What do you think?
Rate this book
Scenes of London Life: From 'Sketches by Boz'
Designed to appeal to the book lover, the Macmillan Collector's Library is a series of beautifully bound pocket-sized gift editions of much loved classic titles. Bound in real cloth, printed on high quality paper, and featuring ribbon markers and gilt edges, Macmillan Collector's Library are books to love and treasure.
Charles Dickens was one of the great chroniclers of London life. From the colorful chaos of dances and gin-shops to the sparse destitution of the pawnshop and the penitentiary, he captured the grime and the glory of the English capital with singular brilliance.
Orphans and beggars, lord mayors and murderers, actors, criminals, cab drivers and prostitutes; all rub shoulders in this wonderful selection from Sketches by Boz.
Chosen and introduced by the playwright J. B. Priestley, these thirteen marvelous sketches are accompanied by George Cruikshank’s evocative illustrations.
Charles Dickens was one of the great chroniclers of London life. From the colorful chaos of dances and gin-shops to the sparse destitution of the pawnshop and the penitentiary, he captured the grime and the glory of the English capital with singular brilliance.
Orphans and beggars, lord mayors and murderers, actors, criminals, cab drivers and prostitutes; all rub shoulders in this wonderful selection from Sketches by Boz.
Chosen and introduced by the playwright J. B. Priestley, these thirteen marvelous sketches are accompanied by George Cruikshank’s evocative illustrations.
184 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1947
17 people are currently reading
211 people want to read
About the author
Charles Dickens
12.7k books31.4k 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)
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 16, 2022
اولین کتاب چارلز دیکنز.از اولین خط تا آخرین خط توصیف و یجور بازتاب از شغل اون موقعش یعنی روزنامهنگاری بود.به طور کامل وارد فضای لندن دوران ویکتوریا میشی و این خیلی قشنگ و آرامش بخشه✨🧘🏻♀️از از ضیافتهای اشرافی گرفته تا رودخانهی تایمز و جشن گرینویچ و زندانها و مغازهها،همه با ظرافت کامل از چشم دیکنز توصیف شده⏳ 🏤🕯ولی از اونجایی که دیگه کلش توصیفه یکم آدم خسته میشه یا حواسش پرت میشه دیگه آخراش به زور کتابو به اتمام رسوندم😪
March 2, 2019
A hilarious representation of 1830s London.
I bought a copy of this at a Waterstones in London and plowed through it while there for the weekend. I'd spent a lot of time exploring some of the many spots Dickens refers to in the story, which made my visit and reading both better.
Dickens writes with wit and charm in describing the daily scenes of life of the common man of his hometown. He takes the piss out of people across the city, exposing man's follies in short chapters throughout town. My favorites included Shops and Their Tenants, A Visit to Newgate (the prison), and Gin-Shops. Wherever he goes, he discovers man at his most banal and exposed. Wife beaters, hucksters, killers, boozers: all make appearances in and around London.
It's an easy and quick read, worth it if you like to walk when visiting London. Imagine the chaos of the stores, the markets, the parties, where today a more corporate monotony often holds court.
I bought a copy of this at a Waterstones in London and plowed through it while there for the weekend. I'd spent a lot of time exploring some of the many spots Dickens refers to in the story, which made my visit and reading both better.
Dickens writes with wit and charm in describing the daily scenes of life of the common man of his hometown. He takes the piss out of people across the city, exposing man's follies in short chapters throughout town. My favorites included Shops and Their Tenants, A Visit to Newgate (the prison), and Gin-Shops. Wherever he goes, he discovers man at his most banal and exposed. Wife beaters, hucksters, killers, boozers: all make appearances in and around London.
It's an easy and quick read, worth it if you like to walk when visiting London. Imagine the chaos of the stores, the markets, the parties, where today a more corporate monotony often holds court.
May 9, 2018
Scenes of London Life is a perfect gift book. It is the length of my small hand (6.2 inches.) It has a lovely front and back cover. A light blue ribbon is sewn-in for easy use. The book easily fits in a purse, or backpack. For a Dickens fan, this is a great gift for a graduate, or Mother’s Day, or Father’s Day.
Twelve chapters are included that are excerpts from the Charles Dickens book, Sketches by Boz.
J.B. Priestly wrote the introduction. It’s a solid introduction piece on the book, and also the man and works of Charles Dickens. The introduction shows Dickens’ personality and writing style. It shares the reason for this bite size book.
Illustrations are included in the book by George Cruikshank. Cruickshank was a “British artist, caricaturist, and illustrator.” If you click on the highlighted name in the previous sentence, you can read an interesting biography from Britannica.
One of my favorite chapters is “A Visit To Newgate”. Newgate was a prison in London. Dickens is probably the most descriptive writer of fiction stories. It is a huge reason why I love his books. David Copperfield is my number one favorite book of Dickens. In the story, “A Visit To Newgate”, Dickens gave me a panoramic view of the prison and occupants. Then, he gave me a close-up view by showing a relationship between a mother and daughter. Their mannerisms, facial expressions, and how they respond to one another is captured. Dickens made a point of showing how the different classes of people are segregated even in a prison. The respectable class was confined in a separate area from the “other” people.
Dickens is king for long sentences:
There are strange chords in the human heart, which will lie dormant through years of depravity and wickedness, but which will vibrate at last to some slight circumstance apparently trivial in itself, but connected by some undefined and indistinct association, with past days that can never be recalled, and with bitter recollections from which the most degraded creature in existence cannot escape. Page 108.
Sixty-one words in one sentence!
Twelve chapters are included that are excerpts from the Charles Dickens book, Sketches by Boz.
J.B. Priestly wrote the introduction. It’s a solid introduction piece on the book, and also the man and works of Charles Dickens. The introduction shows Dickens’ personality and writing style. It shares the reason for this bite size book.
Illustrations are included in the book by George Cruikshank. Cruickshank was a “British artist, caricaturist, and illustrator.” If you click on the highlighted name in the previous sentence, you can read an interesting biography from Britannica.
One of my favorite chapters is “A Visit To Newgate”. Newgate was a prison in London. Dickens is probably the most descriptive writer of fiction stories. It is a huge reason why I love his books. David Copperfield is my number one favorite book of Dickens. In the story, “A Visit To Newgate”, Dickens gave me a panoramic view of the prison and occupants. Then, he gave me a close-up view by showing a relationship between a mother and daughter. Their mannerisms, facial expressions, and how they respond to one another is captured. Dickens made a point of showing how the different classes of people are segregated even in a prison. The respectable class was confined in a separate area from the “other” people.
Dickens is king for long sentences:
There are strange chords in the human heart, which will lie dormant through years of depravity and wickedness, but which will vibrate at last to some slight circumstance apparently trivial in itself, but connected by some undefined and indistinct association, with past days that can never be recalled, and with bitter recollections from which the most degraded creature in existence cannot escape. Page 108.
Sixty-one words in one sentence!
February 16, 2022
A small lovely bound volume of some of Dickens' previously published observations of London Life; of course, through his eyes. Snippets of real life, some political musings, these articles are unflinching and vived portrayals of daily life. People are hard, circumstances are harder. The more you have read Dickens, the greater your appreciation of this book will be.
August 6, 2022
Introduction by J. B. Priestley 4⭐
Public Dinners 4.25⭐
Shops and their Tenants 4⭐
London Recreations 4⭐
A Visit to Newgate 4.5⭐
The River 4⭐
Meditations in Monmonth Street 4⭐
The First of May 3.5⭐
Gin-Shops 3.25⭐
Greenwich Fair 3.25⭐
The Pawnbroker's Shop 3.75⭐
The Last Cab-Driver 4.25⭐
Private Theaters 3⭐
Public Dinners 4.25⭐
Shops and their Tenants 4⭐
London Recreations 4⭐
A Visit to Newgate 4.5⭐
The River 4⭐
Meditations in Monmonth Street 4⭐
The First of May 3.5⭐
Gin-Shops 3.25⭐
Greenwich Fair 3.25⭐
The Pawnbroker's Shop 3.75⭐
The Last Cab-Driver 4.25⭐
Private Theaters 3⭐
January 21, 2019
The perfect gift for Dickens lovers, but the collection is a bit on the slight side.
November 22, 2025
At times funny and at others depressing. An early work of Dickens, but still demonstrates his witty prose.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews