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Scenes and Characters from the Works of Charles Dickens Being Eight Hundred and Sixty-six Pictures Printed From the Original Wood Blocks
"Scenes and Characters from the Works of Charles Dickens" by Charles Dickens. Published by Good Press. Good Press publishes a wide range of titles that encompasses every genre. From well-known classics & literary fiction and non-fiction to forgotten−or yet undiscovered gems−of world literature, we issue the books that need to be read. Each Good Press edition has been meticulously edited and formatted to boost readability for all e-readers and devices. Our goal is to produce eBooks that are user-friendly and accessible to everyone in a high-quality digital format.
584 pages, ebook
Published July 13, 2013
2 people are currently reading
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About the author
Charles Dickens
12k books31k followersCharles John Huffam Dickens (1812-1870) was a writer and social critic who created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era. His works enjoyed unprecedented popularity during his lifetime, and by the twentieth century critics and scholars had recognised him as a literary genius. His novels and short stories enjoy lasting popularity.
Dickens left school to work in a factory when his father was incarcerated in a debtors' prison. Despite his lack of formal education, he edited a weekly journal for 20 years, wrote 15 novels, five novellas, hundreds of short stories and non-fiction articles, lectured and performed extensively, was an indefatigable letter writer, and campaigned vigorously for children's rights, education, and other social reforms.
Dickens was regarded as the literary colossus of his age. His 1843 novella, A Christmas Carol, remains popular and continues to inspire adaptations in every artistic genre. Oliver Twist and Great Expectations are also frequently adapted, and, like many of his novels, evoke images of early Victorian London. His 1859 novel, A Tale of Two Cities, set in London and Paris, is his best-known work of historical fiction. Dickens's creative genius has been praised by fellow writers—from Leo Tolstoy to George Orwell and G. K. Chesterton—for its realism, comedy, prose style, unique characterisations, and social criticism. On the other hand, Oscar Wilde, Henry James, and Virginia Woolf complained of a lack of psychological depth, loose writing, and a vein of saccharine sentimentalism. The term Dickensian is used to describe something that is reminiscent of Dickens and his writings, such as poor social conditions or comically repulsive characters.
On 8 June 1870, Dickens suffered another stroke at his home after a full day's work on Edwin Drood. He never regained consciousness, and the next day he died at Gad's Hill Place. Contrary to his wish to be buried at Rochester Cathedral "in an inexpensive, unostentatious, and strictly private manner," he was laid to rest in the Poets' Corner of Westminster Abbey. A printed epitaph circulated at the time of the funeral reads: "To the Memory of Charles Dickens (England's most popular author) who died at his residence, Higham, near Rochester, Kent, 9 June 1870, aged 58 years. He was a sympathiser with the poor, the suffering, and the oppressed; and by his death, one of England's greatest writers is lost to the world." His last words were: "On the ground", in response to his sister-in-law Georgina's request that he lie down.
(from Wikipedia)
Dickens left school to work in a factory when his father was incarcerated in a debtors' prison. Despite his lack of formal education, he edited a weekly journal for 20 years, wrote 15 novels, five novellas, hundreds of short stories and non-fiction articles, lectured and performed extensively, was an indefatigable letter writer, and campaigned vigorously for children's rights, education, and other social reforms.
Dickens was regarded as the literary colossus of his age. His 1843 novella, A Christmas Carol, remains popular and continues to inspire adaptations in every artistic genre. Oliver Twist and Great Expectations are also frequently adapted, and, like many of his novels, evoke images of early Victorian London. His 1859 novel, A Tale of Two Cities, set in London and Paris, is his best-known work of historical fiction. Dickens's creative genius has been praised by fellow writers—from Leo Tolstoy to George Orwell and G. K. Chesterton—for its realism, comedy, prose style, unique characterisations, and social criticism. On the other hand, Oscar Wilde, Henry James, and Virginia Woolf complained of a lack of psychological depth, loose writing, and a vein of saccharine sentimentalism. The term Dickensian is used to describe something that is reminiscent of Dickens and his writings, such as poor social conditions or comically repulsive characters.
On 8 June 1870, Dickens suffered another stroke at his home after a full day's work on Edwin Drood. He never regained consciousness, and the next day he died at Gad's Hill Place. Contrary to his wish to be buried at Rochester Cathedral "in an inexpensive, unostentatious, and strictly private manner," he was laid to rest in the Poets' Corner of Westminster Abbey. A printed epitaph circulated at the time of the funeral reads: "To the Memory of Charles Dickens (England's most popular author) who died at his residence, Higham, near Rochester, Kent, 9 June 1870, aged 58 years. He was a sympathiser with the poor, the suffering, and the oppressed; and by his death, one of England's greatest writers is lost to the world." His last words were: "On the ground", in response to his sister-in-law Georgina's request that he lie down.
(from Wikipedia)
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 22, 2018
This is a book of original illustrations to the works of Charles Dickens. Very early on in his writing career, he became known as "Boz", and shortly afterwards coined the name "Phiz" for his good friend Hablot Knight Browne, who illustrated many of his works. Indeed Dickens and "Phiz" seem inseparable, and many readers of Dickens imagine the grotesque pen and ink illustrations from Phiz, when remembering a favourite novel. Or perhaps we remember the few earlier images by Seymour - or our imagination conjures up the absurd exaggerated designs by Cruikshank. It seems entirely appropriate that since Dickens himself was a caricaturist, the illustrations should reflect his grotesque depictions of people and situations.
There are readers however, who do not like such caricatures, or find them a distraction from the books. Some feel that both the humour and the poignancy of Dickens's best works are spoiled for our modern tastes by such exaggerations. These readers might well prefer the collections of illustrations here, which can also be argued to be "the originals". They were the illustrations to the "Household Edition" magazine of Dickens, which was published in 1870 just after his death. The magazine was issued in penny and sixpenny parts. Setting such an affordable price meant that the "Household Edition" instantly became an enormous success, Dickens being hugely popular by this time. Sales rocketed, and even now a reader may come across an edition of the familiar green-covered pamphlets, carefully preserved in some collection.
All the illustrations from these magazines are reproduced here, and quite a few of his shorter works too. As well as those artists mentioned, there are works by Fred Barnard, J. Mahoney, Charle Green, A. B. Frost, Gordon Thomson. J. McL. Ralston, H. French, E. G. Dalziel. F. A. Frazer and Luke Fildes. Most of the illustrations preserve the original features of Phiz and Cruikshank's interpretations, while they tone down the more extravagant details. Sometimes they are so close to the original novels' illustrations, that these particular designs are what the reader remembers. Short extracts from Dickens's works are included, to accompany the illustrations. These act as a reminder of the story lines, so that the reader can follow them through. For a Dickens enthusiast, it is a joy to read.
There are readers however, who do not like such caricatures, or find them a distraction from the books. Some feel that both the humour and the poignancy of Dickens's best works are spoiled for our modern tastes by such exaggerations. These readers might well prefer the collections of illustrations here, which can also be argued to be "the originals". They were the illustrations to the "Household Edition" magazine of Dickens, which was published in 1870 just after his death. The magazine was issued in penny and sixpenny parts. Setting such an affordable price meant that the "Household Edition" instantly became an enormous success, Dickens being hugely popular by this time. Sales rocketed, and even now a reader may come across an edition of the familiar green-covered pamphlets, carefully preserved in some collection.
All the illustrations from these magazines are reproduced here, and quite a few of his shorter works too. As well as those artists mentioned, there are works by Fred Barnard, J. Mahoney, Charle Green, A. B. Frost, Gordon Thomson. J. McL. Ralston, H. French, E. G. Dalziel. F. A. Frazer and Luke Fildes. Most of the illustrations preserve the original features of Phiz and Cruikshank's interpretations, while they tone down the more extravagant details. Sometimes they are so close to the original novels' illustrations, that these particular designs are what the reader remembers. Short extracts from Dickens's works are included, to accompany the illustrations. These act as a reminder of the story lines, so that the reader can follow them through. For a Dickens enthusiast, it is a joy to read.
March 6, 2014
Scenes and Characters from the Works of Charles Dickens
ebook>gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/43207/...
summer 2013
victorian artforms
dickensphernalia
Opening: THERE is one question upon which the critics and lovers of Dickens seem never able to get into agreement, and that is the question of the original illustrations to his works. To the thorough-going enthusiast Phiz and Dickens seem inseparable, and no edition which does not contain the old, familiar grotesques of Hablot Browne's imagination, or, in the earlier volume, the equally abnormal lineaments portrayed by Cruikshank or Seymour, would be deemed worthy of a place upon his bookshelf.
Am loathed to take more sketches from the ebook as there will be little for you to discover yourself, so I give you Laura's review which contains a good sample.
ebook>gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/43207/...
summer 2013
victorian artforms
dickensphernalia
Opening: THERE is one question upon which the critics and lovers of Dickens seem never able to get into agreement, and that is the question of the original illustrations to his works. To the thorough-going enthusiast Phiz and Dickens seem inseparable, and no edition which does not contain the old, familiar grotesques of Hablot Browne's imagination, or, in the earlier volume, the equally abnormal lineaments portrayed by Cruikshank or Seymour, would be deemed worthy of a place upon his bookshelf.
Am loathed to take more sketches from the ebook as there will be little for you to discover yourself, so I give you Laura's review which contains a good sample.
July 16, 2013
Free download available at Project Gutenberg.
Another little gem which should not be missed.
THE POSTHUMOUS PAPERS OF THE PICKWICK CLUB
"Permit me to introduce my friends—Mr. Tupman—Mr. Winkle—Mr. Snodgrass"—Chap. xv.
THE ADVENTURES OF OLIVER TWIST
"Stop thief!"—Chap. x.
THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF NICHOLAS NICKLEBY
"Wretch," rejoined Nicholas fiercely, "touch him at your peril! I will not stand by, and see it done. My blood is up, and I have the strength of ten such men as you"—Chap. xiii.
THE OLD CURIOSITY SHOP
"Now, gentlemen," said Jerry, looking at them attentively, "the dog whose name's called, eats"—Chap. xviii.
BARNABY RUDGE
Lord George Gordon leaving the Maypole—Chap. xxxvii.
THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF MARTIN CHUZZLEWIT
"Let us be merry." Here he took a captain's biscuit—Chap. v.
CHRISTMAS BOOKS
He had been Tim's blood-horse all the way from church, and had come home rampant—A Christmas Carol, Stave iii.
DAVID COPPERFIELD
"That's not it!" said I, "that ship-looking thing!" "That's it, Mas'r Davy," returned Ham—Chap. iii.
BLEAK HOUSE
"If I were in your place I would seize every Master in Chancery by the throat to-morrow morning, and shake him until his money rolled out of his pockets, and his bones rattled in his skin"—Chap. ix.
A TALE OF TWO CITIES
The third tumbrel—Book 3, chap. xv.
GREAT EXPECTATIONS
"Why should I look at him?" returned Estella—Chap. xxxviii.
Another little gem which should not be missed.
THE POSTHUMOUS PAPERS OF THE PICKWICK CLUB
"Permit me to introduce my friends—Mr. Tupman—Mr. Winkle—Mr. Snodgrass"—Chap. xv.
THE ADVENTURES OF OLIVER TWIST
"Stop thief!"—Chap. x.
THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF NICHOLAS NICKLEBY
"Wretch," rejoined Nicholas fiercely, "touch him at your peril! I will not stand by, and see it done. My blood is up, and I have the strength of ten such men as you"—Chap. xiii.
THE OLD CURIOSITY SHOP
"Now, gentlemen," said Jerry, looking at them attentively, "the dog whose name's called, eats"—Chap. xviii.
BARNABY RUDGE
Lord George Gordon leaving the Maypole—Chap. xxxvii.
THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF MARTIN CHUZZLEWIT
"Let us be merry." Here he took a captain's biscuit—Chap. v.
CHRISTMAS BOOKS
He had been Tim's blood-horse all the way from church, and had come home rampant—A Christmas Carol, Stave iii.
DAVID COPPERFIELD
"That's not it!" said I, "that ship-looking thing!" "That's it, Mas'r Davy," returned Ham—Chap. iii.
BLEAK HOUSE
"If I were in your place I would seize every Master in Chancery by the throat to-morrow morning, and shake him until his money rolled out of his pockets, and his bones rattled in his skin"—Chap. ix.
A TALE OF TWO CITIES
The third tumbrel—Book 3, chap. xv.
GREAT EXPECTATIONS
"Why should I look at him?" returned Estella—Chap. xxxviii.
November 12, 2023
Visual images in the 19th century were emblematic art to be read for meaning. Just as the outside world around Dickens was a set of signs to be deciphered and interpreted, so too the graphic designs offered the reader pictures pregnant with meaning for the viewer to comprehend. This tradition for the viewer was comic, not only in the sense of laughable, but also in that it was dealing with commonplace subject matter and being satirical by using grotesque exaggeration attributed as much to artistic convention as to the caricature of the world being represented.
Introductory Note ✔
SKETCHES BY BOZ ILLUSTRATIVE OF EVERY-DAY LIFE AND EVERY-DAY PEOPLE ✔
Thirty-Four Illustrations by Fred Barnard
THE POSTHUMOUS PAPERS OF THE PICKWICK CLUB ✔
Fifty-Seven Illustrations by Phiz (Hablot Knight Browne)
THE ADVENTURES OF OLIVER TWIST ✔
Twenty-Eight Illustrations by J. Mahoney
THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF NICHOLAS NICKLEBY ✔
Fifty-Nine Illustrations by Fred Barnard
MASTER HUMPHREY'S CLOCK AND OTHER STORIES ✔
Nine Illustrations by Fred Barnard
THE OLD CURIOSITY SHOP ✔
Thirty-Nine Illustrations by C. Green
BARNABY RUJDGE A TALE OF THE RIOTS OF 'EIGHTY ✔
Forty-Six Illustrations by Fred Barnard
AMERICAN NOTE8 ✔
Ten Illustrations by A. B. Frost
THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF MARTIN CHUZZLEWIT ✔
Fifty-Nine Illustrations by Fred Barnard
CHRISTMAS BOOKS ✔
Twenty-Eight Illustrations by Fred Barnard
PICTURES FROM ITALY ✔
Eight Illustrations by Gordon Thomson
DEALINGS WITH THE FIRM Of DOMBEY AND SON WHOLESALE, RETAIL AND FOR EXPORTATION ✔
Sixty-Two Illustrations by Fred Barnard
THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF DAYID COPPERFIELD ✔
Sixty-One Illustrations by Fred Barnard
A CHILD'S HISTORY OF ENGLAND ✔
Fifteen Illustrations by John McLaren RALSTON
BLEAK HOUSE ✔
Sixty-One Illustrations by Fred Barnard
HARD TIMES ✔
Twenty Illustrations by H. French
LITTLE DORRIT ✔
Fifty-Eight Illustrations by J. Mahoney
REPRINTED PIECES ✔
Nine Illustrations by E. G. Dalziel
A TALE OF TWO CITIES ✔
Twenty-Five Illustrations by Fred Barnard
THE UNCOMMERCIAL TRAVELLER ✔
Twenty-Six Illustrations by E. G. Dalziel
GREAT EXPECTATIONS ✔
Thirty Illustrations by F. A. Fraser
OUR MUTUAL FRIEND ✔
Fifty-Eight Illustrations by J. Mahoney
CHRISTMAS STORIES FROM "HOUSEHOLD WORDS" AND "ALL THE YEAR ROUND" ✔
Twenty-Three Illustrations by E. G. Dalziel
THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD ✔
Twelve Illustrations by Sir Luke Fildes R.A.
THE LIFE OF CHARLES DICKENS ✔
Twenty-Eight Illustrations by Fred Barnard
Introductory Note ✔
SKETCHES BY BOZ ILLUSTRATIVE OF EVERY-DAY LIFE AND EVERY-DAY PEOPLE ✔
Thirty-Four Illustrations by Fred Barnard
THE POSTHUMOUS PAPERS OF THE PICKWICK CLUB ✔
Fifty-Seven Illustrations by Phiz (Hablot Knight Browne)
THE ADVENTURES OF OLIVER TWIST ✔
Twenty-Eight Illustrations by J. Mahoney
THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF NICHOLAS NICKLEBY ✔
Fifty-Nine Illustrations by Fred Barnard
MASTER HUMPHREY'S CLOCK AND OTHER STORIES ✔
Nine Illustrations by Fred Barnard
THE OLD CURIOSITY SHOP ✔
Thirty-Nine Illustrations by C. Green
BARNABY RUJDGE A TALE OF THE RIOTS OF 'EIGHTY ✔
Forty-Six Illustrations by Fred Barnard
AMERICAN NOTE8 ✔
Ten Illustrations by A. B. Frost
THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF MARTIN CHUZZLEWIT ✔
Fifty-Nine Illustrations by Fred Barnard
CHRISTMAS BOOKS ✔
Twenty-Eight Illustrations by Fred Barnard
PICTURES FROM ITALY ✔
Eight Illustrations by Gordon Thomson
DEALINGS WITH THE FIRM Of DOMBEY AND SON WHOLESALE, RETAIL AND FOR EXPORTATION ✔
Sixty-Two Illustrations by Fred Barnard
THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF DAYID COPPERFIELD ✔
Sixty-One Illustrations by Fred Barnard
A CHILD'S HISTORY OF ENGLAND ✔
Fifteen Illustrations by John McLaren RALSTON
BLEAK HOUSE ✔
Sixty-One Illustrations by Fred Barnard
HARD TIMES ✔
Twenty Illustrations by H. French
LITTLE DORRIT ✔
Fifty-Eight Illustrations by J. Mahoney
REPRINTED PIECES ✔
Nine Illustrations by E. G. Dalziel
A TALE OF TWO CITIES ✔
Twenty-Five Illustrations by Fred Barnard
THE UNCOMMERCIAL TRAVELLER ✔
Twenty-Six Illustrations by E. G. Dalziel
GREAT EXPECTATIONS ✔
Thirty Illustrations by F. A. Fraser
OUR MUTUAL FRIEND ✔
Fifty-Eight Illustrations by J. Mahoney
CHRISTMAS STORIES FROM "HOUSEHOLD WORDS" AND "ALL THE YEAR ROUND" ✔
Twenty-Three Illustrations by E. G. Dalziel
THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD ✔
Twelve Illustrations by Sir Luke Fildes R.A.
THE LIFE OF CHARLES DICKENS ✔
Twenty-Eight Illustrations by Fred Barnard
July 25, 2013
The perfect marriage of great stories with great art. I just happen to love woodcuts (and Dickens), so that didn't hurt either. Thanks to Laura and Bettie for cluing me in.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews