Charles Dickens in Context by Sally Ledger

Literature in Context

by Sally Ledger

Charles Dickens, a man so representative of his age as to have become considered synonymous with it, demands to be read in context. This book illuminates the worlds – social, political, economic and artistic – in which Dickens worked. Dickens's professional life encompassed work as a novelist, journalist, editor, public reader and passionate advocate of social reform. This volume offers a detailed treatment of Dickens in each of these roles, exploring the central features of Dickens's age, work and legacy, and uncovering sometimes surprising faces of the man and of the range of Dickens industries. Through 45 digestible short chapters written by a leading expert on each topic, a rounded picture emerges of Dickens's engagement with his time, the influence of his works and the ways he has been read, adapted and re-imagined from the nineteenth century to the present.

Paperback

First published May 4, 2011

Reviews

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where to start? Reading Dickens is a delight, but if one wants to go beyond his words and into the world in which he lived, then yet another seemingly endless task presents itself. In Charles Dickens in Context the editors Sally Ledger and Holly Furneaux take on this challenge. The results are impressive. As the back cover states "This book illustrates the world's - social, political, economic and artistic - in which Dickens worked."

The book contains 45 chapters of commentary and insight, arranged in a clear and logical manner, that help unravel and illuminate "Dickens's engagement with his time." Each separate chapter is written by an expert in a specific aspect of Dickens research, and each commentary is long enough to shine a clear light on the vastness of the topic. Naturally, there is much more that could be said about each of the areas of discussion, but each chapter is footnoted extensively, if necessary. What I found particularly helpful was that each chapter contained an additional suggested reading list of further readings gathered under the separate subjects at the end of the book. A full and complete Index is also included. The List of Contributors is impressive. The editors have found leading experts in their particular fields of Dickens research. Rounding out the format of this book are a series of illustrations from both the novels and the Victorian period to put the articles into even better context. Perhaps one of the best aspects of this book is its accessibility in its format of writing. The chapters are engaging and academic, informative and insightful, and yet never stuffy, dusty or pompous.

For both the long-time lover and the casual but curious reader of Dickens this book has much to offer. Charles Dickens in Context deserves a place on your bookshelf.