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Mrs. Dickens
In the early days of their marriage, Charles Dickens was infatuated with his pretty, sweet-natured new wife, Kate. But as he found fame as a novelist and their family rose through the ranks of Victorian society, he grew increasingly frustrated that real people could not be controlled as easily as his characters.
Kate bears her husband ten children and travels the world by his side but the harder she tries to be a model wife the more she finds herself falling short. She seeks comfort and companionship in Anne Brown, the family's trusted servant, but whilst Anne comes to care deeply for Kate, her loyalties are tested to breaking point as the Dickens' marriage unravels.
Mrs Dickens reimagines the life of a complex, forgotten woman and tells the story of a decades-long marriage in all its tenderness, grief, romance and fury. Above all, it shows a woman silenced by more powerful voices until she finds the courage to use her own.
Kate bears her husband ten children and travels the world by his side but the harder she tries to be a model wife the more she finds herself falling short. She seeks comfort and companionship in Anne Brown, the family's trusted servant, but whilst Anne comes to care deeply for Kate, her loyalties are tested to breaking point as the Dickens' marriage unravels.
Mrs Dickens reimagines the life of a complex, forgotten woman and tells the story of a decades-long marriage in all its tenderness, grief, romance and fury. Above all, it shows a woman silenced by more powerful voices until she finds the courage to use her own.
434 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 11, 2026
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June 25, 2026I have very complex feelings about this book. I really liked Emily Howes' debut novel The Painter's Daughters, which I read when it came out back in 2024, and I was so excited when I heard that she was writing about Catherine Dickens. Charles Dickens is my favourite author, but I went into this already aware of Dickens' mercurial nature, and his poor treatment of Catherine, so I didn't have a saintly image of him, nor was I armed ready with excuses and apologies for his behaviour. I was intrigued and went in completely open minded.
Where Mrs Dickens does succeed is giving Catherine 'Kate' Dickens a voice, bringing her out of obscurity and letting her stand out from under her husband's large shadow. Her depiction of Kate is sympathetic and human - I felt like I grew to know her better through reading this book, which is ultimately what Howes set out to do. I do think that her story was at times over simplified to make her a victim of not just her husband's cruelty but all of her family and the general public, too. This is slightly redeemed towards the end of the book, but it did sometimes feel like Catherine was being reduced to just that - a poor bullied victim with little to no agency.
There are many instances of very good writing where Howes hits the nail precisely on the head:
"He, the Inimitable, as he begins to sign himself, half in jest, half in earnest. She, the Beloved. A pair of characters in a play about happiness".
Even her choice to include Hilary Mantel's quote at the beginning of the book, "Once a woman has had ten children, she ceases to have a biography", was brilliant, and captured the essence of this story perfectly. There's a lot of ground to cover in the couple's 22 years of marriage, with a number of babies and books birthed between them, so not everything could be covered. It was interesting to see what was missing and skimmed over - the complete exclusion of John Forster was slightly odd to me considering how close he was to the family, but that may be just me.
The book isn't always the most subtle or nuanced when it comes to its portrayal of other people, however. Dickens himself is depicted as constantly cruel, essentially a tyrant to his wife and children with next to nothing redeemable about him. Georgina Hogarth, Kate's sister, is painted in one singular hue: that of the controlling, traitorous sister, which takes away all complexity of their relationship. Ellen Ternan is barely present, reduced to just a pretty young girl having an affair with a much older, famous man, though of course her interactions with Catherine were extremely limited so couldn't be deeply explored. Anne Brown was decent but at times I wondered if she really necessitated chapters written from her perspective, though her complex relationship with both Catherine and Charles was really interesting. I think maybe the book should have been written entirely from Catherine's perspective...this would be limiting but would also negate the issues with the representations of other people as it is all her opinion and point of view.
Overall, I think this is a good novel but it left me uneasy in some of its choices. I'm very curious to read more about Catherine and have ordered the biography, The Other Dickens, which Howes cites as her main source of research for this novel. I hope Mrs Dickens inspires more people to look deeper into Catherine's story.
Where Mrs Dickens does succeed is giving Catherine 'Kate' Dickens a voice, bringing her out of obscurity and letting her stand out from under her husband's large shadow. Her depiction of Kate is sympathetic and human - I felt like I grew to know her better through reading this book, which is ultimately what Howes set out to do. I do think that her story was at times over simplified to make her a victim of not just her husband's cruelty but all of her family and the general public, too. This is slightly redeemed towards the end of the book, but it did sometimes feel like Catherine was being reduced to just that - a poor bullied victim with little to no agency.
There are many instances of very good writing where Howes hits the nail precisely on the head:
"He, the Inimitable, as he begins to sign himself, half in jest, half in earnest. She, the Beloved. A pair of characters in a play about happiness".
Even her choice to include Hilary Mantel's quote at the beginning of the book, "Once a woman has had ten children, she ceases to have a biography", was brilliant, and captured the essence of this story perfectly. There's a lot of ground to cover in the couple's 22 years of marriage, with a number of babies and books birthed between them, so not everything could be covered. It was interesting to see what was missing and skimmed over - the complete exclusion of John Forster was slightly odd to me considering how close he was to the family, but that may be just me.
The book isn't always the most subtle or nuanced when it comes to its portrayal of other people, however. Dickens himself is depicted as constantly cruel, essentially a tyrant to his wife and children with next to nothing redeemable about him. Georgina Hogarth, Kate's sister, is painted in one singular hue: that of the controlling, traitorous sister, which takes away all complexity of their relationship. Ellen Ternan is barely present, reduced to just a pretty young girl having an affair with a much older, famous man, though of course her interactions with Catherine were extremely limited so couldn't be deeply explored. Anne Brown was decent but at times I wondered if she really necessitated chapters written from her perspective, though her complex relationship with both Catherine and Charles was really interesting. I think maybe the book should have been written entirely from Catherine's perspective...this would be limiting but would also negate the issues with the representations of other people as it is all her opinion and point of view.
Overall, I think this is a good novel but it left me uneasy in some of its choices. I'm very curious to read more about Catherine and have ordered the biography, The Other Dickens, which Howes cites as her main source of research for this novel. I hope Mrs Dickens inspires more people to look deeper into Catherine's story.
September 3, 2026
This book was absolutely brilliant. While A Christmas Carol is one of my all-time favourite Christmas stories, I’ve known for some time that Dickens was, in fact, a bit of a dick.
While this is a work of fiction, Howes has clearly researched the historical records incredibly well. She explains some of the changes she made within the story, but she also peppers the historical facts throughout the storyline so naturally that they never feel like an information dump.
Mrs Dickens, Kate, was brought so beautifully to life, and I genuinely felt like I grew to love her. She was such a multifaceted character and, by no means, perfect herself, but I absolutely loved her and felt so much for her throughout the book.
I also really enjoyed the other POV, Anne Brown, who became a pivotal character within the Dickens household and the strange but lovely relationship between the two women.
The story was emotional, turbulent, tender, witty, rage-inducing and thought-provoking, all tied up in the infamy of one of our most talked-about authors.
I really, really enjoyed it.
While this is a work of fiction, Howes has clearly researched the historical records incredibly well. She explains some of the changes she made within the story, but she also peppers the historical facts throughout the storyline so naturally that they never feel like an information dump.
Mrs Dickens, Kate, was brought so beautifully to life, and I genuinely felt like I grew to love her. She was such a multifaceted character and, by no means, perfect herself, but I absolutely loved her and felt so much for her throughout the book.
I also really enjoyed the other POV, Anne Brown, who became a pivotal character within the Dickens household and the strange but lovely relationship between the two women.
The story was emotional, turbulent, tender, witty, rage-inducing and thought-provoking, all tied up in the infamy of one of our most talked-about authors.
I really, really enjoyed it.
August 24, 2026
another historical figure for me to hate 🥰
September 17, 2026
I had too much prior knowledge of Dickens and his life/relationships to be able to enjoy this. I was constantly drawn out of the book.
June 30, 2026
I was gripped by this account of the life and marriage of Catherine Dickens. I knew that her husband was no angel, and it’s not in doubt that he produced some spectacular books, but I did not realise quite how cruel and abusive he was towards his wife. Of course this is a work of fiction and there are imagined scenes to fill spaces where we could never know the real conversations, but Emily Howes has pulled together a huge amount of research, and weaved a compelling narrative between the gaps.
I liked the split story, hearing too from Anne the maid, and I found this gave a depth we would never have otherwise reached. Anne recounts a childhood of poverty and misery, and is exactly the kind of project Dickens liked, but she serves to highlight his lack of true understanding of what it meant to be in her situation, and the lack of control she had over her life and future in the hands of wealthy men like him who had no idea of real hardship. Anne works as a character to highlight the suffering of Mrs Dickens through her opinions and her presence in otherwise private moments, but also highlighting Charles Dickens’ control over everyone in the household, including her. There is evidence of Anne as a real person, but of course much of her story serves as a plot device.
I enjoyed this book thoroughly. It made me angry, it made me sad, and it made me want to learn more about Mrs Dickens and her long suffering children.
I liked the split story, hearing too from Anne the maid, and I found this gave a depth we would never have otherwise reached. Anne recounts a childhood of poverty and misery, and is exactly the kind of project Dickens liked, but she serves to highlight his lack of true understanding of what it meant to be in her situation, and the lack of control she had over her life and future in the hands of wealthy men like him who had no idea of real hardship. Anne works as a character to highlight the suffering of Mrs Dickens through her opinions and her presence in otherwise private moments, but also highlighting Charles Dickens’ control over everyone in the household, including her. There is evidence of Anne as a real person, but of course much of her story serves as a plot device.
I enjoyed this book thoroughly. It made me angry, it made me sad, and it made me want to learn more about Mrs Dickens and her long suffering children.
July 1, 2026
It's a book about the storm caused by Charles Dickens, and similar to his own books, about the inescapable impact and luck of wealth, gender, birth order, class, and health. And despite it all, the human need for love and will to survive. All things true today, but seemingly even more extreme in the 1800s.
Truthfully the book made me hate Charles Dickens the person, and wonder about the poor behaviour of other "geniuses", excused on account of their brilliance. Today we worship at the alter of fame even more ardently.
The novel made me reflect as well on the importance of friendship and the need to feel and take agency on one's own life.
Two of my favourite quotes:
"People startle into action at a tragedy, of course. But in Kate’s experience, when it comes to something more awkward, like despair, they disappear, frightened to catch it, like typhoid, or the measles." Insightful.
"If you keep living, Kate thinks, you keep changing the story. Just by breathing, by existing, quietly, tenaciously, across the days. You think you are doing nothing, but you are writing something, some part of the world, that would not exist without you." good reminder.
All in all, another great read from Emily Howes. 5/5 definitely recommend!
Truthfully the book made me hate Charles Dickens the person, and wonder about the poor behaviour of other "geniuses", excused on account of their brilliance. Today we worship at the alter of fame even more ardently.
The novel made me reflect as well on the importance of friendship and the need to feel and take agency on one's own life.
Two of my favourite quotes:
"People startle into action at a tragedy, of course. But in Kate’s experience, when it comes to something more awkward, like despair, they disappear, frightened to catch it, like typhoid, or the measles." Insightful.
"If you keep living, Kate thinks, you keep changing the story. Just by breathing, by existing, quietly, tenaciously, across the days. You think you are doing nothing, but you are writing something, some part of the world, that would not exist without you." good reminder.
All in all, another great read from Emily Howes. 5/5 definitely recommend!
August 1, 2026
Emily Howes is a new to me author and I will definitely be reading her debut novel published a couple of years ago at a later date. I was keen to read 'Mrs Dickens' having enjoyed over many years the writing of Charles Dickens. I thought it would be interesting to learn more, albeit fictional about his family life.
The novel centres on his relationship with his wife Catherine (Kate) and her long term servant Anne. Twenty two years of marriage and ten surviving children with Charles, a man that Catherine obviously loved dearly. However Charles was a volatile man who treated his wife both in private and public with abusive and cruel behaviour.
An emotional read that made me angry and sad. I learnt about a side of the author Charles Dickens and his behaviour that I did not much like. Recommended to those readers that find fact weaved into a fictional story a worthwhile read.
With thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.
https://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogsp...
The novel centres on his relationship with his wife Catherine (Kate) and her long term servant Anne. Twenty two years of marriage and ten surviving children with Charles, a man that Catherine obviously loved dearly. However Charles was a volatile man who treated his wife both in private and public with abusive and cruel behaviour.
An emotional read that made me angry and sad. I learnt about a side of the author Charles Dickens and his behaviour that I did not much like. Recommended to those readers that find fact weaved into a fictional story a worthwhile read.
With thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.
https://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogsp...
June 14, 2026
I could not put this book down. I am a member of a branch of the Dickens Fellowship. We discuss a Dickens novel in detail during the course of the year. There is no doubt Dickens is a brilliant, impressive writer. His phenomenal energy enabled him to write and act and walk miles in London.among other interests but he died young and exhausted at only 58. Emily Howes has researched his life and that of his wife thoroughly. Dickens was a control freak which Howe has shown by illustrating his need to keep control of all in his life from his china to his 9 children and wife. She illustrates the stages of their marriage from when Kate was young and pretty to the cruel separation brought about by his affair with Ellen Ternan for which he refuses to.take any blame. Dickens emerges as a great writer and inspired companion but a very bad husband. The picture of Csthetine trying her best to please him while undergoing the birth of 10 children and severe post natal depression is so sympathetic it brought tears to my eyes
The fictional devoted servant who suffers an even worse poverty stricken childhood than Dickens himself is asubtle portrait.. She loves Catherine Dickens but sacrifices her after the separation so that she can afford to educate her daughter . She also neglects her brother in order to obtain.a more comfortable life At the end she.realizes her values have always been wrong..Howe makes the reader fully aware of the position of women.in Victorian times which makes it so hard for Kate to withstand her husband's domination. There is even a consoling.happy ending which finds Kate as a happy grandmother back in her rightful place with her most loyal son and his wife. A great novel.
The fictional devoted servant who suffers an even worse poverty stricken childhood than Dickens himself is asubtle portrait.. She loves Catherine Dickens but sacrifices her after the separation so that she can afford to educate her daughter . She also neglects her brother in order to obtain.a more comfortable life At the end she.realizes her values have always been wrong..Howe makes the reader fully aware of the position of women.in Victorian times which makes it so hard for Kate to withstand her husband's domination. There is even a consoling.happy ending which finds Kate as a happy grandmother back in her rightful place with her most loyal son and his wife. A great novel.
August 11, 2026
What happens when the man who wrote so movingly about injustice becomes the architect of it in his own home?
Another example of silenced women’s stories coming to the fore - Mrs Dickens is a heartbreaking retelling of the life of Catherine or Kate, Charles Dickens’s wife, who supported his career, wrote her own cookbook and raised their 10 surviving children.
Kate put up with much during their 22 year marriage, including infidelity, a strange and inappropriate relationship between Dickens and Kate’s own sister Georgina, as well as Charles’ ultimate slander of her character, abandonment of their marriage and his attempt to have Kate committed to an asylum.
Before their relationship soured, it was interesting to read about the literary circles both Kate and Charles mixed in - with cameos from other famous authors, journalists and thinkers from 1800s England and America.
The novel has a dual point of view - that of Kate but also her maid servant Anne Brown. Anne’s own complex story as an observer of Kate and Charles added depth to the story but also the historical context of the book. Howes uses Anne’s experiences to explore the brutal reality of Victorian poverty in London, beyond even Charles’s understanding. The decisions she must make in order to keep her place are deeply affecting.
Thank you to @emilyhowesbooks and @orionbooks @phoenix_bks for an advanced copy of Mrs Dickens for review - which is out now!
Do you think an author's personal failings should change how we read their work? I’d love to know your opinion in the comments.
Another example of silenced women’s stories coming to the fore - Mrs Dickens is a heartbreaking retelling of the life of Catherine or Kate, Charles Dickens’s wife, who supported his career, wrote her own cookbook and raised their 10 surviving children.
Kate put up with much during their 22 year marriage, including infidelity, a strange and inappropriate relationship between Dickens and Kate’s own sister Georgina, as well as Charles’ ultimate slander of her character, abandonment of their marriage and his attempt to have Kate committed to an asylum.
Before their relationship soured, it was interesting to read about the literary circles both Kate and Charles mixed in - with cameos from other famous authors, journalists and thinkers from 1800s England and America.
The novel has a dual point of view - that of Kate but also her maid servant Anne Brown. Anne’s own complex story as an observer of Kate and Charles added depth to the story but also the historical context of the book. Howes uses Anne’s experiences to explore the brutal reality of Victorian poverty in London, beyond even Charles’s understanding. The decisions she must make in order to keep her place are deeply affecting.
Thank you to @emilyhowesbooks and @orionbooks @phoenix_bks for an advanced copy of Mrs Dickens for review - which is out now!
Do you think an author's personal failings should change how we read their work? I’d love to know your opinion in the comments.
August 2, 2026
Thank you to Emily Howes, Orion Publishing Group | Phoenix, and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Mrs Dickens is a historical fiction following the wife of Charles Dickens, Kate (nee Hogarth), and her lady’s maid, Anne Brown.
We follow Kate and Anne in a dual POV third person perspective from teenagers to middle aged women. Kate is courted at the age of 19 by Charles, chaperoned by her sister Mary and his brother Fred. After marriage, they quickly have 2 children and are pregnant with the third when Anne, the eldest of a brood of 8 children, suffers the loss of both parents and 6 of her siblings. Choosing between her surviving brother and financial security, Anne is employed by Kate as nurse maid and is quickly promoted to lady’s maid.
In Mrs Dickens we encounter grief, domestic abuse, misogyny, sexism, post natal depression, adultery, coercive control, and narcissism, amongst others.
Charles Dickens is overwhelmingly portrayed as empathetic to everyone except his family, especially his wife, Kate. Although she is submissive and meek, which is incredibly frustrating to see as a reader, we are reminded why that is later in the book, when she is threatened with being committed to an asylum if she does not agree to her husband’s demands. Victorian societal expectations demands she is submissive and yet Charles seems to be attracted to the opposite. When she does speak up, she is threatened. It is a lose-lose situation.
Kate is also used as a breeding cow for ten children (plus countless miscarriages) and discarded. The later children are unwanted by Charles and so Kate is blamed for this too (takes two to tango and marital rape wasn’t seen as a ‘thing’ back then). She also struggles with post natal depression and this is only made worse with the complex grief she battles with, but is not allowed to show lest it undermines Charles’ overinflated grief.
Charles is also portrayed as a poor father, dismissive of his children when they age and do not become him. He is exceptionally controlling and uses this coercive control to get his own way, always. He has an infectious energy and a creative mind that people are drawn to like moths, but he reserves the narcissistic abuse for those closest to him. Despite being a bad father, he is also successful in alienating the youngest children from their mother. He is helped in this by his number one fan, Georgina, Kate’s younger sister. She is condescending and aids in gaslighting and undermining Kate at every opportunity.
Anne is relied upon as Kate’s closest confidant for a number of decades. Whilst Anne is aware she is being exploited and blackmailed to remain loyal to Charles, Kate is not aware that both herself and Anne are puppets until later on in the book.
Whilst I really enjoyed the character work, there could be repetitive scenes and believe the book could have been cut down slightly to improve the pacing. 100% do recommend!
Mrs Dickens is a historical fiction following the wife of Charles Dickens, Kate (nee Hogarth), and her lady’s maid, Anne Brown.
We follow Kate and Anne in a dual POV third person perspective from teenagers to middle aged women. Kate is courted at the age of 19 by Charles, chaperoned by her sister Mary and his brother Fred. After marriage, they quickly have 2 children and are pregnant with the third when Anne, the eldest of a brood of 8 children, suffers the loss of both parents and 6 of her siblings. Choosing between her surviving brother and financial security, Anne is employed by Kate as nurse maid and is quickly promoted to lady’s maid.
In Mrs Dickens we encounter grief, domestic abuse, misogyny, sexism, post natal depression, adultery, coercive control, and narcissism, amongst others.
Charles Dickens is overwhelmingly portrayed as empathetic to everyone except his family, especially his wife, Kate. Although she is submissive and meek, which is incredibly frustrating to see as a reader, we are reminded why that is later in the book, when she is threatened with being committed to an asylum if she does not agree to her husband’s demands. Victorian societal expectations demands she is submissive and yet Charles seems to be attracted to the opposite. When she does speak up, she is threatened. It is a lose-lose situation.
Kate is also used as a breeding cow for ten children (plus countless miscarriages) and discarded. The later children are unwanted by Charles and so Kate is blamed for this too (takes two to tango and marital rape wasn’t seen as a ‘thing’ back then). She also struggles with post natal depression and this is only made worse with the complex grief she battles with, but is not allowed to show lest it undermines Charles’ overinflated grief.
Charles is also portrayed as a poor father, dismissive of his children when they age and do not become him. He is exceptionally controlling and uses this coercive control to get his own way, always. He has an infectious energy and a creative mind that people are drawn to like moths, but he reserves the narcissistic abuse for those closest to him. Despite being a bad father, he is also successful in alienating the youngest children from their mother. He is helped in this by his number one fan, Georgina, Kate’s younger sister. She is condescending and aids in gaslighting and undermining Kate at every opportunity.
Anne is relied upon as Kate’s closest confidant for a number of decades. Whilst Anne is aware she is being exploited and blackmailed to remain loyal to Charles, Kate is not aware that both herself and Anne are puppets until later on in the book.
Whilst I really enjoyed the character work, there could be repetitive scenes and believe the book could have been cut down slightly to improve the pacing. 100% do recommend!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
‘Mrs Dickens’ is a wonderful read. Most readers will probably know by now that Kate Dickens was coerced and controlled by her husband throughout her married life. He had the temerity to hint that she was insane, destroyed evidence of their mutually happy years and banished her from home and her ten children. Emily Howes recreates authentic characters and situations vividly as she follows Kate Dickens’ life from introvert girl to wife of the most famous writer of his time. Of course, we feel tremendous sympathy for Mrs Dickens. She is a kind, sympathetic woman, a talented cook who suffers horribly from post-natal depression. Nothing is ever her husband’s fault. She is always to blame.
Of course, there will be Dickens’ readers who find it hard to come face to face with their hero in this portrayal. But there we are; this is what domestic cruelty looks like.
There are several women in this novel alongside the eponymous heroine. Kate’s mother, sisters and daughters play their parts, as do Dickens’ various flirtations, some significantly more serious than others. However, the foil to Kate throughout is hard-nosed Anne, playing her part as lady’s maid, children’s nurse and housekeeper to the Dickens’ family over the years. This invented character is a very clever addition on Emily Howes’ part.
Through Anne, the author ensures that the reader understands just how tough it is to make one’s way in the world when an orphan with no education or financial stability. There are moments when the reader will thoroughly disapprove of Anne’s choices. However, it must be remembered that they are being made by someone who, like Dickens, has been traumatised in childhood, who, like Dickens, has experienced abject poverty. These experiences stain them both. He manipulates her and she grabs all the material support she can.
Nevertheless, by the end of the novel Anne understands what Kate has known all along. That selfless love trumps all. Anne finally realises that ‘…everything I thought of value has turned out to be nothing, and everything I thought was nothing has turned out to be what I would die for.’ A really well told, carefully researched, fascinating story.
My thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group Phoenix for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
Of course, there will be Dickens’ readers who find it hard to come face to face with their hero in this portrayal. But there we are; this is what domestic cruelty looks like.
There are several women in this novel alongside the eponymous heroine. Kate’s mother, sisters and daughters play their parts, as do Dickens’ various flirtations, some significantly more serious than others. However, the foil to Kate throughout is hard-nosed Anne, playing her part as lady’s maid, children’s nurse and housekeeper to the Dickens’ family over the years. This invented character is a very clever addition on Emily Howes’ part.
Through Anne, the author ensures that the reader understands just how tough it is to make one’s way in the world when an orphan with no education or financial stability. There are moments when the reader will thoroughly disapprove of Anne’s choices. However, it must be remembered that they are being made by someone who, like Dickens, has been traumatised in childhood, who, like Dickens, has experienced abject poverty. These experiences stain them both. He manipulates her and she grabs all the material support she can.
Nevertheless, by the end of the novel Anne understands what Kate has known all along. That selfless love trumps all. Anne finally realises that ‘…everything I thought of value has turned out to be nothing, and everything I thought was nothing has turned out to be what I would die for.’ A really well told, carefully researched, fascinating story.
My thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group Phoenix for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Mrs Dickens by Emily Howes is a compelling dramatisation of the married life of Kate Dickens, wife of Charles Dickens, rooted in a great deal of their true history. It charts their relationship from early romance and love through the relentless realities of marriage, including the harrowing births of ten children and the gradual erosion of affection that leads to abandonment and separation.
One of the most fascinating (and uncomfortable) aspects is Howes’s portrayal of Charles himself: charismatic, brilliant, and deeply contradictory. His infatuations with other women — including the awkward and unsettling obsessions with Kate’s sisters, first Mary and then Georgy — sit alongside his rigid expectations of Kate existing to soothe, support, and never inconvenience him - the "balm in the marriage" as her mother puts it. Dickens’s fame, his exacting desires and requirements, and their travels to America and Italy all make for a compelling read.
After finishing the book, I found myself doing more reading and understanding how much of this story was factual, which made the novel even more powerful. It offers a fascinating insight into the family life of Dickens’s wife and children, and into the uncomfortable contradictions in the personality of this celebrated novelist — a man capable of immense empathy on the page, yet often painfully lacking it at home.
(Copilot assisted me with the writing of this review - based on very specific prompts taken from my notes of reading the book).
One of the most fascinating (and uncomfortable) aspects is Howes’s portrayal of Charles himself: charismatic, brilliant, and deeply contradictory. His infatuations with other women — including the awkward and unsettling obsessions with Kate’s sisters, first Mary and then Georgy — sit alongside his rigid expectations of Kate existing to soothe, support, and never inconvenience him - the "balm in the marriage" as her mother puts it. Dickens’s fame, his exacting desires and requirements, and their travels to America and Italy all make for a compelling read.
After finishing the book, I found myself doing more reading and understanding how much of this story was factual, which made the novel even more powerful. It offers a fascinating insight into the family life of Dickens’s wife and children, and into the uncomfortable contradictions in the personality of this celebrated novelist — a man capable of immense empathy on the page, yet often painfully lacking it at home.
(Copilot assisted me with the writing of this review - based on very specific prompts taken from my notes of reading the book).
Review of advance copy
The saying “Behind every great man…” was a recurring thought whilst reading this wonderful exploration and dissection of a marriage.
Of course one never knows both sides of a marriage unless one is in the marriage, but it seemed to me heartbreakingly sad that Kate, drawn as she was to the domestic sphere, appeared to lose the love and admiration of her husband in part, because she had neither the talent nor the ambition of her husband.
I did feel frustrated with her at times, for biting her lip and for backing away from confrontation. Then again, when Kate did ‘snap’ she experienced the repercussions of standing up for herself. So I could understand why her natural reticence, plus her husband’s quick intelligence, plus society’s expectations of women at the time, kept her in the background. But I could understand why she came to be how she was.
Charles Dickens was undoubtedly a great writer, but I think he was not a good husband.
Kate Dickens may not be regarded as a great woman, but I think she was a good one, and she deserves to be remembered as such.
PS I cried a lot when reading this. And I don't often cry at books...
Of course one never knows both sides of a marriage unless one is in the marriage, but it seemed to me heartbreakingly sad that Kate, drawn as she was to the domestic sphere, appeared to lose the love and admiration of her husband in part, because she had neither the talent nor the ambition of her husband.
I did feel frustrated with her at times, for biting her lip and for backing away from confrontation. Then again, when Kate did ‘snap’ she experienced the repercussions of standing up for herself. So I could understand why her natural reticence, plus her husband’s quick intelligence, plus society’s expectations of women at the time, kept her in the background. But I could understand why she came to be how she was.
Charles Dickens was undoubtedly a great writer, but I think he was not a good husband.
Kate Dickens may not be regarded as a great woman, but I think she was a good one, and she deserves to be remembered as such.
PS I cried a lot when reading this. And I don't often cry at books...
July 25, 2026
When Kate marries aspiring writer Charles she believes she is in love. However she finds that Charles wants to control her life and she has to accept his demands even if they are humiliating to her. As she produces more and more children Charles is repulsed by the changes in her body and his eye wanders. After he tries to have her found insane, they separate and his cruelty continues. Watching all of this is their maid, Anne.
Whilst a literary genius , Charles Dickens is also known as a man who abandoned his wife in favour of a much younger lover. This book tells the story of his wife, Catherine Dickens, and what she suffered for the sake of her marriage and her children. I liked the way that her story was juxtaposed with that of Anne, whether the security and success was worth the suffering. I also loved that the story was shown from the perspective of a Victorian woman and her views and thoughts. It's easy to put a modern view on this story, the gaslighting, the cruelty etc and I appreciate the way that Howes allows the reader to make these inferences.
Whilst a literary genius , Charles Dickens is also known as a man who abandoned his wife in favour of a much younger lover. This book tells the story of his wife, Catherine Dickens, and what she suffered for the sake of her marriage and her children. I liked the way that her story was juxtaposed with that of Anne, whether the security and success was worth the suffering. I also loved that the story was shown from the perspective of a Victorian woman and her views and thoughts. It's easy to put a modern view on this story, the gaslighting, the cruelty etc and I appreciate the way that Howes allows the reader to make these inferences.
August 19, 2026
First 3/4 of the book 3*, last 1/4 5*
I knew of the story of the Dickens’ marriage and that she was ill treated and so the overall material was not new to me. Initially I found Anne’s narrative more compelling; her childhood tragedy and torn between caring for Jem of furthering herself. I was interested in the relationship between Anne and Mrs D.
As the marriage foundered and Mrs D was ‘set aside’ I found her story heart rending; her powerlessness partly as a result of her lack of anyone to advocate for her and as a result of her financial dependency. I loved seeing very tentative signs of her independence and resilience.
Mr D cames across as manipulative of all those around him, narcissistic and thoroughly selfish. I’m not sure I’ll be able to face a reread of any of his novels for a while.
Chosen for me as part of my MrBs reading subscription.
Really enjoyed it but plan to give to the library after lending it to Gaynor.
I knew of the story of the Dickens’ marriage and that she was ill treated and so the overall material was not new to me. Initially I found Anne’s narrative more compelling; her childhood tragedy and torn between caring for Jem of furthering herself. I was interested in the relationship between Anne and Mrs D.
As the marriage foundered and Mrs D was ‘set aside’ I found her story heart rending; her powerlessness partly as a result of her lack of anyone to advocate for her and as a result of her financial dependency. I loved seeing very tentative signs of her independence and resilience.
Mr D cames across as manipulative of all those around him, narcissistic and thoroughly selfish. I’m not sure I’ll be able to face a reread of any of his novels for a while.
Chosen for me as part of my MrBs reading subscription.
Really enjoyed it but plan to give to the library after lending it to Gaynor.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 1, 2026
This story derives its power from its emotional resonance. Based on real events and figures, it focuses on the initial happiness and the gradual erosion of marital trust between the writer Charles Dickens and his wife Catherine. We pity the woman who bore ten children but failed to manage her hyperactive husband. When he found himself a much younger mistress, he cast his wife aside like a used rag. It is a biography in which the power of events prevails over composition and style.
It is bitter to think that this popular and beloved author—still read and living on through his stories—could have shown himself to be so petty and malicious toward his wife, quite apart from the quality of his prose.
To be compared with: Wanting by Flanagan, Richard (2010) Paperback about Dickens's secret life with Ellen Ternan.
It is bitter to think that this popular and beloved author—still read and living on through his stories—could have shown himself to be so petty and malicious toward his wife, quite apart from the quality of his prose.
To be compared with: Wanting by Flanagan, Richard (2010) Paperback about Dickens's secret life with Ellen Ternan.
July 13, 2026
Well that book made me quite angry, or rather Charles Dickens did! 10 children born to Kate (plus 2 miscarriages) and he criticised her appearance!
I am furious with him for his treatment of her, attempting to get her committed and thankfully, failing. Hurrah for Kate's strength and for Charley moving with her because he did.
The book itself very well written, particularly to have gotten to me in this way. I liked the flipping between Anne and Kate.
Anne's story was interesting though she remained self-serving all of her life abandoning her brother for self-advancement.
She failed Kate to ensure a future for her daughter of course and presumably had to stay working for Charles too, because her husband was ill and not earning.
All of this set in a time when women had no rights, had little voice. I am thankful to be alive today when things are better in the UK.
I am furious with him for his treatment of her, attempting to get her committed and thankfully, failing. Hurrah for Kate's strength and for Charley moving with her because he did.
The book itself very well written, particularly to have gotten to me in this way. I liked the flipping between Anne and Kate.
Anne's story was interesting though she remained self-serving all of her life abandoning her brother for self-advancement.
She failed Kate to ensure a future for her daughter of course and presumably had to stay working for Charles too, because her husband was ill and not earning.
All of this set in a time when women had no rights, had little voice. I am thankful to be alive today when things are better in the UK.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Mrs. Dickens by Emily Howes is a fascinating and beautifully written historical novel that offers a fresh perspective on a well-known literary figure through the eyes of the woman beside him. The story feels rich in detail, and the emotional depth of the characters makes it especially engaging.
I really enjoyed how it explores marriage, ambition, sacrifice, and identity in such a thoughtful way. Some parts move at a slower pace, but the strong character work and immersive setting make it worth it. Overall, a compelling and memorable read that brings history to life.
I really enjoyed how it explores marriage, ambition, sacrifice, and identity in such a thoughtful way. Some parts move at a slower pace, but the strong character work and immersive setting make it worth it. Overall, a compelling and memorable read that brings history to life.
July 19, 2026
I can’t praise this highly enough. I’m fascinated by how differently reviewers experience “Mrs Dickens”, and the different themes they pick out.
I see coercive control on every page, and am not at all surprised that Emily Howes is a practising psychotherapist.
I’d like to stand up for Anne, maid servant and impoverished Everywoman, who makes hard choices out of fear of a return to grinding poverty. Likewise Kate Dickens herself, what options were available to a Victorian wife and mother of nine other than to grin and bear it?
I see coercive control on every page, and am not at all surprised that Emily Howes is a practising psychotherapist.
I’d like to stand up for Anne, maid servant and impoverished Everywoman, who makes hard choices out of fear of a return to grinding poverty. Likewise Kate Dickens herself, what options were available to a Victorian wife and mother of nine other than to grin and bear it?
August 24, 2026
Another well researched novel from this author.
Set in London in 1835, 19yo Kate loves Charles Dickins and marries him.
Young Anne is in the East End slums and determined to survive.
When they meet, Anne becomes nursemaid to Kate and the book is told from both points of view.
As the years pass, many children are born, and the marriage splinters.
A poignant tale about two women trying to survive in a challenging time where women had no rights.
A good read, I might have preferred it to be just told from Kate's point of view but that's a small quibble.
Set in London in 1835, 19yo Kate loves Charles Dickins and marries him.
Young Anne is in the East End slums and determined to survive.
When they meet, Anne becomes nursemaid to Kate and the book is told from both points of view.
As the years pass, many children are born, and the marriage splinters.
A poignant tale about two women trying to survive in a challenging time where women had no rights.
A good read, I might have preferred it to be just told from Kate's point of view but that's a small quibble.
September 17, 2026
Anne Dickens has had her story told so well, my rage against her treatment will last forever.
I have not read many of Dicken’s books and was only vaguely aware of his character and life story.
Before I read this historical novel of the life of Anne Dickens, I consulted Wikipedia to gain some biographical perspective on Dickens himself.
Emily Howes did not disappoint me, she has painted Anne Dickens with a sure hand, adhering closely to facts historians have recorded.
She brought Anne to life for me.
I have not read many of Dicken’s books and was only vaguely aware of his character and life story.
Before I read this historical novel of the life of Anne Dickens, I consulted Wikipedia to gain some biographical perspective on Dickens himself.
Emily Howes did not disappoint me, she has painted Anne Dickens with a sure hand, adhering closely to facts historians have recorded.
She brought Anne to life for me.
September 26, 2026
You can love the work but despise the man. Dickens wrote some of the most insightful characters in literature, he wrote about truth, and honesty, and goodness. Then there’s his wife. I’ve known the basic story for a long time but this really gave Catherine her space in the world. Anne was fascinating too. It all felt so grounded in reality, so solid, fabulous writing. Looking forward to reading her first book now.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was completely immersed in this book. The writing is fantastic. The characterisation is good and as it is based on the real lives of Dickens and his wife, even though I knew what was coming so I was utterly caught up in the tension as the drama and tragedy unfolded. This was so good I went out and bought Howes' previous novel off the back of finishing this. It's terrific.
September 3, 2026
A work of fiction but infused with facts . The bottom line is that Charles Dickens may be a great writer but he was a vile ,gaslighting husband . The hypocrisy of the Victorian era with husbands having the right to have affairs but the wife having to play the role of subservient woman is laid bare .It may be nearly 200 years too late but finally Catherine Dickens voice is fully heard .
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Se viene una traducción de un libro que me ha encantado ❤️
July 20, 2026
Loved this take on the life of Dickens' wife!
July 28, 2026
DNF. A terrible story about a tyrant and the woman he bullies.
August 19, 2026
I thoroughly enjoyed being immersed in the characters and the 1800s setting of this beautifully written book. Such a fascinating portrayal of these historical figures.
August 25, 2026
Love anything set in this time period. Loved Anne. Loved Mrs Dickens. Loved to imagine the daily goings on of Charles Dickens even though he was a massive twat to his wifey
September 15, 2026
I normally love historical fiction based on fact but I found this book really hard going.
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