Books by Charles Dickens

There could only ever be three reasons as to why you find yourself reading this text. 1: You finished and liked part 1 and want to continue the story.2: The hummus on your finger brought your here by accident or 3: You're one of those... special readers who, three chapters into part 1, just NEED to know how the story ends - right now!Regardless, you shan't be spoiled today.Pip, now 23, beset by ill fortune and spectres of the past, continues his quest to wrest the fair princess Estella from the evil sorceress Miss Havisham's clutches. Fortunately, Pip uses his first wish to have the Genie turn him into a prince to help his chances. If this sounds like a completely different story, it's basically not - especially if you add a cup of frock coats, a pinch of Victorian stiff upper lip and finally that 4th spice: Cumin of Age. Read it before you watch the Bruce Lee drama "e;An Orphan's Tragedy"e; or one of the eight other film adaptations.-

Teenage angst and rebellion might feel like a modern phenomenon but, Bella and Edward, Ferris Bueller and Mean Girls couldn't have happened without 'Hard Times'. Family, work and rebellion are all at the heart of this, one of Dickens' shortest works. Mr Gradgrind gives his two children Tom and Louisa a totally Utilitarian upbringing, disregarding the value of the human heart. What this creates, is the first traces of the modern teenager - rebelliousness and emotional turmoil create more problems than he could have imagined. Louisa, living in a loveless marriage to the greedy Josiah, and Tom, a hardened and unfeeling criminal - leaves their father questioning everything he believes in. A strong critique of industrialisation, full of passionate characters and tempestuous social clashes, this novel still resonates in the modern day.No one writes about the gulf between rich and poor as passionately as Charles Dickens. Full of controversy, arguments and social insight. -

'Little Dorrit' is a highly personal novel by Charles Dickens that many critics state is one of his finest later works. The story revolves around Amy Dorrit, a kind-hearted young woman who resides in Marshalsea prison as her family cannot afford to pay their debts. Amy and her family's fortune changes as Arthur Clennam, a wealthy businessman, takes an interest in her family while attempting to solve a mystery about his lineage. 'Little Dorrit' is a sprawling family saga that involves unrequited love, blackmail, and a timeless rags-to-riches story with a twist. Dickens' celebrated social satire is displayed in this tale as he criticises the cruel prison system of Victorian England which his father spent many years in, unable to work or repay his debts. While this is a darker novel than Dickens' early work, it still entertains through its cast of comical characters and lyrical prose. A thrilling novel that is equally poignant and entertaining, 'Little Dorrit' is still as relevant today as when it was written and is a must-read for fans of Dickens and 'The Shawshank Redemption'.-

A rich misanthropic man with no friends die and leaves all his money to his estranged son, John Harmon, who lives abroad. But Harmon can only inherit the money on the condition that he marries a woman he has never met. When Harmon neglects to return home to collect his inheritance, it leaves everyone puzzled. But then the dead body of a young man is found in the Thames.The plot and characters are exquisite in this last completed novel by Dickens. A sophisticated masterpiece, Our Mutual Friend tells the story of the downside of money and the corruptive power it holds. The book was referenced on the show Lost as well as in the video game Assasin's Creed: Syndicate and in the Paul McCartney song Jenny Wren.-

"e;Once upon a time, and of course it was in the Golden Age, and I hope you may know when that was, for I am sure I don't, though I have tried hard to find out, there lived in a rich and fertile country, a powerful Prince whose name was Bull."e;Bull is one of the many characters you will meet in this wonderful Charles Dickens collection of sketches and short stories. The anthology includes sad must-reads like A Child's Dream of a Star and amusing satirical pieces like A Monument of French Folly. The stories originally appeared in his journal Household Words.-

"e;All that is loathsome, drooping, or decayed is here."e;In 1842 Dickens sailed to America to observe The New World that held such fascination for the English. He went to magnificent landmarks like Niagara Falls but also included visits to mental institutions and prisons. He met President John Tyler in D.C and the well-educated Laura Bridgman, who was deaf-blind. Dickens found lots to admire, but also noted how coarse and ill-mannered the Americans were. That did not go over well with the Americans.With superb language and humour, Dickens gathered these fascinating observations in this travelogue that will have anyone with the slightest interest in cultural differences completely spell-bound.-

"e;It is because I think so much of warm and sensitive hearts, that I would spare them from being wounded."e; In this wonderful compilation of classic Charles Dickens stories, the adventures surrounding children have been taken out of their contexts and presented on their own. Dickens' Stories About Children Every Child Can Read is therefore, as the title suggest, a great introduction for children or anyone new to Dickens. The book contains famous stories like The Christmas Carol, Great Expectations and Oliver Twist as well as a handful lesser known but equally great and informative.-

"e;To conceal anything from those to whom I am attached, is not in my nature. I can never close my lips where I have opened my heart."e;Master Humphrey is an old, crippled man living in London. To combat his loneliness, he starts a little club, Master Humphrey's Clock, and invites its members to read from their manuscripts. Delightful, supernatural, romantic and sometimes a little creepy, this is the collection of their stories. Readers familiar with Dickens will perhaps come across characters and stories they already know as it serves as an introduction to, among others, Barnaby Rudge and The Old Curiosity Shop.-

Everybody hates the refreshment room at the junction, it's terrible. But the staff is convinced that they're running a great operation. When their boss returns from abroad to report that in French refreshment rooms they actually accommodate the guests as best they can, serve them edible food and are nice in general, the staff is shocked.And so unfolds The Boy at Mugby, one of eight short stories in Mugby Junction written by Charles Dickens and a handful of other authors. The collection also includes the famous ghost story The Signal-Man, which the ninth Doctor Who, played by Christopher Eccleston, called "e;The best short story ever written."e;-

En 1827, le Pickwick Club de Londres dont Samuel Pickwick est le fondateur decide de fonder une association de correspondance. Le but de cette association est de faire voyager ses membres qui devront rapporter leurs experiences. C'est ainsi que Samuel Pickwick se met en route avec trois comparses: bon nombre d'aventures les attendent!-

Martin Chuzzlewit junior est eperdument amoureux de Mary Graham, recueillie par Martin Chuzzlewit senior, le grand-pere du junior. Il aimerait l'epouser, mais Chuzzlewit senior aimerait qu'il connaisse le travail et l'effort avant de se marier: il le desherite et l'envoie a Mr Pecksnif chez qui il doit travailler. Tres vite, Chuzzlewit junior decouvre les mauvaises intentions de Mr Pecksnif...-

David Copperfield nait peu apres le deces de son pere - son enfance neanmoins heureuse se voit rapidement troublee par le remariage de sa mere avec le cruel Mr Murdstone. Les choses ne s'arrangent pas quand il est envoye dans une institution dirigee par un homme tout aussi malveillant - si ce n'est qu'il s'y fait des amis pour la vie.-

Suite au deces de son pere, Nicolas Nickleby se doit de prendre soin de sa mere et sa sA ur. Son oncle Ralph ne l'apprecie guere et fait tout pour ruiner la vie du jeune Nicolas... qui ne se laisse pas faire!-

Par un soir de 1775, dans l'auberge de John Willet, Solomon Daisy, ami du tenancier, raconte le meurtre de Reuben Haredale qui a eu lieu 22 ans plus tot. Ce meurtre fait partie de l'histoire du village et est connu de tous. Mais qui est le coupable? Tout porte a croire qu'il s'agit du jardinier qui a disparu depuis.-

John Harmon, riche misanthrope, meurt en leguant sa fortune a son fils a condition qu'il epouse Bella Wilfer sans quoi ce sont les Boffin, fideles employes d'Harmon, qui en heriteront. John Harmon junior revient donc en Angleterre mais est repeche mort dans la Tamise... La fortune d'Harmon senior revient donc aux Boffin qui prennent Bella Wilfer sous leur aile et acceptent les services d'un certain John Rokesmith qui profite de la naivete de ses hotes...-

Fra Parigi e Londra, Dickens ambienta le vicende di un gruppo di persone coinvolte negli eventi della Rivoluzione francese e del periodo del Terrore: Charles Darnay, un aristocratico francese, vittima di accuse indiscriminate da parte dei rivoluzionari, e Sydney Carton, un avvocato inglese che cerca di redimere la propria vita per amore della moglie di Darnay. Vi si trovano tutti i temi classici del romanziere inglese: l'oppressione e la violenza, la poverta e la nobilta di spirito, il sacrificio e la redenzione.-

Amy, devota figlia del vecchio William Dorrit, si prende cura del padre rinchiuso da molti anni per debiti in una prigione londinese. La piccola Dorrit e segretamente innamorata del giovane amico di famiglia Arthur Clennam, ma un'improvvisa eredita mescolera completamente le carte in tavola.-

In questo romanzo si intrecciano due vicende: quella del giovane Harmon, legittimo erede delle fortune paterne di cui non riesce a entrare in possesso, e quella dell'avvocato Eugene, innamorato di Lizzy. Fra tentati omicidi, cadaveri ripescati nel Tamigi, clausole legali e riconciliazioni finali, l'atmosfera del romanzo e dominata dal cupido potere del denaro.-

La storia, ambientata a Rochester, e quella di un matrimonio contrastato, con il futuro sposo che scompare misteriosamente. La mancata sposa rimane quindi naturalmente contesa tra laidi ed equivoci personaggi, sui quali ricadono i sospetti della sparizione. Questa e l'ultima opera di Charles Dickens, che mori prima di riuscire a terminarla.-

Il grillo del focolare e un racconto sul perdono, sulla fiducia, sull'amore coniugale e filiale.John Peerybingle vive felicemente con la moglie Piccina, chiamata affettuosamente cosi perche molto piu giovane di lui, quando il vecchio Tackleton mette in dubbio la fedelta della sua giovane sposa. Insinuazione che sembra trovare conferma in un'immagine fugace e inaspettata che John ha di Piccina in colloquio intimo con un bel giovane. La storia sembra volgere in tragedia, ma interviene il grillo del focolare, nume tutelare della casa, simbolo della felicita domestica.-

Il Circolo Pickwick e il libro che rese di colpo famoso il ventiseienne Charles Dickens, aprendogli la strada del successo. Sullo sfondo della vecchia Inghilterra cordiale e ricca di umanita, eccentrica e truffaldina, bizzarri gentiluomini, vecchie zitelle a caccia di marito, ladruncoli impenitenti, servette pettegole, domestici astuti, bellimbusti imbecilli, ragazze seducenti si agitano in un microcosmo esilarante ma al tempo stesso percorso da sottili inquietudini.-

Philip, detto Pip, avviato a diventare fabbro del villaggio, si trova a possedere una ingente somma di denaro, donatagli da un misterioso benefattore che lui crede essere Miss Havisham, una donna eccentrica che da quando vive a Londra va talvolta a trovare. Pip si innamore di Estella, protetta della Havisham, educacata da lei con lo scopo di far soffrire gli uomini per vendicarsi di essere stata abbandonata il giorno delle nozze. Narratore e protagonista, Pip ripercorre con humour e passione il suo cammino di conoscenza e disillusione, facendo i conti con la propria cecita di fronte ai casi della vita.Questo e il primo di 2 volumi.-

Philip, detto Pip, avviato a diventare fabbro del villaggio, si trova a possedere una ingente somma di denaro, donatagli da un misterioso benefattore che lui crede essere Miss Havisham, una donna eccentrica che da quando vive a Londra va talvolta a trovare. Pip si innamore di Estella, protetta della Havisham, educacata da lei con lo scopo di far soffrire gli uomini per vendicarsi di essere stata abbandonata il giorno delle nozze. Narratore e protagonista, Pip ripercorre con humour e passione il suo cammino di conoscenza e disillusione, facendo i conti con la propria cecita di fronte ai casi della vita.Questo e il secondo di 2 volumi.-

Uno dei primi libri di Charles Dickens fu "e;Nicholas Nickleby"e;, la storia del protagonista eponimo che, dopo la perdita del padre, deve badare alla madre e alla sorella. Si trasferiscono insieme a Londra per vivere con lo zio di Nicholas. Tuttavia lo zio Ralph nutre rancore nei confronti di Nicholas e fa poco per aiutare la sua famiglia. Il crudele maestro Wackford Squeers, ignobile e sgradevole, si basava su una persona reale, che Dickens decise di inserire nel romanzo dopo aver visitato la scuola dove insegnava. Come in tanti libri di Dickens, sono molti i personaggi pittoreschi presenti in "e;Nicholas Nickleby"e; e tutti insieme rappresentano il lato senza cuore della societa vittoriana. -

Charles Dickens scrisse del suo ottavo romanzo: "e;come tanti genitori affettuosi, ho nel cuore un figlio prediletto. E il suo nome e Davide Copperfield"e;. Il romanzo, pubblicato nel 1850, racconta la storia di Davide Copperfield, seguendolo dall'infanzia alla maturita, le sue esperienze, gli amici e i nemici. Il narratore della storia e Davide stesso, un uomo sensibile che, dopo aver vissuto un'infanzia difficile e aver superato molti ostacoli, riesce a diventare uno scrittore famoso. Suona familiare? Il romanzo sembra una velata autobiografia...e infatti non ci sono dubbi che lo sia. -

E la vigilia di Natale a Londra e il rabbioso, infelice Ebenezer Scrooge e solo, senza la minima traccia di spirito natalizio. Non ha idea di quello che gli sta per succedere, di quali spettrali visitatori stanno per arrivare a insegnargli il vero significato delle feste. Un magico classico di Natale, questa commovente storia di Charles Dickens ha contribuito a dipingere le feste natalizie come una celebrazione della carita, della gentilezza, della riflessione. "e;Canto di Natale"e; e stato adattato innumerevoli volte, di cui due volte dalla Disney, e chiunque da Jim Carrey, Albert Finney e Michael Caine a Zio Paperone ha interpretato il miserabile vecchietto.-

Ein groer Gesellschaftsroman des 19. Jahrhunderts: Das Waisen- und Findelkind Oliver Twist flieht aus einem kleinstadtischen Armenhaus nach London und gerat in die Klauen einer Diebesbande. Als bei einem Diebstahl der unschuldige Oliver von der Polizei erwischt wird, hat er zunachst groes Gluck und wird von dem Opfer herzlich aufgenommen. Doch bis zum ersehnten Happy End muss er noch Einiges durchleben...-

Volgens Dickens zelf was Maarten Chuzzlewit de beste roman die hij ooit schreef, maar veel lezers zijn het daar niet mee eens. Dickens kreeg vooral uit Amerika veel kritiek op zijn roman over Maarten Chuzzlewit, die intrekt bij zijn boosaardige oom Seth Pecksniff na een ruzie met zijn grootvader. Samen met een vriend vertrekt Maarten uiteindelijk naar Amerika, waar hij een stuk land aan de frontier koopt, en keert vervolgens weer terug naar Engeland om de banden met zijn grootvader weer aan te halen.De kritiek op het boek betreft vooral de manier waarop Dickens de Amerikanen in het boek heeft neergezet. Die zijn allemaal extreem patriottistisch en vooral met zichzelf bezig. Een Engelsman die op de boot naar Amerika Maarten Chuzzlewit las, zou zich zelfs hebben verdronken omdat hij er na het lezen van dit boek zo tegenop zag om naar Amerika te gaan.-

Een naar een ver land geemigreerde Engelse jongeman krijgt bericht dat zijn vader, weduwnaar en groothandelaar in vuilnis, is overleden en dat hem, per testamentaire beschikking, een enorme erfenis toevalt - mits hij trouwt met een voor hem onbekende jongedame. De jongeman verkoopt zijn bezit en vertrekt per boot naar Londen. Tijdens de zeereis sluit hij vriendschap met een opvarende bootsman en vertelt hem van zijn erfenis en de daaraan verbonden voorwaarde, wat de bootsman op slechte gedachten brengt. Na aankomst in Londen zoeken zij samen logies om later, teneinde enig idee te krijgen van de bedoelde levensgezellin, onopvallend op zoek te gaan naar de aanstaande bruid. Maar de bootsman heeft het plan de erfgenaam te vergiftigen om dan zijn plaats in te nemen ... Er ontwikkelt zich een verhaal met een keur aan onvergetelijke personages, zo markant getekend en met zoveel zwier verteld dat volgens velen dit werk alle voorgaande werken van Dickens overtreft. Tevens is het zijn laatste roman: een indrukwekkend afscheid van zijn lezers.-

In een van Dickens' bekendste romans volgen we het weesjongetje Oliver Twist. Hij heeft het niet makkelijk: hij belandt eerst in een weeshuis en daarna in een werkhuis, waar hij hard moet werken en weinig eten krijgt. Later wordt hij zelfs lid van een zakkenrollersbende.Dickens schreef de roman als aanklacht tegen de manier waarop veel kinderen werden behandeld in de Victoriaanse tijd. Het verhaal van Oliver Twist, die via de ontberingen van het werkhuis in de criminaliteit belandt, was in Dickens' tijd aan de orde van de dag.Oliver Twist is vele malen bewerkt tot films, en met name de musicalbewerking Oliver! is zeer beroemd.-