Brief Lives: Charles Dickens

Brief Lives

by Melissa Valiska Gregory, Melisa Klimaszewski

Born in Portsmouth in 1812, Dickens rose to fame within his lifetime and, to the present day, has never been out of print. In this highly accessible biography, Dickens scholars Melissa Valiska Gregory and Melisa Klimaszewski examine the fascinating life of this hugely popular literary figure, exploring such classics as Great Expectations and David Copperfield against the backdrop of Victorian England.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography

112 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2008

About the author

Melissa Valiska Gregory specializes in nineteenth-century British literature and has published articles on both Victorian poetry and the novel. She is a founding member of the North American Victorian Studies Association (NAVSA) and currently serves on the Executive Board. With Dr. Melisa Klimaszewski of Drake University, she has edited and introduced three of Charles Dickens’s collaboratively written Christmas stories for Hesperus Press—The Wreck of the Golden Mary (2006), Somebody’s Luggage (2006), and Dr. Marigold’s Prescriptions (2007)—and has also coauthored an original brief biography of Dickens (2008). In Spring, 2013 she will be teaching a new, special section of English 2730 titled “Poetry of the Body.”

Reviews

[Andrea]

I recommend this book even if you are not a fan of Dickens (who knows? you might even become one after reading it). Its narrative is enjoyable and informative. It is a brief instalment of Dickens's life that pinpoints the most important events of his life and the influence that he had (and still has) in the world of literature. It is fun and easy to read and easy to follow. You will not be confused and overloaded with information and dates but you will actually enjoy knowing a bit more about such interesting a figure as Dickens.

http://writcorner.blogspot.com/2011/0...

[M Dubielak]

After watching a dozen different versions of A Christmas Carol over the years, I wanted to find out more about the author. Consider this book a place to begin to know Dickens a bit. A good intro to his life circumstances and times.

[Neil]

Concise, useful biography of Dickens's life. This teaches well in my M.A. class and is clearly and compellingly written.