Table of Contents

Introduction; Part 1 The Early Works from Pickwick to Nickleby; Chapter 1 From an unsigned review of Sketches by Boz, Metropolitan Magazine; Chapter 2 From unsigned reviews of Pickwick Papers, Metropolitan Magazine; Chapter 3 Unsigned review of Pickwick Papers Nos. I – IX, the Athenaeum; Chapter 4 From an unsigned article, ‘Some Thoughts on Arch-Waggery, and in especial, on the Genius of “Boz” ’, Court Magazine; Chapter 5 Miss Mary Russell Mitford on Pickwick Papers; Chapter 6, John Forster; , from an unsigned review of Pickwick Papers, No. XV, Examiner; Chapter 7 W. M. Thackeray on Pickwick Papers, in The Paris Sketch Book; Chapter 8 C. S. Calverley, from ‘An Examination Paper: The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club’; Chapter 9 ‘[Arthur Locker?; ’ from ‘Charles Dickens’ Graphic; Chapter 10 From an unsigned review of Oliver Twist in the Spectator; Chapter 11 Queen Victoria, from her diaries; Chapter 12, W. M. Thackeray; , from ‘Going to see a man hanged’, Fraser’s Magazine; Chapter 13 From an unsigned article, ‘Literary Recipes’, Punch; Chapter 14, John Forster; , from an unsigned review of Nicholas Nickleby, Examiner; Chapter 15, Charles Buller; , from ‘The Works of Dickens’, London and Westminster Review; Chapter 16, Abraham Hayward?; , from an unsigned review of Pickwick Nos. I–XVII, and Sketches by Boz, in the Quarterly Review; Chapter 17, G. H. Lewes?; , from a review of Sketches, Pickwick, and Oliver Twist, in the National Magazine and Monthly Critic; Chapter 18 From an unsigned review, ‘Boz and his Nicholas Nickleby’, Spectator; Chapter 19, Thomas Henry Lister; , from a review of Sketches (1st and 2nd Series), Pickwick, Nickleby, and Oliver Twist, Edinburgh Review; Chapter 20 Unsigned notice, ‘Loose Thoughts’, Fraser’s Magazine; Chapter 21 From an unsigned review of Oliver Twist, Literary Gazette; Chapter 22, Richard Ford; , from, an unsigned review, Quarterly Review; Chapter 23 From an unsigned notice, ‘Charles Dickens and his Works,’ Fraser’s Magazine; Part 2 Master Humphrey’s Clock; Chapter 24 From unsigned reviews, Metropolitan Magazine 1840–1; Chapter 25, Thomas Hood; , from an unsigned review of Master Humphrey’s Clock, Vol. I, in the Athenaeum; Chapter 26 W. C. Macready, in his diaries and in a letter to Dickens; Chapter 27 John Ruskin on The Old Curiosity Shop; Chapter 28 Henry Crabb Robinson on Barnaby Rudge in his diaries; Chapter 29, Thomas Hood; , from a review of Barnaby Rudge, Athenaeum; Chapter 30 Edgar Allan Poe, from a review in Graham’s Magazine; Chapter 31 Dickens’s Reception in America; Chapter 32 From an unsigned article, ‘The Reception of Mr Dickens’, United States Magazine and Democratic Review; Part 3 American Notes and Pictures from Italy; Chapter 33, Samuel Warren; , from a review in Blackwood’s Magazine; Chapter 34, James Spedding; , from a review in the Edinburgh Review; Chapter 35, Cornelius C. Felton; , from a review in the North American Review; Chapter 36, John Wilson Croker; , from an unsigned review, Quarterly Review; Chapter 37 From an unsigned review of Pictures from Italy, The Times; Chapter 38 From an unsigned review, Gentleman’s Magazine; Part 4 The Christmas Books; Chapter 39 Lord Jeffrey on A Christmas Carol, in a letter to Dickens; Chapter 40, W. M. Thackeray; , from ‘A Box of Novels’, Fraser’s Magazine; Chapter 41 From a review of R. H. Horne’s A New Spirit of the Age, Westminster Review; Chapter 42 From an unsigned review of The Chimes, The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction; Chapter 43 From an unsigned review of The Chimes, The Times; Chapter 44 From an unsigned article, ‘A Christmas Garland’, The Northern Star; Chapter 45 From an unsigned review of The Chimes, Christian Remembrancer; Chapter 46, John Forster; , from a review of The Chimes, Edinburgh Review; Chapter 47 From an unsigned review of The Chimes, the Economist; Chapter 48 From an unsigned article, ‘Boz versus Dickens’, Parker’s London Magazine; Chapter 49 ‘Bon Gaultier’, Theodore Martin; , from ‘Nights in the Martello’, Tait’s Edinburgh Magazine; Chapter 50 From an unsigned review of The Cricket on the Hearth, Chambers’s Edinburgh Journal; Chapter 51 From an unsigned review of The Cricket on the Hearth, Macphail’s Edinburgh Ecclesiastical Journal; Chapter 52 From an unsigned review of The Battle of Life, Tait’s Edinburgh Magazine; Chapter 53, Coventry Patmore?; , from a review, ‘Popular Serial Fiction’, North British Review; Chapter 54 From an unsigned review of The Haunted Man, Macphail’s Edinburgh Ecclesiastical Journal; Part 5 Martin Chuzzlewit; Chapter 55, John Forster; , from an unsigned review, Examiner; Chapter 56, Thomas Cleghorn?; , from ‘Writings of Charles Dickens’, North British Review; Chapter 57 From an unsigned article, National Review; Chapter 58 R. H. Horne, from his The New Spirit of the Age; Chapter 59 Thomas Carlyle on Dickens; Chapter 60 William Howitt, from ‘Charles Dickens’, The People’s Journal; Chapter 61, W. E. Aytoun; , from ‘Advice to an Intending Serialist’, Blackwood’s Magazine; Part 6 Dombey and Son; Chapter 62 From an unsigned review of No. I, the Economist; Chapter 63 Lord Jeffrey, from letters to Dickens; Chapter 64 Edward Fitzgerald, in a letter to Thackeray January; Chapter 65 From an unsigned article, ‘Inquest on the late Master Paul Dombey’, The Man in the Moon; Chapter 66 From a review (signed ‘H’) of Nos. I–VI, Westminster Review; Chapter 67, Charles Kent; , from a review in the Sun; Chapter 68, John Eagles; , from ‘A Few Words about Novels—a Dialogue’, Blackwood’s Magazine; Chapter 69, John Forster; , from an unsigned review, Examiner; Chapter 70 Harriet Martineau on Dickens; Chapter 71, Edwin P. Whipple; , from ‘Novels and Novelists: Charles Dickens’, North American Review; Part 7 David Copperfield; Chapter 72 From an unsigned article, ‘Charles Dickens and David Copperfield’, Fraser’s Magazine; Chapter 73, David Masson; , from ‘Pendennis and Copperfield: Thackeray and Dickens’, North British Review; Chapter 74 Thackeray, in a letter to David Masson.; Chapter 75 Samuel Phillips, from ‘David Copperfield and Arthur Pendennis’, The Times; Chapter 76 From an unsigned review, ‘David Copperfield and Pendennis’, Prospective Review; Chapter 77 Matthew Arnold, from ‘The Incompatibles’, Nineteenth Century; Chapter 78 From Thomas Powell, Pictures of the Living Authors of Britain; Part 8 Bleak House; Chapter 79 Henry Crabb Robinson, in his diaries; Chapter 80 G. H. Lewes, from an open letter in the Leader; Chapter 81, Henry Fothergill Chorley; , from a review in the Athenaeum; Chapter 82 From an unsigned review, Illustrated London News; Chapter 83 George Brimley, from an unsigned review, Spectator; Chapter 84 Unsigned review, Bentley’s Miscellany; Chapter 85, John Forster; , from an unsigned review, Examiner; Chapter 86, James Augustine Stothert; , from ‘Living Novelists’, The Rambler; Chapter 87 John Stuart Mill, from a letter to Harriet Taylor; Chapter 88 Ruskin on the mortality rate: from ‘Fiction, Fair and Foul’, Nineteenth Century; Part 9 Hard Times; Chapter 89, John Forster; , from an unsigned review, the Examiner; Chapter 90, Richard Simpson; , from a review in The Rambler; Chapter 91 From an unsigned review, Westminster Review; Chapter 92 From ‘Hard Times (Refinished)’, Our Miscellany; Chapter 93 John Ruskin, in Unto this Last, Cornhill Magazine; Chapter 94 Edwin P. Whipple, from an essay on Hard Times, in the Atlantic Monthly; Chapter 95 Anthony Trollope on Dickens 1855, 1870, 1875–6; Chapter 96 Mrs Oliphant, from ‘Charles Dickens’, Blackwood’s Magazine; Chapter 97 Hippolyte Taine, from his ‘Charles Dickens: son talent et ses œuvres,’ Revue des deux Mondes; Chapter 98, George Eliot; , from ‘The Natural History of German Life’, Westminster Review; Chapter 99, James Fitzjames Stephen; , from ‘Mr Dickens as a Politician’, Saturday Review; Chapter 100, William Forsyth; , from ‘Literary Style,’ Fraser’s Magazine; Chapter 101 W. M. Thackeray, from his ‘Charity and Humour’; Part 10 Little Dorrit; Chapter 102, E. B. Hamley; , from ‘Remonstrance with Dickens’, Blackwood’s Magazine; Chapter 103 From an unsigned review, the Leader.; Chapter 104, James Fitzjames Stephen; , from ‘The Licence of Modern Novelists’, Edinburgh Review; Chapter 105 Matthew Davenport Hill on Stephen’s review; Chapter 106 John Hollingshead, from ‘Mr Dickens and his Critics’, The Train; Chapter 107 John Cordy Jeaffreson, from his Novels and Novelists, from Elizabeth to Victoria; Chapter 108 From an unsigned review of the Library Edition of the Works, Saturday Review; Chapter 109 Francis Jacox attacks the Saturday Review, New Monthly Magazine; Chapter 110, Walter Bagehot; , from ‘Charles Dickens’, National Review; Part 11 The Weekly Periodicals; Chapter 111, Samuel Lucas; , from a review of The Perils of Certain English Prisoners, The Times; Chapter 112 From an unsigned review of A House to Let, Saturday Review; Chapter 113, James Fitzjames Stephen?; , from an unsigned review of The Uncommercial Traveller, Saturday Review; Chapter 114 From an unsigned review of Mrs Lirriper’s Lodgings, Saturday Review; Chapter 115, E. S. Dallas; , from a review of Doctor Marigold’s Prescriptions, The Times; Chapter 116 From an unsigned review of Doctor Marigold’s Prescriptions, Saturday Review; Chapter 117, Charles Kent; , from an unsigned review of Mugby Junction, Sun; Part 12 A Tale of Two Cities; Chapter 118 Dickens on A Tale of Two Cities; Chapter 119, John Forster; , from an unsigned review, Examiner; Part 13 Great Expectations; Chapter 120, Edwin P. Whipple; , from a review, Atlantic Monthly; Chapter 121, E. S. Dallas; , from an unsigned review, The Times; Chapter 122 From an unsigned review, Dublin University Magazine; Chapter 123, John Moore Capes and J. E. E. D. Acton; , from a review in the Rambler; Chapter 124, Mrs Margaret Oliphant; , from ‘Sensational Novels’, Blackwood’s Magazine; Chapter 125 John Ruskin on Dickens; Chapter 126, Justin McCarthy; , from ‘Modern Novelists: Charles Dickens’, Westminster Review; Part 14 Our Mutual Friend; Chapter 127 From an unsigned review, London Review; Chapter 128 From an unsigned review, ‘Mr Dickens’s Romance of a Dust-heap’, Eclectic and Congregational Review; Chapter 129 From an unsigned review, Saturday Review; Chapter 130, E. S. Dallas; , from an unsigned review, The Times; Chapter 131, Henry James; , review in The Nation (New York); Chapter 132 From an unsigned review, Westminster Review; Chapter 133 James Hannay, from his Course of English Literature; Chapter 134, Edwin P. Whipple; , from ‘The Genius of Dickens’, Atlantic Monthly; Chapter 135 George Augustus Sala, from ‘On the “Sensational” in Literature and Art’, Belgravia; Chapter 136 ‘Mr Dickens’s Moral Services to Literature’, Spectator; Chapter 137 George Stott, from ‘Charles Dickens’, Contemporary Review; Part 15 Obituary Tributes, 1870; Chapter 138 Unsigned article, ‘The Death of Mr Charles Dickens’, Daily News; Chapter 139 Thomas Chenery, leading article in The Times; Chapter 140 From an unsigned article, ‘The Death of Mr Dickens’, Saturday Review; Chapter 141 From an unsigned leading-article, Sunday Times; Chapter 142 Unsigned notice, ‘Charles Dickens’, British Medical Journal; Chapter 143 From an unsigned article, ‘The late Charles Dickens’, Illustrated London News; Chapter 144, R. H. Hutton; , from ‘The Genius of Dickens’, the Spectator; Chapter 145 A. P. Stanley, from a sermon in Westminster Abbey; Chapter 146 From an unsigned notice, ‘Charles Dickens’, Fraser’s Magazine; Chapter 147 Arthur Helps, from ‘In Memoriam’, Macmillan’s Magazine; Chapter 148 Alfred Austin, ‘Charles Dickens’, Temple Bar; Chapter 149 A. W. Ward, from Charles Dickens: a Lecture; Part 16 Edwin Drood; Chapter 150 From an unsigned review, Saturday Review; Chapter 151 ‘H. Lawrenny’, Edith Simcox; , from a review in the Academy; Chapter 152 An unsigned review in the Spectator; Chapter 153 From an unsigned article, ‘Two English Novelists: Dickens and Thackeray’, Dublin Review; Chapter 154 From an unsigned article, ‘Dickens’, London Quarterly Review; Chapter 155, Mrs Oliphant; , from ‘Charles Dickens’, Blackwood’s Magazine; Part 17 Forster’s Life of Dickens; Chapter 156 Thomas Carlyle on the Life; Chapter 157 Lord Shaftesbury on Dickens; Chapter 158 G. H. Lewes, from a review of Vol. I of Forster’s Life, Fortnightly Review; Chapter 159 Robert Buchanan, ‘The “Good Genie” of Fiction: Thoughts while reading Forster’s Life of Charles Dickens’, St Paul’s Magazine; Chapter 160, William Dean Howells; , from an unsigned review of Vol. II, Atlantic Monthly; Chapter 161 From an unsigned review, Temple Bar; Chapter 162, R. H. Hutton; , from a review of Vol. III of Forster’s Life, the Spectator; Chapter 163 Wilkie Collins, marginalia in the Life; Part 18 The Letters of Charles Dickens; Chapter 164 From an unsigned review, Spectator; Chapter 165 ‘Matthew Browne’, W. B. Rands; , from a review in Contemporary Review; Chapter 166 From an unsigned review, Dublin Review; Chapter 167 Mowbray Morris, from ‘Charles Dickens’, Fortnightly Review; Chapter 168 Henry James on Dickens: ‘no other debt in our time has been piled so high’;

About the Author

Philip Collins