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THE DEFINITIVE CHARLES DICKENS
Suffering has been stronger than all other
teaching, and has taught me to understand
what your heart used to be. I have been
bent and broken, but—I hope—into a better
shape.' —Estella, Great Expectations
Charles Dickens (1812–1870) an English novelist, is generally considered the greatest of the Victorian era. Dickens worked as a journalist in political newspapers, making close observations about society in the churn of Industrialization. His work reflects his belief that society’s blinding greed for money and its neglect of the lower classes are its major flaws. Through his books, he exhorts virtues of a loving heart and the pleasures of home in a flawed, cruelly indifferent world.
The Definitive Charles Dickens includes one of his famous novels, Great Expectations; a play, Is She His Wife; a novella, Master Humphrey’s Clock; a short story, The Trial for Murder; and his letters to his friends and family, which allow readers a glimpse of Dickens as a person and how he led his life.
teaching, and has taught me to understand
what your heart used to be. I have been
bent and broken, but—I hope—into a better
shape.' —Estella, Great Expectations
Charles Dickens (1812–1870) an English novelist, is generally considered the greatest of the Victorian era. Dickens worked as a journalist in political newspapers, making close observations about society in the churn of Industrialization. His work reflects his belief that society’s blinding greed for money and its neglect of the lower classes are its major flaws. Through his books, he exhorts virtues of a loving heart and the pleasures of home in a flawed, cruelly indifferent world.
The Definitive Charles Dickens includes one of his famous novels, Great Expectations; a play, Is She His Wife; a novella, Master Humphrey’s Clock; a short story, The Trial for Murder; and his letters to his friends and family, which allow readers a glimpse of Dickens as a person and how he led his life.
696 pages, Paperback
Published October 1, 2017
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About the author
Charles Dickens
11.8k books30.9k followersCharles 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)
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)
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April 19, 2025
Reading this required constant full concentration from me because of the classic language used. However the effort was quite paid off as the works written by acclaimed author Charles Dicken was all phenomenal and I really enjoyed all of them thoroughly. Upon reading this book, I am excited to see the modern adaptations of his works to see how they being translated on-screen.
Displaying 1 of 1 review