Blackwell Reference Online

Charles Dickens is one of the most widely read authors in English literature. This Companion, comprising essays written by leading Dickensian scholars from around the world, places Dickens's writings in their literary and historical contexts and offers the factual and referential knowledge to enable readers to approach his works with insight and understanding.

Through Dickens's letters, journalism, and fiction, chapters examine the literary, visual, historical, ideological, and social forces that defined the world of his fiction. Individual essays explore a broad range of topics, including the role of illustrations in his novels, the literary tradition Dickens inherited, his unique facility with language, his uses of history, and the extent to which Christian assumptions shaped him as a writer. Other contributions assess his attitude towards technology, the United States, law, gender, and political and social reform, while essays treating biographical matters and surveying Dickens criticism complete the volume. This unique Companion will help readers better understand Dickens's work and will be an invaluable resource for students and professionals alike.