Charles Dickens

Name: Charles Dickens
ISBN: 9780007445318

by Stephen Leacock

4/5

(27 votes)

An exuberant and entertaining biography of Charles Dickens that captures the essence of the great novelist.

Simon Callow's sparkling biography explores the central importance of the theatre to the life of the greatest storyteller in the English language.

From his early years as a child entertainer in Portsmouth to his reluctant retirement from 'these garish lights' just before his death, Dickens was obsessed with the stage.

Not only was he a dazzling mimic who wrote, acted in and stage-managed plays, all with fanatical perfectionism; as a writer he was a compulsive performer, whose very imagination was theatrical, both in terms of plot devices and construction of character.

Like many actors, Dickens felt the need to be completed by contact with his audience.

He was the original 'celebrity' author, who attracted thousands of adoring fans to his readings in Britain and across the Atlantic, in which he gave voice to his unforgettable cast of characters.

In Charles Dickens, Callow brings his own unique insight to a life driven by performance and showmanship.

He reveals an exuberant and irrepressible talent, whose 'inimitable' wit and personality crackle off the page.

First published: 2012
Publishers: Fitzhenry & Whiteside· Limited
Subjects: Dickens·Charles·1812-1870authors·Biography·Authors·English
Language: English

Michael Slater: encyclopaedic, hardcore. Claire Tomalin: thorough, concisely packed.

I could almost go four stars on this one Almost. But not quite.

About Stephen Leacock

Stephen P. H. Butler Leacock, FRSC, was a Canadian teacher, political scientist, writer, and humorist. Between the years 1915 and 1925, he was the best-known English-speaking humorist in the world. He is known for his light humour along with criticisms of people's follies. The Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour was named in his honour.Wikipedia article....

Books

Bare Metal C

Stephen Oualline

Cutetitos Jokes, Riddles, Games, and More!

Stephen Behling

Get to know these burrito-wrapped friends with the ultimate joke and activity book.

Cooper and Fry Mystery Collection #4

Stephen Booth

Cooper and Fry Mystery Collection #2

Stephen Booth

It

Stephen King

Soon to be a major motion picture stephen king s terrifying, classic #1 new york times bestseller!

Stephen King's the Dark Tower

Stephen King

The complete graphic novel prequel series stephen king's the dark tower: beginnings—now collected in a beautiful hardcover omnibus.

Neurobusiness

Stephen Rhys Thomas

The book is an exploration of recent advances in neuroscience and their implications for the conduct and management of business.

Jensen 541

Stephen Carter

This is the first book to cover one of the most significant jensen cars ever made and one that combined an amazing set of technological advances.

Stephen Mackey Untitled 2 Stephen Mackey Untitled 2

Stephen Mackey

Info Buzz : Black History : Barack Obama : Black History

Stephen White-Thomson

Stephen Mackey Untitled 1

Stephen MacKey

Carrie

Stephen King

Carrie knew she should not use the terrifying power she possessed...

ASP. NET 4. 5 Unleashed

Stephen Walther

'asp.

Incoming Friendly

Stephen Francis Montagna

Secret of Flight 149

Stephen Davis

Thomas′ Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, Volume 2

Stephen J. Forman

Family Interaction

Stephen A. Anderson

Hustlin' Backward : Regressive Progression

Stephen Hargrave

Tourism Geography

Stephen Williams

Continuity and Change in German Politics

Stephen Padgett

Rebels Against Rome

Stephen Dando-Collins

Rocketeer

Stephen Mooney

Failures of Philosophy

Stephen Gaukroger

Rebels Against Rome

Stephen Dando-Collins

Locust Lane

Stephen Amidon

Worlds of Meaning

Wright, Stephen

Locker Room Playbook

Stephen Mackey

Epidemiologic Methods

Stephen C. Newman

Globalization of Business and Public Policy

Stephen Young

The banking & financial services crisis in the usa and uk highlighted a policy deficit which has had reverberations across the global economy, including the growing threat of protectionism.

Tax Savvy for Small Business

Stephen Fishman Fishman

Scenography in Musical Theatre

Stephen A. Di Benedetto

Legal Aspects of Building Green

Stephen Del Percio

In early 2009, the united states green building council (usgbc) released a white paper that claimed green building legal risks are merely 'old wine in new bottles'.