Charles Dickens A Life
“Charles Dickens A Life” by Claire Tomalin is a comprehensive biography published by Penguin Books in 2012. This paperback edition spans 527 pages and is presented in English. The book explores the life of Charles Dickens, a prolific journalist and novelist known for his memorable characters and significant contributions to literature and social causes. It delves into his early struggles, including being sent to work in a blacking factory at the age of twelve, and traces his rise to prominence through sheer determination.
Readers will find a detailed examination of Dickens’ complex personality, highlighting his dual nature as both a passionate advocate for social reform and a man with personal contradictions. The biography covers various aspects of his life, including his family dynamics and relationships, while also reflecting on his literary achievements. With topics such as biography and literary criticism, this edition provides an insightful look into the life of one of England’s most celebrated literary figures.
Official synopsis Publisher
Charles Dickens is the acclaimed definitive biography by bestselling author Claire Tomalin
Charles Dickens was a phenomenon: a demonicly hardworking journalist, the father of ten children, a tireless walker and traveller, a supporter of liberal social causes, but most of all a great novelist – the creator of characters who live immortally in the English imagination: the Artful Dodger, Mr Pickwick, Pip, David Copperfield, Little Nell, Lady Dedlock, and many more.
At the age of twelve he was sent to work in a blacking factory by his affectionate but feckless parents. From these unpromising beginnings, he rose to scale all the social and literary heights, entirely through his own efforts. When he died, the world mourned, and he was buried – against his wishes – in Westminster Abbey.Yet the brilliance concealed a divided character: a republican, he disliked America; sentimental about the family in his writings, he took up passionately with a young actress; usually generous, he cut off his impecunious children.
From the award-winning author of Samuel Pepys, Charles Dickens: A Life paints an unforgettable portrait of Dickens, capturing brilliantly the complex character of this great genius. If you loved Great Expectations, Oliver Twist and A Christmas Carol, this book is invaluable reading.
‘By far the most humane and imaginatively sympathetic account yet for the general reader’ Amanda Craig, New Statesman
Author
Publisher
Topics
FAQ
What is “Charles Dickens A Life” about?
Who is the author of “Charles Dickens A Life”?
When was “Charles Dickens A Life” published?
What is the ISBN for “Charles Dickens A Life”?
What are the book details (language, pages, edition)?
