Student Companion to Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens was the most popular writer of his age and is still considered one of the world's greatest novelists. This well-written study surveys his unusual and prolific life, relating his fiction writings to his concerns and active involvement with social conditions of early Victorian England. Glancy skillfully takes the reader back in time to appreciate the historical settings that inspired works like Oliver Twist, Great Expectations, and A Tale of Two Cities. An entire chapter is devoted to each of these works, as well as to David Copperfield, Hard Times, the Christmas books, and the early novels from The Pickwick Papers to Martin Chuzzlewit. In each chapter Glancy's analysis of plot, style, and character development bring these imaginative stories to life for the reader. This book examines Dickens's keen understanding of human nature and draws out the themes that make works such as A Christmas Carol as beloved today as when first written.

This companion to Dickens will aid students in understanding the social context and literary genius of one of the greatest Victorian novelists. The thorough biographical chapter traces Dickens' life from his childhood through the development of his multi-faceted literary career. The literary heritage chapter examines the tremendous influence Dickens exerted on writing then and now. This volume surveys all of Dickens' work and provides in-depth readings of five of his novels and his Christmas works. The series format makes analysis of setting, plot, character development, and themes for each work accessible to students. The alternate critical perspectives enhance readers' understanding of Dickens' work. The selected bibliography and reviews cover both original and contemporary sources.

Accessible literary criticism of Charles Dickens' important fictional works.

School Library Journal

Gr 10 Up-Glancy opens with a concise, objective biography of the author's life, emphasizing those events that inspired his work. The second chapter discusses Dickens's literary influences and career. The remaining eight chapters are devoted to plot summaries, character examinations, discussions of thematic issues, explanations of literary devices, and critical readings. The latter include psychoanalytical and feminist criticism. The analyses of all of the major novels and short stories, with their academic, no-nonsense style, are what make this comprehensive student companion more useful than straight biographies or guides to the individual novels. However, the dry, scholarly language makes this volume best suited to students with some background in literature studies. However, obscure literary terms are defined when used, particularly in the "Stylistic and Literary Devices" sections. The well-organized bibliography is arranged by subject. This book fills a gap in collections with a need for beyond-the-basics literary research materials.-Toni D. Moore, Learning Resources Center, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.|

RUTH GLANCY is Associate Professor of English at Concordia University College of Alberta.