and crochet.
November 6, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Rosa may have made that “great black scarf” for Jasper and given it to him on Christmas Eve. Note below that as Miss Twinkleton censors stories for her pupils, she reveals that her students are learning embroidery, tambour, and crochet.
I visited the Omni Parker House in Boston last July, and the Press Room has Charles Dickens’ handwritten manuscript for ‘A Christmas Carol’ printed into its carpet. The door to Dickens’ room where he stayed in 1867 is also on site, as well as the looking glass he practiced ‘A Christmas Carol’ in.
November 3, 2025 at 5:11 PM
I visited the Omni Parker House in Boston last July, and the Press Room has Charles Dickens’ handwritten manuscript for ‘A Christmas Carol’ printed into its carpet. The door to Dickens’ room where he stayed in 1867 is also on site, as well as the looking glass he practiced ‘A Christmas Carol’ in.
Freud was 14 years old when Dickens died, so don’t believe all that gobbledygook about Jasper being psychologically tormented like Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (which was written 16 years after Dickens’ death).
The villains in ‘Drood’ are easy to see, if one simply uses parsimony.
The villains in ‘Drood’ are easy to see, if one simply uses parsimony.
November 1, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Freud was 14 years old when Dickens died, so don’t believe all that gobbledygook about Jasper being psychologically tormented like Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (which was written 16 years after Dickens’ death).
The villains in ‘Drood’ are easy to see, if one simply uses parsimony.
The villains in ‘Drood’ are easy to see, if one simply uses parsimony.
When it comes to the world’s greatest literary puzzle, ‘The Mystery of Edwin Drood’, readers don’t need to have IQs above 130 to solve it. All that’s required is a loving, playful heart with the basic knowledge of nursery rhymes and childhood games.
October 30, 2025 at 1:16 AM
When it comes to the world’s greatest literary puzzle, ‘The Mystery of Edwin Drood’, readers don’t need to have IQs above 130 to solve it. All that’s required is a loving, playful heart with the basic knowledge of nursery rhymes and childhood games.
Billy Wilder hits the nail on the head when he speaks about the future of film in his 1986 AFI lifetime achievement award speech:
youtu.be/FCps-tOVzTE?...
youtu.be/FCps-tOVzTE?...
Billy Wilder Accepts the AFI Life Achievement Award in 1986
YouTube video by American Film Institute
youtu.be
October 24, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Billy Wilder hits the nail on the head when he speaks about the future of film in his 1986 AFI lifetime achievement award speech:
youtu.be/FCps-tOVzTE?...
youtu.be/FCps-tOVzTE?...
The Dali Museum
September 7, 2025 at 11:00 AM
The Dali Museum
I love the wrapper on the Anniversary edition of ‘The Dickensian’—so beautiful (Great articles too!) Definitely a collector’s issue!
September 2, 2025 at 9:07 PM
I love the wrapper on the Anniversary edition of ‘The Dickensian’—so beautiful (Great articles too!) Definitely a collector’s issue!
It looks like Dickens didn’t want to reveal the clue of Mr Tope in procession with his mace too early (left pic), so he decided to give us another clue instead (right pic), one that is just as telltale as his deletion of the mace. He calls Jasper “the living waters”, likening him to Jesus.
August 20, 2025 at 6:57 PM
It looks like Dickens didn’t want to reveal the clue of Mr Tope in procession with his mace too early (left pic), so he decided to give us another clue instead (right pic), one that is just as telltale as his deletion of the mace. He calls Jasper “the living waters”, likening him to Jesus.