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The Life of Charles Dickens
His Life, Writings and Personality
Frederic G. Kitton
The story of Charles Dickens life is a truly remarkable
rags-to-riches tale. His father's bankruptcy and imprisonment
led to Dickens working in a blacking factory at an early age.
These humble beginnings were to become a major influence upon
his life and his writings.
Dickens became a sensation in his own time and his
legacy lives on. His books sold in tens of thousands. Audiences
flocked to see him when he performed public readings of his
works, inciting "Bozmania." Venues became sold out,
touts sold tickets at inflated prices, and women fainted at
his thrilling recitals. He went on to conquer America and commanded
great fees for his performances.
This long overdue republication, from 1902, chronologically
records the events in the life of the "Inimitable Boz."
We discover that he was not just an author but also an actor,
publisher, journalist, editor, public reader, art critic, political
economist and social reformer.
We learn about the characters in his books; who inspired
them and uncover something of the personality of Dickens himself.
He was a meticulous workaholic with a desire not to be poor again
and it was this desire that ultimately killed him.
About the Author
Frederic George Kitton (1856-1904) was born in Norwich, England.
At the age of seventeen he moved to London and joined the staff
of the Graphic as an apprentice. He became a skilled etcher
and contributed to artistic journals before becoming an author.
Kitton was one of the founders of the Dickens Fellowship and
most of his publications relate to the life and works of Charles
Dickens including "Dickensiana: A Bibliography of the Literature
Relating to Charles Dickens and His Writings" as well as
annotating the "Rochester" edition of "Dickens's
Works."
Contents
1. Early Years
2. Reporter and Journalist — “Sketches by Boz” and “Pickwick”
3. “Oliver Twist” and “Nicholas Nickleby”
4. “Master Humphrey's Clock”
5. “American Notes” and “Martin Chuzzlewit”
6. “A Christmas Carol” and “The Chimes”
7. “Pictures From Italy” and “Dombey and Son”
8. “David Copperfield”
9. “Bleak House”
10. “Hard Times”and “Little Dorrit”
11. “A Tale of Two Cities”
12. “Great Expectations” and “Our Mutual Friend”
13. Public Readings in America
14. Farewell Readings — “The Mystery of Edwin Drood” — The End
15. Dickens as Actor, Reader, Editor, and Public Speaker
16. The Portraiture and Personality of Dickens
Index
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