Charles Dickens by Michael Slater (PDF)

Description

A magnificent new biography of the man who gave us David Copperfield, Oliver Twist, and Ebenezer ScroogeThis long-awaited biography, twenty years after the last major account, uncovers Dickens the man through the profession in which he excelled. Drawing on a lifetime’s study of this prodigiously brilliant figure, Michael Slater explores the personal and emotional life, the high-profile public activities, the relentless travel, the charitable works, the amateur theatricals and the astonishing productivity. But the core focus is Dickens’ career as a writer and professional author, covering not only his big novels but also his phenomenal output of other writing–letters, journalism, shorter fiction, plays, verses, essays, writings for children, travel books, speeches, and scripts for his public readings, and the relationships among them.Slater’s account, rooted in deep research but written with affection, clarity, and economy, illuminates the context of each of the great novels while locating the life of the author within the imagination that created them. It highlights Dickens’ boundless energy, his passion for order and fascination with disorder, his organizational genius, his deep concern for the poor and outrage at indifference towards them, his susceptibility towards young women, his love of Christmas and fairy tales, and his hatred of tyranny.Richly and precisely illustrated with many rare images, this masterly work on the complete Dickens, man and writer, becomes the indispensable guide and companion to one of the greatest novelists in the language.

User’s Reviews

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐Let me be up front about this: I am a huge fan of Charles Dickens. I have read nearly everything he’s written and have rarely found myself to be let down. That said, I am quite well disposed towards anyone willing to write a biography of him. Considering how much he did, how much he wrote, and the considerable scholarship that continues to build up on him, I don’t know how a biographer even sets himself up for the task. And yet, we’ve gotten a number of good biographies lately, of which Mr. Slater’s is one.Mr. Slater’s biography is not for everyone. It is lengthy, as any biography of Dickens that attempts any type of complete coverage must be. Also, it takes a rather academic tone, which will be dispiriting for readers used to the kind of celebrity biographies that are published these days. He seems almost to strain for objectivity, making very few judgments about Dickens’ work or life controversies (most notably, his abandonment of his wife and taking up with a young mistress). This can make his prose rather difficult to get through in spots.On the other hand, for those already familiar with his works and wanting mainly information, Slater’s biography is a good choice. This book is filled with details about Dickens’ various ventures: circulation, dates of completion, how much money he earns, and reactions of various friends. There’s a lot about his amateur theatricals and his reading tours. Slater quotes regularly from Dickens’ voluminous correspondence though, again, generally passages that give us information without much passion.In the end, this is a biography from which you will learn a lot, but not get a real mental picture of Dickens. This can be useful. I, for example, came away with a much better idea of how much Dickens travelled. I had always thought of Gad’s Hill as Dickens’ home but reading this was the first time it got through to me how briefly he lived there. I was amazed at how much he moved around–not just his famous walks and the fleeing of debts he did as a kid, but the houses he had as an adult, the various trips he took from months in the countryside to Italy, Switzerland, Paris, and, of course, America. I was amazed by this.Still, there is very little emotion here. The main feeling I took away from this book is that Dickens (and Slater) were both very hard workers. The amount that Dickens was able to accomplish in his comparatively short working life is incredible. On the other hand, what Dickens was passionate about (and what Slater thinks about that) are mostly hidden in this collection of events. I can appreciate that as an approach but it is a weakness as well.

⭐Comprehensive and fascinating read

⭐To learn and create

⭐Have read three Charles Dickens bios over the past 15 years or so. This is definitely the best of those. Slater’s research is immaculate in its detail and he reserves judgement on many issues in Dickens’s life (such as his mistress late in life and his martial status change) and just presents the research. What he finds and presents makes one wish a woman would write a bio on CD – with a different pov on how he treated his wife, I am sure! After all, she gave him 10 children, 9 of whom lived, and yet he viewed her in his latter years with nothing short of contempt.The book itself is very well written with alot of research but Slater does not let that bog down his ability to write well and let the facts flow in an agreeable manner. He is an excellent writer.Very glad I read it and would recommend it to anyone who wants to know what the latest research has found out about this incredibly talented writer, and his astoundingly busy life with boundless energy. (Nowadays they’d probably put him on Ridalin and ruin the output of his writing – and acting – abilities.)

⭐Michael Slater’s “Charles Dickens” is a masterpiece of work by one of the foremost biographer’s of the man himself.Dr. Slater’s research into the literary career of the author is the first time that such an angle has been taken and he does Dickens justice including touching on subjects where other authors have only glanced or not taken up.While the tome is long it is probably best read interrupted for long evenings or lazy weekends. My only problem was the typeface which is somewhat small but which one does adjust to as one reads through.All in all a goodly read by a fine author.

⭐This is not only the most boring biography of Dickens I have ever read; it is one of the most boring biographies of anyone I have ever read. It is basically 600+ pages about Dickens’ career as a writer and editor, focused on the mind-numbing details of which chapters of which books he wrote when, with some attempt to link fictional characters to events in Dickens own life. It contains virtually no literally analysis or exploration of his politics or who he was as a person. Yes, it is well researched, well written, and copiously documented, but I would not recommend this to anyone.

⭐Thank you, Michael Slater for your research. You have woven a mass of details into the tapestry of a powerful life.I have a deeper understanding of and respect for the author of David Copperfield and Great Expectations because of your fine writing.

⭐The copy sent was in superb condition and is a terrific read for a Dickensfile like me. Thoroughly enjoyable and well done.

⭐Michael Slater is the world’s foremost expert on Charles Dickens. This book is essential reading for anyone interested in Dickens & Victorian Life. If you read nothing else on Dickens this is the book you should own & read.

⭐Good condition,good reading

⭐fine

⭐Slater’s ‘Charles Dickens’ is well-written and informative, and the frequent notes and references strike the right balance so that the reader can check where information comes from, should they wish to; but the text can still be read without constant interruption. The narrative is clear, and discussion intelligent. This is far far better than the bitterly disappointing Ackroyd ‘Dickens’ with its endless (and pointless) querulous speculations (‘could it be that the mouse Dickens saw disappearing into his wainscot on that fateful day, made its appearance again in Gaffer Hexam’s shack in Our Mutual Friend, some twenty years later?’). Unlike Ackroyd, Slater has not yet given up bothering to write well.

⭐Before Slater my view of Dickens was one of a whining potboiler writer with flashes of insight and emotional depth. I had read a number of his works and knew summaries of others but was totally unaware of the breadth of skills and ability with words that he manifested. I was unaware of the respect and deference offered him by hiis contemporaries until this volume and wonder whether his reproductive successes, with Catherine, somehow parallel his literary output as books and children arrive at very regular intervals.This is a great, great read. Prof. Slater has clearly read and re read most of Dickens enormous output and also delved into letters from and to Dickens, his magazine and periodical articles and then has been able to match biography and bibliography, offering excellent and evidence supported knowledge of the development of characters in his writings. The book is easy to read and will be my constant companion while I revisit Dickens through his own words. The booksellers, paper or otherwise will bless Slater and his reopening of Dickens to wider and more casual modern readership.Peter.

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