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Hunted Down
Hunted Down is a fascinating selection of Charles Dickens’ detective stories. This classic anthology also includes snippets of Dickens’ other novels about lawmen and crime. Dickens himself was briefly law clerk for the firm of Ellis and Blackmore and later a legal stenographer. During this time he had the opportunity to ride along with detectives as they patrolled London streets. He observed police practices, murder trials, and even attended public executions. From this firsthand experience, Dickens created his most memorable crime-fighting characters such as Mr. Nadgett in the book Martin Chuzzlewit which many consider to be the first realistic detective novel, and from Bleak House, Inspector Bucket.
44 pages, Paperback
Published May 1, 2004
304 people are currently reading
1445 people want to read
About the author
Charles Dickens
12.6k books31.3k 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 - 30 of 124 reviews
March 7, 2022
This short work is my first exposure to a Dickensian work of the mystery genre. As the title implies, Hunted Down is a story of a man (who is a villain) who is "hunted down" to expose his wicked deeds and bring him to justice. When described as such it sounds like a simple story but there is an ensuing mystery, for we don't learn about the man's villainous conduct until he was hunted down and exposed at the very end.
Overall, it was interesting enough, and I did enjoy the mystery part. The characters named and described in the typical Dickensian style were a treat to read. The plot wasn't wholly plausible, and although there is satisfactory explaining at the end, certain unexplanatory events injected a touch of unreality at times to the story. This is, of course, a short story, so allowances must be made. But, it was rather uncharacteristic of Dickens.
The story was engaging irrespective of the minor blemishes. Dickens hasn't forgotten his satire even in a grave theme like this. Dickens's genius is such that he could make contributions to any genre without waving in his authenticity. I like that very much about him. But if I'm to truly express my view, the mystery genre is not his forte. In that I think, Collins surpasses him.
Overall, it was interesting enough, and I did enjoy the mystery part. The characters named and described in the typical Dickensian style were a treat to read. The plot wasn't wholly plausible, and although there is satisfactory explaining at the end, certain unexplanatory events injected a touch of unreality at times to the story. This is, of course, a short story, so allowances must be made. But, it was rather uncharacteristic of Dickens.
The story was engaging irrespective of the minor blemishes. Dickens hasn't forgotten his satire even in a grave theme like this. Dickens's genius is such that he could make contributions to any genre without waving in his authenticity. I like that very much about him. But if I'm to truly express my view, the mystery genre is not his forte. In that I think, Collins surpasses him.
September 4, 2020
Text + audio. I think I like Charles Dickens' short stories better than his looooooong books. Lol!
Synopsis: "The main character is a smart and attentive man named Sampson. One day he sees a strange Mr. Julius Slinkton in his office. Sampson begins to suspect that this man is hiding something necessary from other people. Mr. Slinkton appears in the life of the main character more often. Sampson understands that a crime is occurring and it must be stopped. Sampson turns into a real hunter of criminals."
Synopsis: "The main character is a smart and attentive man named Sampson. One day he sees a strange Mr. Julius Slinkton in his office. Sampson begins to suspect that this man is hiding something necessary from other people. Mr. Slinkton appears in the life of the main character more often. Sampson understands that a crime is occurring and it must be stopped. Sampson turns into a real hunter of criminals."
August 10, 2020
3.75 stars for the title story, “Hunted Down.” In this shorter work from about 1860, Charles Dickens tries his hand at the detective genre (loosely speaking). This story is free to read online here at Project Gutenberg.
Mr. Sampson, the narrator, now retired from work, was formerly the manager of a life assurance (insurance) firm. After a brief discussion on how people can be deceiving ("Believe me, my first impression of those people, founded on face and manner alone, was invariably true. My mistake was in suffering them to come nearer to me and explain themselves away."), he settles into telling the story of his encounters with one Mr. Slinkton ... whose name, in classic Dickens-style, already gives you a hint of his slimy character.
Sampson dislies Slinkton on first sight - a lot of it, humorously, is tied to Slinkton's hairdo, which seems to make unspoken but firm demands on how people are to treat Slinkton. But Sampson gradually relents toward Slinkton. As they meet a few more times they discuss the sad case of Mr. Meltham, a young actuary whose girlfriend tragically died, as well as Slinkton's two nieces who have lived with him, one of whom has also passed away. Slinkton also becomes involved in obtaining life insurance from Sampson for another man, Mr. Beckworth. Slinkton's actions seem suspicious, but is he really a villain?
There are a few plot twists and surprises, including a narrator who isn't entirely reliable. Reading it a second time, I can see a lot of great double meanings hidden in Sampson's words. There's a typical Dickensian helpless maiden and a Victorian-type tragedy, along with a bittersweet wrapup.
It's an intriguing and quick read, worthwhile if you have any fondness for Victorian era mystery tales. Apparently it was inspired by Charles Dickens' familiarity with a scandalous case of a poisoner around that time. It's not quite up to the level of Wilkie Collins' or Arthur Conan Doyle's best, but there are some interesting psychological things at play in this story.
Another group read with the Dickensians! group (which has some excellent commentary and analysis in the threads, BTW).
Mr. Sampson, the narrator, now retired from work, was formerly the manager of a life assurance (insurance) firm. After a brief discussion on how people can be deceiving ("Believe me, my first impression of those people, founded on face and manner alone, was invariably true. My mistake was in suffering them to come nearer to me and explain themselves away."), he settles into telling the story of his encounters with one Mr. Slinkton ... whose name, in classic Dickens-style, already gives you a hint of his slimy character.
Sampson dislies Slinkton on first sight - a lot of it, humorously, is tied to Slinkton's hairdo, which seems to make unspoken but firm demands on how people are to treat Slinkton. But Sampson gradually relents toward Slinkton. As they meet a few more times they discuss the sad case of Mr. Meltham, a young actuary whose girlfriend tragically died, as well as Slinkton's two nieces who have lived with him, one of whom has also passed away. Slinkton also becomes involved in obtaining life insurance from Sampson for another man, Mr. Beckworth. Slinkton's actions seem suspicious, but is he really a villain?
There are a few plot twists and surprises, including a narrator who isn't entirely reliable. Reading it a second time, I can see a lot of great double meanings hidden in Sampson's words. There's a typical Dickensian helpless maiden and a Victorian-type tragedy, along with a bittersweet wrapup.
It's an intriguing and quick read, worthwhile if you have any fondness for Victorian era mystery tales. Apparently it was inspired by Charles Dickens' familiarity with a scandalous case of a poisoner around that time. It's not quite up to the level of Wilkie Collins' or Arthur Conan Doyle's best, but there are some interesting psychological things at play in this story.
Another group read with the Dickensians! group (which has some excellent commentary and analysis in the threads, BTW).
August 9, 2020
An observer of men who finds himself steadily repelled by some apparently trifling thing in a stranger is right to give it great weight. It may be the clue to the whole mystery. A hair or two will show where a lion is hidden. A very little key will open a very heavy door.
Charles Dickens, a very versatile writer, gives us a well-crafted detective story. I am always pleased if such a story provides me all the necessary clues to solve the case and I’m still surprised at the end. That was the case here.
Dickens loves to play with names, and here he gives us our suspect, Mr. Slinkton. Puts you right onto the kind of personality you can expect from this slinky, arrogant criminal. That’s not a spoiler, Dickens tells us who to suspect from the beginning, just not what to suspect him of.
I read this story with the rather new group, Dickensians and would encourage anyone who might be interested in either Dickens or the time in which he lived to join in. We are reading short stories during August and finding the discussions very interesting.
Charles Dickens, a very versatile writer, gives us a well-crafted detective story. I am always pleased if such a story provides me all the necessary clues to solve the case and I’m still surprised at the end. That was the case here.
Dickens loves to play with names, and here he gives us our suspect, Mr. Slinkton. Puts you right onto the kind of personality you can expect from this slinky, arrogant criminal. That’s not a spoiler, Dickens tells us who to suspect from the beginning, just not what to suspect him of.
I read this story with the rather new group, Dickensians and would encourage anyone who might be interested in either Dickens or the time in which he lived to join in. We are reading short stories during August and finding the discussions very interesting.
August 9, 2020
Well, Dickens was indeed a prolific and very succesful writter fathering classics and creating inmortal and unforgettable characters and villains ..
Until now I did enjoy his novels and short stories like "A Tale Of Two Citys" or "Oliver Twist", even "A Chrismas Carol"..
But "Hunted Down" seems to me like Sherlock Holmes written by Dickens!!
In fact this is a crime story..
But with the subtle and unmistakable Dickensians touch!!!
Like I said a short story which will take not much of your time to read..
If you are like me a lover of Charles Dickens literary work, then it will be a rewarding experience to know more about the deep and gloomy recesses of such a fine mind as our writter had!!
The reason for three stars is that I wish the story to be much longer..
Also the beginning felt to me a little dry and tough..
But otherweise if you will let the story roll and win momentum then you will be up for a very exotic treat somewhat unusual from the expeted food Mister Dickens is used to dish to his readers..
Happy readings
Dean;)
Until now I did enjoy his novels and short stories like "A Tale Of Two Citys" or "Oliver Twist", even "A Chrismas Carol"..
But "Hunted Down" seems to me like Sherlock Holmes written by Dickens!!
In fact this is a crime story..
But with the subtle and unmistakable Dickensians touch!!!
Like I said a short story which will take not much of your time to read..
If you are like me a lover of Charles Dickens literary work, then it will be a rewarding experience to know more about the deep and gloomy recesses of such a fine mind as our writter had!!
The reason for three stars is that I wish the story to be much longer..
Also the beginning felt to me a little dry and tough..
But otherweise if you will let the story roll and win momentum then you will be up for a very exotic treat somewhat unusual from the expeted food Mister Dickens is used to dish to his readers..
Happy readings
Dean;)
August 9, 2020
"Hunted Down" is a short mystery by Charles Dickens. The narrator knows more than he's telling us, but it all comes together at the end when the culprit is revealed. 3.5 stars.
August 9, 2020
This was a very interesting short story. I found it compelling, and sometimes laugh out loud funny, but there is a sudden change of atmosphere and then everything changes.
I've read it once and see one point of view, what the author wishes. So now I'm going to go back to get the second point of view. Or what was really going on.
I found this to be a dark story in the end, but I did like it.
I've read it once and see one point of view, what the author wishes. So now I'm going to go back to get the second point of view. Or what was really going on.
I found this to be a dark story in the end, but I did like it.
November 26, 2016
This review is just for the title story, "Hunted Down" (19 pages). Although I was engaged throughout the story and propelled to read to the end, there were a couple of aspects that didn't work for me. First, I wasn't quite sure what the mystery and conflict actually was for the bulk of the story, although I had my suspicions. And then suddenly the end wrapped up with a tidy summary of what the main character suspected and how the mystery was solved. It was all too quick a wrap up, especially since I felt I was not given enough details or time for me to try and work out the conflict for myself. Also, I missed the typical Dickens humor that was absent in this story.
July 27, 2022
Introduction, Peter Haining 5⭐
Nemesis 3⭐
The Drunkard's Death 4.25⭐
The Automaton Police 4.5⭐
Dickens dystopia, populated by ‘automaton figures,’ was surprisingly modern for 1838.
"If you’re a fan of the TV series, Westworld, you’re probably aware that it’s based on Michael Crichton’s 1973 film of the same name. What you may not know is that the concept has been kicking around for a very long time. While Crichton insists his dystopian vision had no 'literary antecedents,' there’s at least one writer who may beg to differ. Charles Dickens imagined a robot theme park way back in 1838. Just like Westworld, the patrons of Dickens’ park are able to enact their “violent delights” on realistic humanoid androids." https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-c...
The Modern Science of Thief-Taking 3⭐
A Detective Police Party 3.25⭐
Three 'Detective' Anecdotes
I. The Pair of Gloves 2.5⭐
II. The Artful Touch 2.5⭐
III. The Sofa 2.5⭐
The Metropolitan Protectives 3⭐
On Duty with Inspector Field 3.5⭐
Down with the Tide 3.5⭐
Inspector Bucket's Job 3.75⭐
This short story features Inspector Bucket, the detective who solves the mystery. This story is Chapter 53 titled The Track and excerpts from Chapter 54 titled Springing a Mine from Dicken's novel Bleak House. "Inspector Bucket’s colorless but skillful and decent methods became the standards by which to judge all policemen. He has been called the first important detective in English literature." https://www.britannica.com/topic/Insp...
Hunted Down 4.25⭐
Poor Mercantile Jack 2.5⭐
This short story is from The Uncommercial Traveller Chapter V which was a collection of literary sketches and reminiscences written by Charles Dickens, published in 1860–1861.
The Edwin Drood Syndicate, M R James 4⭐
". . . he [Dickens] was actually working on a novel of suspected murder, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, when he died in 1870. The first twenty-three chapters which Dickens did complete are enough to indicate the final work might have been one of the greatest mystery novels of all time. As it is, the unfinished manuscript provides a mystery in itself that has challenged the minds of criminologists and crime writers for well over a hundred years." (10)
Nemesis 3⭐
The Drunkard's Death 4.25⭐
The Automaton Police 4.5⭐
Dickens dystopia, populated by ‘automaton figures,’ was surprisingly modern for 1838.
"If you’re a fan of the TV series, Westworld, you’re probably aware that it’s based on Michael Crichton’s 1973 film of the same name. What you may not know is that the concept has been kicking around for a very long time. While Crichton insists his dystopian vision had no 'literary antecedents,' there’s at least one writer who may beg to differ. Charles Dickens imagined a robot theme park way back in 1838. Just like Westworld, the patrons of Dickens’ park are able to enact their “violent delights” on realistic humanoid androids." https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-c...
The Modern Science of Thief-Taking 3⭐
A Detective Police Party 3.25⭐
Three 'Detective' Anecdotes
I. The Pair of Gloves 2.5⭐
II. The Artful Touch 2.5⭐
III. The Sofa 2.5⭐
The Metropolitan Protectives 3⭐
On Duty with Inspector Field 3.5⭐
Down with the Tide 3.5⭐
Inspector Bucket's Job 3.75⭐
This short story features Inspector Bucket, the detective who solves the mystery. This story is Chapter 53 titled The Track and excerpts from Chapter 54 titled Springing a Mine from Dicken's novel Bleak House. "Inspector Bucket’s colorless but skillful and decent methods became the standards by which to judge all policemen. He has been called the first important detective in English literature." https://www.britannica.com/topic/Insp...
Hunted Down 4.25⭐
Poor Mercantile Jack 2.5⭐
This short story is from The Uncommercial Traveller Chapter V which was a collection of literary sketches and reminiscences written by Charles Dickens, published in 1860–1861.
The Edwin Drood Syndicate, M R James 4⭐
". . . he [Dickens] was actually working on a novel of suspected murder, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, when he died in 1870. The first twenty-three chapters which Dickens did complete are enough to indicate the final work might have been one of the greatest mystery novels of all time. As it is, the unfinished manuscript provides a mystery in itself that has challenged the minds of criminologists and crime writers for well over a hundred years." (10)
July 27, 2021
Charles Dickens-Hunted Down
✍"I confess, for my part, that I HAVE been taken in, over and over again. I have been taken in by acquaintances, and I have been taken in (of course) by friends; far oftener by friends than by any other class of persons. How came I to be so deceived? Had I quite misread their faces?
No. Believe me, my first impression of those people, founded on face and manner alone, was invariably true. My mistake was in suffering them to come nearer to me and explain themselves away."
✍"In truth, I could hardly have believed that the broken man who then spoke to me was the man who had so strongly and so differently impressed me when his purpose was before him."
🇷🇸
🕵️♂️Moj prvi susret s Dikensom u žanru detektivska priča.
🕵️♂️Brza naracija
🕵️♂️Napeto
🕵️♂️Preokret na kraju
🕵️♂️Dikensov humor i pouka su,naravno,prisutni
🕵️♂️Kratko i veoma simpatično. 👍👍👍
🇺🇸
🕵️♂️First time reading Dickens' detective story
🕵️♂️Fast narative
🕵️♂️Tense
🕵️♂️Plot twist at the end
🕵️♂️Dickensian humor and moral are present,too
🕵️♂️Short and very,very nice read👍👍👍
#7sensesofabook #bookstagram #classicliterature #knjige #literature #readingaddict
✍"I confess, for my part, that I HAVE been taken in, over and over again. I have been taken in by acquaintances, and I have been taken in (of course) by friends; far oftener by friends than by any other class of persons. How came I to be so deceived? Had I quite misread their faces?
No. Believe me, my first impression of those people, founded on face and manner alone, was invariably true. My mistake was in suffering them to come nearer to me and explain themselves away."
✍"In truth, I could hardly have believed that the broken man who then spoke to me was the man who had so strongly and so differently impressed me when his purpose was before him."
🇷🇸
🕵️♂️Moj prvi susret s Dikensom u žanru detektivska priča.
🕵️♂️Brza naracija
🕵️♂️Napeto
🕵️♂️Preokret na kraju
🕵️♂️Dikensov humor i pouka su,naravno,prisutni
🕵️♂️Kratko i veoma simpatično. 👍👍👍
🇺🇸
🕵️♂️First time reading Dickens' detective story
🕵️♂️Fast narative
🕵️♂️Tense
🕵️♂️Plot twist at the end
🕵️♂️Dickensian humor and moral are present,too
🕵️♂️Short and very,very nice read👍👍👍
#7sensesofabook #bookstagram #classicliterature #knjige #literature #readingaddict
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February 10, 2017
First read: 19th July, 2012 (3 stars)
Second read: 11th November, 2015 (2 stars)
Despite having read this before, I have no recollection of the story Hunted Down: roguery and trickery abound around the streets of London with a good dollop of romance and the inevitable Victorian obsession with death. Fairly regular, well-written and very Dickensian but with an air of quick shortness that his other short works for result own. Not terrible, but not terribly great, either. Rather languid in places, though the characterisation stretches further than his other shorter stories.
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Second read: 11th November, 2015 (2 stars)
Despite having read this before, I have no recollection of the story Hunted Down: roguery and trickery abound around the streets of London with a good dollop of romance and the inevitable Victorian obsession with death. Fairly regular, well-written and very Dickensian but with an air of quick shortness that his other short works for result own. Not terrible, but not terribly great, either. Rather languid in places, though the characterisation stretches further than his other shorter stories.
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November 26, 2025
For me, it is Charles Dickens time of year and I enjoyed this short story. What a great name for a slime ball, Mr. Julius Slinkton; proper Dickens ☺️
July 31, 2015
One might not necessarily think of Dickens as a mystery writer, but detectives and criminals do figure into much of his work. This...gathers a dozen of his stories featuring cops of one kind or another.
Free download available at FeedBooks
Opening lines:
Most of us see some romances in life. In my capacity as Chief Manager of a Life Assurance Office, I think I have within the last thirty years seen more romances than the generality of men, however unpromising the opportunity may, at first sight, seem.
Free download available at FeedBooks
Opening lines:
Most of us see some romances in life. In my capacity as Chief Manager of a Life Assurance Office, I think I have within the last thirty years seen more romances than the generality of men, however unpromising the opportunity may, at first sight, seem.
May 2, 2021
It is
1) Charles Dickens
2) A study in how thrillers were written like 100s of years ago.
3) Interesting premise and some great characters.
There is an extra star for the nostalgia a Charles Dickens invokes.
1) Charles Dickens
2) A study in how thrillers were written like 100s of years ago.
3) Interesting premise and some great characters.
There is an extra star for the nostalgia a Charles Dickens invokes.
November 14, 2016
Dickens Departing into Collins Country
According to Dickens’s friend and biographer John Forster, Dickens wrote his short story Hunted Down because he was offered the princely sum of £ 1,000 for it by an American weekly paper, The New York Ledger. Of course, the fact that a writer had the opportunity to earn a small fortune with a story does not necessarily detract from its value as a piece of literature or a source of entertainment. Nevertheless, in the case of Hunted Down, whose antagonist was, once again, inspired by a real-life murderer, Dickens seems, to me, to have been out of his element; maybe even trying to poach in Wilkie Collins Country.
Hunted Down has a first-person narrator by the name of Mr. Sampson, who is the chief-manager of a life insurance company. One day, Mr. Sampson makes the acquaintance of a gentleman named Julius Slinkton, who says that he has come to make terms for a life insurance on behalf of a friend of his, a Mr. Beckwith. He also repeatedly enquires about a certain Mr. Meltham, who also sold insurances but withdrew from the business and sought solitude since the woman he intended to marry died unexpectedly. Mr. Sampson also learns that Mr. Slinkton had two nieces, one of whom died after a short but serious disease, the other niece, a Miss Margaret Niner, also being of frail health. You can possibly imagine how all this is going to go on.
If there is anything very positive that can be said about the story, it is Dickens’s use of a first-person narrator who keeps certain information from his readers in order to surprise them the more at the end of the story. Saying that, however, one might – rightly – argue that withholding information for a coup de théâtre is not exactly what makes a good unreliable narrator; this kind of perspective is much more suitable when it comes to presenting the reader with a mentally deranged, a prejudiced or a downright devious character, and Mr. Sampson is definitely none of these.
We might also say that the downfall of Mr. Slinkton, the murderer of his niece, is effected in a very contrived and hardly realistic way, which makes the story rather fanciful. Apart from that, readers will soon get weary of the narrator’s obsession with the way Mr. Slinkton wears his hair in that it is quite strange what importance Mr. Sampson attaches to his customer’s parting, likening it in his imagination to a garden path that he is being led up. In a work of the scope of Dombey and Son the narrator’s frequent mention of Mr. Carker’s white teeth might not become too repetitive and even help to identify and define the character, but in a short story the obsessive references to Mr. Slinkton’s parting are of a different calibre. In fact, Mr. Slinkton does not really come to life at all any more than his parting does.
In his failure to do so, however, he is sinning in the company of his niece – the one that is actually supposed to be alive, Margaret Niner, but who is just another of Dickens’s drab and passive female characters. Also Mr. Meltham, who has a major hand in hunting Slinkton down, readily sacrifices his life for the sake of cheap melodrama – because the woman he wanted to marry has died, and now that he brought down her murderer, his life is void of purpose, a drudge and burden for him and so on and so on … A few months after Mr. Slinkton’s downfall, Mr. Meltham passes away; in real life, he would probably have taken up golf, or married the other Miss Niner.
It’s quite obvious that when writing Hunted Down Dickens wanted to try his hand at what Wilkie Collins was good at, without, though, achieving Collins’s skills of creating interesting heroines and (relatively) believable plots.
According to Dickens’s friend and biographer John Forster, Dickens wrote his short story Hunted Down because he was offered the princely sum of £ 1,000 for it by an American weekly paper, The New York Ledger. Of course, the fact that a writer had the opportunity to earn a small fortune with a story does not necessarily detract from its value as a piece of literature or a source of entertainment. Nevertheless, in the case of Hunted Down, whose antagonist was, once again, inspired by a real-life murderer, Dickens seems, to me, to have been out of his element; maybe even trying to poach in Wilkie Collins Country.
Hunted Down has a first-person narrator by the name of Mr. Sampson, who is the chief-manager of a life insurance company. One day, Mr. Sampson makes the acquaintance of a gentleman named Julius Slinkton, who says that he has come to make terms for a life insurance on behalf of a friend of his, a Mr. Beckwith. He also repeatedly enquires about a certain Mr. Meltham, who also sold insurances but withdrew from the business and sought solitude since the woman he intended to marry died unexpectedly. Mr. Sampson also learns that Mr. Slinkton had two nieces, one of whom died after a short but serious disease, the other niece, a Miss Margaret Niner, also being of frail health. You can possibly imagine how all this is going to go on.
If there is anything very positive that can be said about the story, it is Dickens’s use of a first-person narrator who keeps certain information from his readers in order to surprise them the more at the end of the story. Saying that, however, one might – rightly – argue that withholding information for a coup de théâtre is not exactly what makes a good unreliable narrator; this kind of perspective is much more suitable when it comes to presenting the reader with a mentally deranged, a prejudiced or a downright devious character, and Mr. Sampson is definitely none of these.
We might also say that the downfall of Mr. Slinkton, the murderer of his niece, is effected in a very contrived and hardly realistic way, which makes the story rather fanciful. Apart from that, readers will soon get weary of the narrator’s obsession with the way Mr. Slinkton wears his hair in that it is quite strange what importance Mr. Sampson attaches to his customer’s parting, likening it in his imagination to a garden path that he is being led up. In a work of the scope of Dombey and Son the narrator’s frequent mention of Mr. Carker’s white teeth might not become too repetitive and even help to identify and define the character, but in a short story the obsessive references to Mr. Slinkton’s parting are of a different calibre. In fact, Mr. Slinkton does not really come to life at all any more than his parting does.
In his failure to do so, however, he is sinning in the company of his niece – the one that is actually supposed to be alive, Margaret Niner, but who is just another of Dickens’s drab and passive female characters. Also Mr. Meltham, who has a major hand in hunting Slinkton down, readily sacrifices his life for the sake of cheap melodrama – because the woman he wanted to marry has died, and now that he brought down her murderer, his life is void of purpose, a drudge and burden for him and so on and so on … A few months after Mr. Slinkton’s downfall, Mr. Meltham passes away; in real life, he would probably have taken up golf, or married the other Miss Niner.
It’s quite obvious that when writing Hunted Down Dickens wanted to try his hand at what Wilkie Collins was good at, without, though, achieving Collins’s skills of creating interesting heroines and (relatively) believable plots.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 6, 2014
Minor Dickens novella.
Minor Dickens novella.
I have like the works of Dickens for fifty years. This slight novella was unknown to me and I can see why. This reads like an outline of a novel. It is missing the rich detail I am used to in his fully realized works.
Minor Dickens novella.
I have like the works of Dickens for fifty years. This slight novella was unknown to me and I can see why. This reads like an outline of a novel. It is missing the rich detail I am used to in his fully realized works.
May 29, 2021
This is such an interesting read. What I learned is that you never trust a man with a center parting. Hah. I'm new to the shorts of Charles Dickens but his short stories have a more detective feel to them. Very interesting and so full of description.
March 6, 2014
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 18, 2020
I finished this and immediately started over and reread it. I occasionally do that with short stories, rarely with anything long. In this case I felt I had missed something. I don’t wish to take anything away from this story. Dickens as usual is masterful with his characters. My short coming was with the plot. Twice, I missed how Slinkton became suspect of wrong doing. I can only assume clairvoyance on the part of Mr. Sampson.
My minor problems aside, this is a story worth the time taken to read, mostly because it is by Charles Dickens, also it's short.
My minor problems aside, this is a story worth the time taken to read, mostly because it is by Charles Dickens, also it's short.
December 27, 2024
This is a very good short story, and yet somehow it does not stick in the memory. When I read it for the second time, I knew I had seen it before, but I had not the slightest recollection of how it would end.
Dickens' strength is in characterisation and dialog, so perhaps the short story is not his natural medium.
Dickens' strength is in characterisation and dialog, so perhaps the short story is not his natural medium.
December 30, 2024
This is a collection of a dozen short detective stories. Dickens was fascinated at the newly formed Scotland Yard and just detective work in general. He liked to go out on patrol with cops and see for himself what manner of problems they dealt with. I enjoyed reading this book, as I learned more about Dickens as a person. To end the book, there is the findings of The Edwin Drood Syndicate, who attempted to solve the murder (as Dickens died before completing the mystery).
August 8, 2020
A short story about an insurance salesman who doesn’t trust one of his acquaintance.
We know from the beginning who the villain is, but we’re not sure what he is doing. Nice satisfying ending.
We know from the beginning who the villain is, but we’re not sure what he is doing. Nice satisfying ending.
August 17, 2020
As a 21st century reader, it is hard not to compare this fledgling work of detective fiction to current standards. And yet if we try to put ourselves into the minds of its first readers imagining their fascination with how sleuths went about solving crimes in Victorian England, this short story by Dickens comes to life. It is a quick read, so if you do not have time for his longer novels, or you have tried one and not succeeded, this might be the answer. Surely entertaining!
April 19, 2020
Mr Sampson, the Chief Manager of a Life Assurance Office tells the story of Julius Slinkton and the life assurance on his friend Beckwith.
My copy of this book only contained this one mystery which was an enjoyable read
My copy of this book only contained this one mystery which was an enjoyable read
December 15, 2020
Fast read at the clinic.
June 8, 2021
Dickens führt den Schurken wie die Leser brillant aufs Glatteis, technisch fünf Sterne, leider bleibt das Personal etwas blass, bzw. zu sehr auf Distanz.
July 17, 2025
a dickensian mystery
my first encounter and I enjoyed it
a totally different "detective story
a man/a villain / hunted down to be exposed
reveals dark secrets
and the plot twist is genius
my first encounter and I enjoyed it
a totally different "detective story
a man/a villain / hunted down to be exposed
reveals dark secrets
and the plot twist is genius
July 1, 2018
Not a bad story, but hardly one to remember. To be honest, I didn't actually quite make out what the ending really meant. Below average and forgettable for Dickens.
September 18, 2022
2.5 ⭐️
This short story was ok. There was nothing really to it? If you told me to recite it I wouldn’t be able to :/
This short story was ok. There was nothing really to it? If you told me to recite it I wouldn’t be able to :/
November 2, 2021
It was okay
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