Showing results for "Charles Dickens" in Literary History & Criticism

A Christmas Carol is a timeless novella by the renowned English author Charles Dickens, first published on December 17, 1843. This beloved story follows the transformation of the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge, who undergoes a profound ideological, ethical, and emotional awakening after being visited by the ghostly apparitions of Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come. With its rich themes of redemption and the spirit of Christmas, the novella quickly captured the hearts of readers and critics alike. (Summary by Wikipedia)

Experience a delightful rendition of A Christmas Carol, adapted and performed by Charles Dickens during his iconic American Tour of 1862. This special abridged version removes the darker themes of the original novel, presenting a humorous and heartwarming tale perfect for family listening. With a runtime of just an hour and a half, it promises to enchant audiences of all ages. (Michael Armenta)

The Uncommercial Traveller is the persona of Dickens for this collection of semi-autobiographical sketches. A kind of Victorian blogger, he is funny and affecting by turns as he recounts what he sees and wonders at its meaning. Whether laying bare ‘a wilderness of dirt, rags, and hunger’ or musing on the ‘moodiness’ of tom-cats; recounting Mr Indignation Cocker’s sherry bill or simply taking us by the hand as he goes about his ‘no-business’ in London and further afield, he brings the warmth, compassion and fleet-footed wit that infuse his novels.

Esteemed writer G. K. Chesterton offers a compelling critique of the works of Charles Dickens, sharing his profound admiration and unique insights into Dickens literary genius in his distinct and engaging style. (Summary by Karen Merline)

From Little Nell to Miss Havisham, Dickens’ Women tells the story of Charles Dickens’ life through his beloved characters. Cowritten and performed by Miriam Margolyes, best known for her role as Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter films, this one-women show is a celebration of her infectious passion for Dickens’ work. Taking on 23 different Dickensian characters, many of whom were inspired by real people such as Mary Hogwarth, Dickens' sister-in-law, Margolyes showcases her astonishing versatility as a performer. Dickens’ Women delighted audiences across the world in 2012 as Margolyes took her Olivier nominated show on tour for the bicentenary of Dicken’s birth.

Hard Times was Dickens's shortest novel and the only one to be set in the industrial north of England. A fast moving story with a typical cast of larger than life characters, the novel is a vehicle for a humanist critique of both utilitarian education ('Teach these boys and girls nothing but facts', says Mr. Gradgrind in the opening paragraph) and the mutual antagonism between capital and the trade union. A humanist education system, it turns out, is Dickens's solution to the class struggle. Hard Times is set in the fictional Coketown and was partly inspired by a visit to Preston during the ...

"Please sir, I want some more," the famous line spoken by Oliver Twist at age nine, becomes the tipping point of a huge change in Oliver's life. He is soon captured into the service of Fagin and his gang of pick-pocketing boys. But, Mr. Brownlow saves him from arrest, and for the first time in his young life Oliver finds comfort and caring. Unfortunately, he is recaptured into the seedy and disgusting world he had escaped, and meets with Bill Sykes, a dangerous criminal. There are numerous delightful or wicked characters that carry the story along, such as the Artful Dodger-- a boy of the ...

After the death of his father, Nicholas must provide for his mother and sister. His wealthy uncle provides him with employment at a boys' school, run by the villainous Mr. Squeers. But when Nicholas has seen enough of the brutal manner in which Squeers treats the boys, he attacks him--and is forced to go on the run to avoid the ramifications. - Summary by Brad "Hamlet" Filippone

Born in the Marshalsea Prison for Debtors, Amy—Little Dorrit—the daughter of the ruined, but self-respectful William Dorrit, has put her entire heart in caring for her dear father, until one day her humble path is crossed by Arthur Clennam. Their meeting proves providential not only for Amy's life, but for the whole Dorrit family, whose new rise will, in many ways, be also their fall. As in all his novels, in Little Dorrit Dickens ushers us into a fascinating and startlingly rich world of human characters and destinies, where virtue and nobility cross swords with vice and villainy, where ...

The Charles Dickens Works Collection compiles his complete literary masterpieces, providing a deep dive into the world of Victorian England and the struggles of its people.

Experience the rich storytelling of Charles Dickens Audiobooks, a collection of unforgettable tales filled with vivid characters, social commentary, and timeless themes of justice, redemption, and resilience. These classic works continue to inspire and captivate audiences.

The story is told almost entirely from the point of view of the first person narrator, David Copperfield himself, and was the first Dickens novel to be written as such a narration. The story deals with the life of David Copperfield from childhood to maturity. David's father had died six months before he was born, and seven years later, his mother remarries but David and his step-father don’t get on and he is sent to boarding school. As David settles into life we are taken along with him and meet a dazzling array of characters, some of whom we will never forget and some of whom we won't want ...

The Mystery of Edwin Drood is the final novel by Charles Dickens. The novel was left unfinished at the time of Dickens' death, and readers have often speculated what the ending might have been. The novel is named after Edwin Drood, but it mostly tells the story of his uncle, a Jekyll-and-Hyde-esque choirmaster named John Jasper, who is in love with his pupil, Rosa Bud. Miss Bud is Drood's fiancée, and has caught the eye of the high-spirited and hot-tempered Neville Landless, who comes from Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) with his twin sister, Helena, and immediately makes an enemy of Drood. It is ...

Dive into Charles Dickens final and unfinished masterpiece, The Mystery of Edwin Drood. A captivating tale entwined with suspense, love, and rivalry, it follows the enigmatic choirmaster John Jasper. Tortured by his illicit love for his student, Rosa Bud, who is engaged to his nephew Edwin Drood, Jasper reveals a sinister side. Adding to the intrigue is the fiery Neville Landless, who hails from Ceylon (present-day Sri Lanka) and vies for Rosas affection, causing a rift with Drood. Although Jasper seems the likely culprit behind the mysterious circumstances, Dickens untimely death leaves it ...

Bleak house is one of Dickens finest achievements. It was written for serialisation in 1853 when Dickens was at the peak of his career. Monthly sales substantially exceeded his previous bestseller David Copperfield.Dickens' mastery of the English language comes to the fore in this book. It is an energetic book: a complex mystery story revolving around the heroine Esther Summerson and her path from childhood to marriage. During the course of Esther’s narration Dickens introduces some wonderful and unforgettable characters, and at the same time provides a searing indictment of the laws’ ...

Timeless Charles Dickens Stories features a collection of his greatest works, offering compelling narratives of hardship, perseverance, and social change that remain relevant today.

Dive into the world of David Copperfield, a literary masterpiece by Charles Dickens, that is as much a social commentary as it is an engaging tale. Filled with vivid, exaggerated characters from all walks of life, this novel offers a rich panorama of 19th-century society. Discover the virtuous yet humble Mr. Peggotty, the avaricious and vindictive Heep, and the money-obsessed Julia Mills. On this journey, youll explore themes of love, sacrifice, greed, and arrogance. More personal than any of Dickens other works, David Copperfield draws parallels with the authors own life, hinting at a hidden ...

Our Mutual Friend (written in the years 1864–65) is the last novel completed by Charles Dickens and is one of his most sophisticated works, combining psychological insight with social analysis. It centres on, in the words of critic J. Hillis Miller, "money, money, money, and what money can make of life" but is also about human values. In the opening chapters a body is found in the Thames and identified as John Harmon, a young man recently returned to London to receive his inheritance. Were he alive, his father's will would require him to marry Bella Wilfer, a beautiful, mercenary girl whom ...

This classic tale follows Pip, an orphan who, through a series of peculiar twists, first becomes a blacksmith’s apprentice and later discovers he has “great expectations” of an inheritance from a mysterious benefactor. As he adopts the lavish lifestyle of a gentleman, he gradually distances himself from the kind-hearted figures of his past—Joe the blacksmith and the sensible Biddy. He pours his wealth into improving the fortunes of his friend and roommate, Herbert, and offers his heart to an “ice princess” who will never return his affection. Then, an escaped convict from his ...

The Charles Dickens Classics Podcast presents a beautifully narrated selection of his most iconic works, bringing to life his masterful storytelling and deep exploration of human nature.