Sketches of Young Couples

by Charles Dickens

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Genres: Classics, Fiction, Short Stories, Literature, Historical Fiction

50 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1843

About the author

Charles John Huffam Dickens (1812-1870) was a writer and social critic who created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era. His works enjoyed unprecedented popularity during his lifetime, and by the twentieth century critics and scholars had recognised him as a literary genius. His novels and short stories enjoy lasting popularity.

Dickens left school to work in a factory when his father was incarcerated in a debtors' prison. Despite his lack of formal education, he edited a weekly journal for 20 years, wrote 15 novels, five novellas, hundreds of short stories and non-fiction articles, lectured and performed extensively, was an indefatigable letter writer, and campaigned vigorously for children's rights, education, and other social reforms.

Dickens was regarded as the literary colossus of his age. His 1843 novella, A Christmas Carol, remains popular and continues to inspire adaptations in every artistic genre. Oliver Twist and Great Expectations are also frequently adapted, and, like many of his novels, evoke images of early Victorian London. His 1859 novel, A Tale of Two Cities, set in London and Paris, is his best-known work of historical fiction. Dickens's creative genius has been praised by fellow writers—from Leo Tolstoy to George Orwell and G. K. Chesterton—for its realism, comedy, prose style, unique characterisations, and social criticism. On the other hand, Oscar Wilde, Henry James, and Virginia Woolf complained of a lack of psychological depth, loose writing, and a vein of saccharine sentimentalism. The term Dickensian is used to describe something that is reminiscent of Dickens and his writings, such as poor social conditions or comically repulsive characters.

On 8 June 1870, Dickens suffered another stroke at his home after a full day's work on Edwin Drood. He never regained consciousness, and the next day he died at Gad's Hill Place. Contrary to his wish to be buried at Rochester Cathedral "in an inexpensive, unostentatious, and strictly private manner," he was laid to rest in the Poets' Corner of Westminster Abbey. A printed epitaph circulated at the time of the funeral reads: "To the Memory of Charles Dickens (England's most popular author) who died at his residence, Higham, near Rochester, Kent, 9 June 1870, aged 58 years. He was a sympathiser with the poor, the suffering, and the oppressed; and by his death, one of England's greatest writers is lost to the world." His last words were: "On the ground", in response to his sister-in-law Georgina's request that he lie down.

(from Wikipedia)

Reviews

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

As with Charles Dickens’ ‘Sketches of Young Gentlemen’ – this seemingly companion piece ‘Sketches of Young Couples’ is similarly a relatively early and short work by Charles Dickens – in which he outlines in a humorous and vaguely satirical way various ‘types’ of young couples in society. It is quite entertaining in its way and interesting as an early Dickens piece – but unfortunately little more.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐

An Urgent Remonstrance, &c 4⭐
The Young Couple 3.5⭐
The Formal Couple 3.5⭐
The Loving Couple 3.5⭐
The Contradictory Couple 4⭐
The Couple who Dote upon their Children 4⭐
The Cool Couple 3.25⭐
The Plausible Couple 3.25⭐
The Nice Little Couple 3.25⭐
The Egotistical Couple 3.5⭐
The Couple who Coddle Themselves 3.5⭐
The Old Couple 4⭐
Conclusion 3.25⭐

[Fred · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think Dickens and I would get along splendidly. His witty observations describe stereotypical annoying couple types that are still recognizable today.

[Angela Maher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of short "stories", describing different types of young couples. As always, Dickens' scatterings of humour help make it an enjoyable read. It's mainly an exercise in characterisation, but each little chapter reads like a story, or part of a story. This book would be a useful tool to someone wanting to learn how to write. It may have been written quite some time ago, but human nature, and the dynamics of relationships, haven't changed that much.

[PRINCESS · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Couple Who Dote Upon Their Children
The couple who dote upon their children have usually a great many of them; six or eight at last. The children are either the healthiest in all the world, or the most unfortunate in existence. In either case, they are equally the theme of their doting parents, and equally a source of mental anguish and irritation to their doting parent’s friends.
The couple who dote upon their children recognize no dates but those connected with their births, accidents, illnesses, or remarkable deeds. They keep a mental almanac with a vast number of innocent’s-day, all in red letter. They recollect the last coronation, because on that day little Tom fell down the kitchen stairs; the anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot, because it was on the fifth of November that Ned asked whether wooden legs were made in heaven and cocked hats grew in gardens.
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Collection of short stories of Couples (young, old and matured) under different subjects describing their actions, thoughts and decisions as couple. These subjects are chosen as a moral essay to raise the awareness and information in young couple for coming generation of both sexes.

The Young Couple
The Formal Couple
The Loving Couple
The Contradictory Couple
The Couple Who Dote Upon Their Children
The Cool Couple
The Plausible Couple
The Nice Little Couple
The Egotistical Couple
The Couple Who Coddle Themselves
The Old Couple

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here’s a fun little story for you. In 1837 Edward Caswall, Oxford graduate and future priest, author of one of my favorite hymns (“Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee”) tried his hand at writing for Chadwick and Hall. Published anonymously under the pseudonym “Quiz,” he came up with several witty critiques about young ladies of the day.
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The following year, a lesser-known publisher William Kidd borrowed the idea and came up with a mediocre “sequel,” Sketches of Young Gentlemen. Just afterwards, Chapman and Hall wanted their own version, to keep it all in the C&H family. They commissioned the up-and-coming current author of The Pickwick Papers to write a better version, which of course Dickens did—and of course he did it in under a month, while still writing weekly installments of Pickwick.
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Dickens’ involvement remained anonymous until his death. He also came up with a final segment, Sketches of Young Couples. Dickens himself wasn’t terribly taken with his work: he called Couples “a poor thing of little worth.” And honestly, reading Young Ladies vs. the other two, he was definitely correct. Young Ladies was the best of the three! Caswall, too bad you didn’t keep up with your writing!
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However, it’s another example of the brilliance of Dickens, to be able to create something entertaining so quickly. It shows some of the promise of his future works and reads like Pickwick.

[T.M. Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sketches of Young Couples

I really struggled with this one. I’ll read any genre, and thought I’d dip my toes into the classics. I decided to read Charles Dickens, who of course I’d heard of, seen film and TV adaptations of (The Muppets Christmas Carol being a particular fave), but never actually read. I didn’t want to be cliché and go for one of the predictable favourites, so picked this. It was perhaps a wrong move. Not so much a story, but a collection of satirical observations on different types of people. There was no real story to follow. That said, so many of his observations can still be seen in people today. And it was heartening to learn that men were nagged by their wives in 1840 too. Whilst reading this, I also did some Wikipedia research on Dickens and his own personal life seemed to have a lot more interest and excitement than this book did, so I will be reading more in the future. Just not yet.

[Nikki in Niagara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written on the occasion of Victoria's announcement of the intention to enter bonds with wedlock to Prince Albert by Dickens upon this momentous occasion. Just like his sketches of young gentlemen, here he makes some lovable but sarcastic looks at different types of couples. We're taken through some types of couples we have today: the quiet couple, the boisterous couple, the devoted couple, the couple who is always at each other, the people-pleaser couple, etc. A frivolous piece of farce but well worth reading for the serious Dickens aficionado.

[Geneva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining and brief

[Patty · Rating 3 out of 5]

catching up with a short one :)

kind of amusing

[Melodee]

As the title implies, this tale gives a series of short sketches illustrating the various types of couples the author has come in contact with. The vignettes are filled with dry humor and realism. Dickens' observations are always amusing.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was just a fun book to read. It is an amusing read about how Dickens classifies different marriage relationships.

[Natalie Ethington · Rating 3 out of 5]

Descriptions of different types of couples (old couples, egotistical couples, nice little couple, etc.). The sketches are satirical and humorous but the conclusion is nice.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

So silly. I love when dickens writes humorously. He has such a good sense of humor and really speaks to the reader as a friend.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charles Dickens, you so silly!

[Lavender · Rating 3 out of 5]

Little vignettes of various people and places, like painting pictures with words.

[Clarisse · Rating 4 out of 5]

a light diversion, but not as impressive as Sketches by Boz

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute