The Dickens Index

by Nicolas Bentley, Michael Slater, Nina Burgis

Charles Dickens's ability as a storyteller, his keen sense of the outlandish, and his uncanny understanding of human nature give his works a universal and ageless appeal that defies obsolescence. Few other authors have created as many characters and situations that so painstakingly and
memorably recreate the social conventions, tastes, manners, and habits of speech of a particular era. This book, the most comprehensive single-volume reference work on Dickens ever produced, provides quick access to an enormous range of information about Dickens's writings and literary career. The
Dickens Index consists of over 5000 entries arranged alphabetically and referenced by chapter rather than page number so that they work well with any edition. Thus, the Index can be used either in tandem with a particular work--to check allusions, unfamiliar quotations, obsolete words and slang,
and topical, historical, and topographical references--or as an independent guide for looking up characters, both real and fictional, other writers whom Dickens quotes, and institutions to which he refers. But The Dickens Index does much more. It

*Entries on individual works that describe main themes, unique features, and bibliographical details of first publication

*Over 1,400 entries on individual characters that describe the plots in which they function

*Numerous cumulative entries that bring together for the first time Dickens's quotations and allusions (by author and title), his use of such genres as nursery rhyme, and his references to places and institutions

*Full coverage of Dickens's publishers and illustrators

*An illuminating time chart that juxtaposes events in Dickens's personal and professional life with those in the wider world

*An appendix covering Dickens's journalism, listing titles, subject matter, and first publication of those writings not covered in the Index itself.

All Dickens enthusiasts, as well as teachers and students, will find this a handy reference work to accompany their reading, and those engaged in literary or historical research will find it an invaluable and time-saving tool.

Genres: Reference

336 pages, Hardcover

First published December 15, 1988

About the author

Nicolas Clerihew Bentley was an English author and illustrator famous for his humorous cartoon drawings in books and magazines in the 1930s and 1940s.

Bentley was educated at University College School where he left at the age of 17. He then enrolled at Heatherley's School of Fine Art, a prestigious private college, but left after a few months.

Bentley subsequently worked for Shell for three years, but disliked working in advertising. However, in 1930, he got a break when Hilaire Belloc (who was a friend of his father) invited him to illustrate his book 'New Cautionary Tales'. The good critical reception of this book and its illustrations allowed Bentley to go freelance.

During the 1930s Bentley illustrated many books, ranging from J.B. Morton to Damon Runyon. His most famous drawings were to illustrate T.S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, but he illustrated more than 70 books in the course of his career, and traditionally used the byline "Nicolas Bentley drew the pictures".

In October 1934, Bentley married Barbara Hastings, daughter of the Barrister Sir Patrick Hastings.

Reviews

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best companions to Dickens available, in my opinion. It covers entries of (possibly) all characters in his works (if Mealy Potatoes gets an entry, then they all do), descriptions of his novels, entries on contemporary friends and figures. I first became acquainted with this work decades ago and have dipped in and out of it over the years. So I’m finally marking it as “read”, even though I will be sifting through it for years to come.