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The World of Charles Dickens
Prefaced by a brief life of Charles Dickens, this volume contains five stories - "Oliver Twist", "A Christmas Carol", "Great Expectations", "David Copperfield" and "A Tale of Two Cities". Each story is told in 15,000 words and illustrated with stills from a series of animated films.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published August 31, 1970
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About the author
Charles Dickens
12.9k books31.6k 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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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 6, 2019
This is an outstanding biography of Charles Dickens and one that I will be referencing again and again as I continue to read through Dickens' works.
This bio is so well researched and moves through Dickens life as he writes his novels so the reader understands what was going on and influencing Dickens at the time of writing. Wilson also discusses how the novels were received by the first reading public and goes into how the books are received in modern times (this biography was published in 1970 so that is modern times).
There are numerous gorgeous paintings, photographs, and sketches throughout the book.
I really admire Dickens and find him to be one of the greatest writers of all time. I wish I didn't but I admit that I do judge him a bit for his treatment of his wife after being married to her for so many years and the subsequent estrangement that followed with some of his children.
This bio is so well researched and moves through Dickens life as he writes his novels so the reader understands what was going on and influencing Dickens at the time of writing. Wilson also discusses how the novels were received by the first reading public and goes into how the books are received in modern times (this biography was published in 1970 so that is modern times).
There are numerous gorgeous paintings, photographs, and sketches throughout the book.
I really admire Dickens and find him to be one of the greatest writers of all time. I wish I didn't but I admit that I do judge him a bit for his treatment of his wife after being married to her for so many years and the subsequent estrangement that followed with some of his children.
June 16, 2018
This was a very well written biography of Dickens. It follows through his family history, the possible affects it had on his writings and as it goes through his life it also has the books there in timeline. I like that within the chapters it is subtitled and you can easily just look up about the book you may want more information on. A good read for Dickens fans.
January 15, 2024
Preface: Dickens was a not very good man who was a part-time conjurer and hypnotist who publicly separated from his wife and abused his children.
Also Preface: Dickens was a devout Christian and anyone who says otherwise is a bigot.
Okay, Angus 🤭, I believe you, really 😆.
Also Preface: Dickens was a devout Christian and anyone who says otherwise is a bigot.
Okay, Angus 🤭, I believe you, really 😆.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews