Classics > Charles Dickens Classics

Advantages: A wonderful evocation of the cruelties of Victorian society.
Disadvantages: The length of the novel might put readers with busy lives off.

Little Dorrit was the most widely read of Dicken's novels during his lifetime, and it is not difficult to understand why. His subtle evocation of a family blighted by debt, and Victorian society's treatment of debtors is punctuated by Dicken's special brand of humour. There are the grotesque Dickensian characters, yes, and these serve to lighten the overall bleakness of the novel's subject matter. However, it is Dicken's mastery of his sociohistorical ...
...to come. His female heroine, like many of Dicken's women, is good and generous and has devoted her life to duty. Nevertheless, she demonstrates a strength often lacking in Dicken's other female heroines that lends extra weight to the text's portrayal of London's Marshalsea prison and the lives affected by it. A wonderful read and thoroughly recommended. ... Read review

Advantages: A really beautiful story, about Scrooge's past, present and future.
Disadvantages: A little bit boring story.

...outcome of his skinflint ways. A Christmas Carol is not so much a Christmas story but like for New Years. This story can influence us in changing ourselves, if we want this year's resolutions to actually mean something, we need to go through an Ebenezer-like process. For me the past for its lessons, search the present for its patterns, and project where those patterns will lead us in the future. And if the patterns lead to sadness, those patterns ... Read review

Advantages: Rewarding, interesting and a real, cosy, ol' fashioned story!
Disadvantages: Quite a large time investment involved

Our Mutual Friend, By Charles Dickens Some Background The novel was originally published in 1865 and was his last completed work before his death in the summer of 1870. During the latter years of his writing career Dickens moved away from the more comic plots of his earlier years, and developed a far more complex and brooding style. Our Mutual Friend typifies this formula with its numerous, complicated and interlinked plot lines set largely along ...
...so immense and complex that it is without doubt difficult to categorise: It is a love story, a murder mystery, a psychological thriller and a smirk-ridden satire of contemporary society at every level. Main Characters To say to much at this point would be to tell to much - I don't want to ruin the twist in the tail of this one, but here is a useful breakdown of characters and a description (as they stand at the beginning of the book) The Hexams: ... Read review

Advantages: Everything good about Dickens' style is displayed in a challenging and consuming read.
Disadvantages: Perhaps starts a little slowly before gaining speed, very challenging in parts, but is rewarding.

A Tale of Two Cities is a well known and popular novel by Charles Dickens, typically considered among his best publications. Although this is not my personal favourite in terms of Dickens' publications it is still deserving of all 5 stars. The great thing about this book is that it is more than just a fascinating and twisting story; but also an insight into class conflicts and struggles of the French Revolution. From perhaps the most famous opening ...
...sure if I can name a more intriguing character than Madam Defarge. This can be, in parts, difficult to follow and fully understand, but throughout you can feel Dickens' genious in the putting together of this complicated masterpiece. The only disadvantage I could possibly name is that perhaps it starts a little too slowly; I certainly enjoyed the second half of the book more than the first. This is another great read for any fans of Dickens' work, ... Read review

Advantages: wonderfully envisaged comic characters
Disadvantages: lack of interest in the main characters

Nicholas approaches his uncle Ralph in London to appeal for assistance for himself, his sister Kate and his mother after his father dies. Unfortunately, Ralph has made a God of money rather than family, and his reluctant 'help' consists in him finding the siblings unsuitable jobs and allowing Kate in particular to be socially abused by his business partners. The novel follows Nicholas's path to becoming a gentleman and re-establishing his sister ...
...for the most part, (all Nicholas wants is to be a gentleman,) but the minor characters are fascinating, and it is not necessarily true that one-sided means boring. Mrs Nickleby is a rich seam of humour as her monologues roll on without impediment, encompassing Shakespeare, partridges, hansom cabs and all sorts without the slightest reference to what her audience might or might not be interested in. Her idea of being courted by 'the gentleman in the ... Read review