Charles Dickens
41) Holiday Romance
In this charming series of short stories from Victorian author nonpareil Charles Dickens, four pairs of lovebirds offer up a detailed account of their courtships. There's just one catch — none of the besotted have yet reached the ripe old age of 10. Displaying his usual knack for uncannily accurate characterization, Dickens gives readers a glimpse into the triumphs and trials of schoolyard romance.
Anyone who has ever read a novel by Charles Dickens is well aware of the author's keen interest in social issues, especially the detrimental effects of poverty. This volume of essays brings together some of Dickens' best non-fiction writing on social issues, carried out in the form of letters to the editor, op-ed pieces, and correspondence.
Although he is now revered as the author of such long-form masterworks as Great Expectations, Charles Dickens' short stories ranked among his most popular creative endeavors during his lifetime. Like many of his Christmas-themed stories, The Seven Poor Travellers was originally serialized in a magazine. This heartwarming tale is a must-read during the holiday season, or anytime your spirit could use a boost.
In 1857, Charles Dickens paired up with his close friend and fellow Victorian novelist Wilkie Collins to produce this interesting novella. Said to have been inspired by the Sepoy Mutiny of that year, the tale scrutinizes the moral impact of colonialism and lauds the bravery of a regiment of Marines tasked with the responsibility of protecting a community of British expats from an encroaching swarm of dangerous pirates.
45) Reprinted Pieces
Charles Dickens was the literary superstar who singlehandedly set the bar for popular fiction in the mid to late nineteenth century. As a result of his fame, Dickens was also in great demand as a speaker. This collection brings together dozens of the author's lectures and talks on topics ranging from the literature of the day to the toughest social issues.
Taking a cue from his love of pleasure travel and people-watching, in 1860 Charles Dickens developed a new persona he called the "Uncommercial Traveller." In the series of essays written from this perspective, Dickens describes his long, leisurely walks around London and occasional jaunts to other locales. This charming collection highlights Dickens attention to detail and his keen powers of observation.
This charming collection of sketches from Victorian literary master Charles Dickens brings together a number of pieces that were originally published in various popular periodicals of the era. Most notable are the tales about the imaginary town of Mudfog, which detail, among other things, the political ascendancy and personal devolution of the town's mayor, as well as the lofty ambitions and intellectual pretensions of the town's scientific society.
...The "Christmas Story" (often a "Christmas Ghost Story") was a popular Victorian tradition. Charles Dickens, who surely needs no introduction today, took part with gusto, penning dozens of Christmas tales (the most famous being A Christmas Carol). We are delighted to include not just the standard fare of A Christmas Carol, but a total of 25 great stories (more than 1,000 pages!) Dickens penned for Yuletide reading in this volume. Included
..."My dear children, I am very anxious that you should know something about the History of Jesus Christ. For everybody ought to know Him. No one ever lived who was so good, so kind, so gentle . . ."
So begins The Life of Our Lord, the sincere efforts of Charles Dickens to teach his children about the life, ministry, and mission of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.
Though he is best remembered today as one of the most renowned novelists of the Victorian era, British author Charles Dickens was deeply engaged with the political and social debates of his time and often wrote essays and opinion pieces staking out his position in topical debates. In the essay "Sunday Under Three Heads," which Dickens originally published under a pseudonym, the writer argues in favor of the working classes having Sundays free to
...This story, one in Dickens' decades-long run of Christmas-themed tales, takes its name from a popular schoolyard game. It centers on a hermit who closes himself off from humanity as a result of painful childhood experiences — and his quest to gradually reconnect with the world around him.
The last major story that Dickens completed before his death, "George Silverman's Explanation" is something of a departure for the famed master of Victorian fiction. One of the rare tales Dickens wrote in the first person, the story is a narrative account of one man's horrific start in life, the ripples of which seem to fan out and negatively impact everything else that happens to him.