Master Humphrey's Clock and A Child's History of England

by Charles Dickens, Derek Hudson (Introduction)

This volume combines two titles of great biographical interest. The weekly miscellany, Master Humphrey's Clock, besides providing the original setting for The Old Curiosity Shop and Barnaby Rudge, was the scene of Dickens's revival of Mr. Pickwick and the Wellers. A Child's History of England is not representative of Victorian schoolroom history: filled with distrust for the 'good old days,' writes Derek Hudson in the Introduction, it gives 'an unsparing picture of prolongued wickedness in high places, exposed with lurid detail and much rough sarcasm.'

Genres: Short Stories, History, 19th Century, British Literature, Classics

544 pages, Hardcover

First published October 22, 1987

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

[[ J o ] · Rating 3 out of 5]

Master Humphrey's Clock was serialised within The Old Curiosity Shop and Barnaby Rudge, halved between the two novels. Here it is full and together, though it course because of how it was initially written, is slightly disjointed as a result. It concerns the titular character: a clock belonging to Master Humphrey, a cripple who befriends a deaf gentleman and forms a writing society, the clock being the place they lock their writings up at night.

It is exceptionally Dickens. Humorous with mighty characters, it gives you a joy via long-sentenced pages unrivalled in most contemporary writings. I know of few people who can speak so much in such lengths of time whilst holding my attention throughout. A treasure, and nice to read in one go.


Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest | Shop | Etsy

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

Less jingoistic nationalism than I expected, which is saying... something?

[Cindy Newton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is by no means my favorite Dickens, but I enjoyed it. Trademark humorous Dickens' tales, along with some cameos of some favorite Pickwickians. Reading Dickens is ALWAYS a good thing, imho!!

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lesser known tales; only includes Master Humphrey excerpts and not the two novels that comprised Master Humphrey's Clock: Old Curiosity Shop and Barnaby Rudge. But Pickwick and the Wellers are revived, and it's all classic Dickensian sentimentality.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Master Humphrey's Clock was a charmer. And as for A Child's History of England-- OMG, Comedy Central's TV show "Drunk History" has to be based on this. Some parts of Dickens' biased tellings are absolutely hilarious. (Although I don't believe that was his intent.)

[Piper · Rating 4 out of 5]

I only read the A Childs History of England part. This is one of the few Dickens books I like. Seems a bit more fun to me. Nice satire.

[Benj · Rating 2 out of 5]

Master Humphrey's Clock
Simply awful. Dicken at his cloying and sentimental worst.

A Child's History of England
Not very good, really. A lot of anecdotal stories, strongly flavoured with Dickens' own opinions.

Factually inaccurate as well. He refers to both Queen Matilda and Mary Queen of Scots as having brothers whereas, if they had, they wouldn't have been queens. Also fails the Beckett test, in that Henry II's archbishop is referred to as Thomas a Beckett, a completely made up affectation.

However it is interesting to note that the authors of 1066 And All That, Sellar and Yeatman, were obviously familiar with this work.

[Jay Wright · Rating 2 out of 5]

The critics are kind to him because he is such a revered writer. Frankly both works in this book were equally bad. Master Humphrey's Clock was so poorly received that Dickens simply walked away from this work under a barrage of criticism. As to history, is this really what it was? I must admit that while I was never much of a fan of English History (even though my Professor was phenomenal), this work does not pass for history (although his Guy Fawkes' story is worth reading). He takes sides, While I personally do not find much to like about James I, I would not refer to him as "his Sowship" throughout my chapter on him.

[Gene Georgelis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Master Humphrey's Clock was a bit of a disappointment. I believe it was the start of a serial that didn't survive. I liked parts of it but as a whole not so much. On the other hand, A Child's History of England was a hoot. It be the equivalent of George Carlin or Jerry Seinfeld writing the history of america. Many parts reminded me of Mr. Peabody and the WABAC machine. If Dickens were alive today he'd be famously popular on Facebook or twitter.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Master Humphrey section of this book was very pleasant and cozy. The "Child's History..." was slow going for me (tiny print, I read slowly, and I did get bogged down in the detailed goings-ons of numerous overlapping historic figures). It is not for those enthralled with the romanticized version of British Monarchy. Throughout, though, I enjoyed what I perceived as Dickens' disdain and derision toward the all too human (in a bad way) royalty. Reporting great greed, selfishness, denial of reality, cutting morals to fit this season's fashions, backstabbing and cross-plotting and the all-too-common burning and disembowelment of inconvenient people. Kind of a cautionary tale for our times. "Snowflake" democracy may have its fault, but unbridled power and manipulation of puppets and pawns is truly disgusting.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Six hundred years' worth of treachery and butchery, with sly editorializing about the relative merits of English monarchs. I'm not sure how accurate Dickens's account is, but it sure is entertaining. A really fun introduction to the monarchy. If you are looking for social or cultural history, this isn't it.