Dicken's Mistress - Hit or Miss? THE INVISIBLE WOMAN

The hauntingly beautiful film, THE INVISIBLE WOMAN, is an account of the secret, illicit affair between Charles Dickens and Nelly Ternan.   During the rigid societal constraints of the Victorian era,  the literay giant Dickens (Ralph Fiennes) maintained a clandestine love affair with a beautiful young actress, Ternan (Felicity Jones.)  You don't need to be a fan of Dickens to be enthralled with this arcane knowledge, but it helps.  The literary references to Ternan's influence on Dickens' writings may be ambiguous but the pressures to keep their relationship hidden are all too apparent.  Dickens was 45, married 20 years and father of 9 children when he began a 10 year affair with 18 year old Ternan.  The fear of a scandal that would likely cost Dicken's his popularity held them apart.  Fiennes both stars & directs with a skillful touch.   The best & worst of times are pictured:  bucolic serenity for the aristocracy and the wretched urban conditions of the poor.  This is a tale of two loves: forbidden love and love for public adoration.   Seeing this film with low expectations you should be greatly pleased, especially with secrets revealed of a legendary writer.