The Dickens Dictionary: An A-Z of England's Greatest Novelist

by John Sutherland

For fans old and new, a fascinating tour through Charles Dickens’ novels in the hands of a master critic.

Oliver Twist … Great Expectations … David Copperfield – all contain a riotous fictional world that still leaves and breathes for readers the world over today.

But how much do we really know about Charles Dickens’ dazzling imagination, which has brought this all into being?

To celebrate the bicentenary of the birth of Dickens – 2012 - Victorian literature expert John Sutherland has created a gloriously wide-ranging alphabetical companion to Dickens’ novels, excavating the hidden links between his characters, themes, and preoccupations, and the minutiae of his endlessly inventive wordplay.

Covering America, Bastards, Childhood, Christmas, Empire, Fog, Larks, London, Madness, Murder, Orphans, Pubs, Punishment, Smells, Spontaneous Combustion and Zoo to name but a few - John Sutherland gives us a uniquely personal guide to Charles Dickens’ books.

Genres: Nonfiction

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

John Andrew Sutherland is an English academic, newspaper columnist and author. He is Emeritus Lord Northcliffe Professor of Modern English Literature at University College London.

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here John Sutherland takes what he does best – an erudite approach to Victorian literary trivia – and applies it to Dickens’s life and oeuvre to create a delightful book of facts. He gets away with the A-Z gimmick by choosing outrageously unexpected headings such as “Bastards,” “Child Abuse,” “Dead Babies,” and “Sausages.”

Some of my favorite revelations were about Dickens’s pets: he hated cats generally but happened to acquire a deaf stray he named Bob, who became such a beloved member of the family that Dickens had his dead paw stuffed and turned into the handle of his letter-opener! A similar taxidermy tale concerns his pet raven Grip, who is stuffed and on display (since 1971) in the Philadelphia Free Library. I hope to pay him a pilgrim’s visit there one day.

In more serious matters, there are many wise observations about the novels’ themes, characterization and nomenclature. I like this observation (from Dickens himself) about his aim in alternating high comedy and high drama: “to present the tragic and comic scenes, in as regular alternation, as the layers of red and white in a side of streaky bacon.”

Sutherland conveys criticism other writers have levied against Dickens for his flat characters and preposterous naming. E.M. Forster cited Dickens as the prime example of flat (as opposed to round) characterization; Orwell also commented on the way Dickens’ characters are represented by one repeated (often comic) action: “He is all fragments, all details – rotten architecture, but wonderful gargoyles.” Sutherland suggests that Dickens may have been one of the first to endow his characters with Tourette’s-like tics. Thackeray was dismissive of Dickens’s character names (whereas Henry James had praised him as the model of how to give characters witty but apt names).

While acknowledging that some of Dickens’s names are ridiculous (M’Choakumchild in Hard Times being the worst offender), Sutherland suggests that some of Dickens’s names may have been more knowing than we assume – names like Murdstone and Merdle have the echo of the French merde; Uriah Heep brings to mind urea; Rosa Bud may have raised thoughts of nipples. “Of course the kind of reader Dickens most admires would never catch these unworthy echoes. I, alas, do,” Sutherland abashedly admits.

It is impossible to read Dickens with the innocence of a Victorian lady of leisure; Sutherland gives us the model of how to encounter him as jaded 21st-century readers, steeped in Freudianism and skepticism, but nonetheless delighting in his narrative gems.

[Bill Groves · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting read. I have read all of Dickens novels but I discovered many aspects that I had not considered. It makes me want to red them again.

[Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dickens characters. Victoriana. Itch wards. Thackeray and Trollope. Light literary analysis and criticism.

[Nicki Markus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Now, I'll confess, I've never been a huge Dickens fan. Hardy, yes; Dickens, no. But I was interested to see what this dictionary of his work would have to offer.

I have read all of Dickens books at least once, so I had no trouble following the references and there were a few facts that I found fun and intriguing. But, I finished this book wondering what the point of it was as it really didn't offer anything that illuminating or important.

In conclusion, I would say that this is a fun addition to the library of any Dickens fan, but perhaps does not have as much to offer to a wider readership: one for the die-hards.

I received this book as a free e-book ARC via NetGalley.

[Lisa]

It is rare to find a non-fiction book that is written with a light touch and in a humorous manner. John Sutherland has achieved this with his hugely enjoyable dictionary of Dickens. This is my favourite book about Dickens!

Here you will learn about the origins of his characters, his travels, and the scandals that revolved around him. You will also find out some things that you probably don't want to know, for example, that Dickens was deeply prejudiced against Catholicism.

Some parts of this book were a bit too gruesome to read, so be warned. This includes Dickens's graphic description of witnessing an execution in Italy.

This is the perfect book for any Dickens fan.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed theThe Dickens Dictionary_. It's very informative as well as very user-friendly. John Sutherland's wit and enthusiasm for Dickens are apparent and welcome. It would make an ideal addition to a beginning or casual Dickens readers library, an expert might not find it as useful, but might be entertained.