Sue Baker's view...

A very handsome hardback revealing some of Charles Dickens’ early humorous writings, based on Edward Caswall’s little known Sketches of Young Ladies. The mid-Victorian equivalent of our current Sunday supplement columns, these are short pieces skewering the pretensions of lazy young ladies, bashful young gentlemen and couples who dote on their children to name just a few of the “types” appearing in these pages. Edward Caswall has a wicked sense of humour in that rather endearing ponderous way the Victorians had with their comedy. As for Dickens, early work this may be but the pen is sharpening, the eye acute, the humour pointed, heralding the masterpieces to come. Thank you Oxford for bringing this forgotten gem to our attention!

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Selections from Sketches by Boz (read by David Timson), Charles Dickens 4 CDs, 5 hours unabridged Naxos March 2012 9781843796008
Selected Journalism 1850-1870, Charles Dickens

Synopsis

Following the phenomenal popularity of Sketches by Boz and The Pickwick Papers, Dickens produced two short volumes of Sketches of Young Gentlemen and Young Couples, in response to the appearance of Sketches of Young Ladies by 'Quiz'. Each volume purports to dissect the characteristics of familiar types such as 'The Bashful Young Gentleman', 'The Literary Young Lady', and 'The Couple who Coddle themselves'. Whimsical, satirical, witty and exuberant, the sketches ridicule the behaviour of their subjects with perfect comic effect, rendering Mr Whiffler, Mrs Chopper and their companions instantly recognizable. They offer intriguing glimpses of courtship rituals and relations between the sexes at the outset of the Victorian era, and fascinating evidence of a writer learning his craft and refining his style. This edition includes the original illustrations by Phiz, and an introduction that examines the appeal of the sketch, a literary genre in which Dickens excelled throughout his career.

Reviews

'I've loved reading the Sketches - a delicious and illuminating part of the vast hidden forest of unknown Dickens, enchanting and surprising, and beautifully introduced by Dr Schlicke. Simon Callow, CBE The young Dickens at his most playful, writing anonymously and slyly observant of the manners and morals of the 1830s, when he was himself a young gentleman and one member of a young couple. Paul Schlicke's delightful edition includes the original Phiz illustrations. Claire Tomalin So little known they qualify as new Dickens , and as hugely enjoyable socio-economic writing from his most exuberant phase. Paul Schlicke is to be thanked for bringing them to our attention in his handsomely embellished volume. John Sutherland, Emeritus Lord Nortcliffe Professor, UCL A little gem.' Editor's Picks, The Bookseller

About the Author

Charles Dickens was born in Landport, Hampshire, during the new industrial age, which gave birth to theories of Karl Marx. Dickens's father was a clerk in the navy pay office. He was well paid but often ended in financial troubles. In 1814 Dickens moved to London, and then to Chatham, where he received some education. The schoolmaster William Giles gave special attention to Dickens, who made rapid progress. In 1824, at the age of 12, Dickens was sent to work for some months at a blacking factory, Hungerford Market, London, while his father John was in Marshalea debtor's prison. "My father and mother were quite satisfied," Dickens later recalled bitterly. "They could hardly have been more so, if I had been twenty years of age, distinguished at a grammar-school, and going to Cambridge." Later this period found its way to the novel LITTLE DORRITT (1855-57). John Dickens paid his £40 debt with the money he inherited from his mother; she died at the age of seventy-nine when he was still in prison. More books by this author Author 'Like for Like' recommendation