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The Gospel in Dickens: Selections from His Works
Wish you had time to re-read and enjoy that daunting stack of Charles Dickens novels?
Take heart: Dickens enthusiast Gina Dalfonzo has done the heavy lifting for you. In short, readable excerpts she presents the essence of the great novelist’s prodigious output, teasing out dozens of the most memorable scenes to reveal the Christian vision and values that suffuse all his work.
Dickens can certainly entertain, but his legacy endures because of his power to stir consciences with the humanity of his characters and their predicaments. While he could be ruthless in his characterization of greed, injustice, and religious hypocrisy, again and again the hope of redemption shines through.
In spite of – or perhaps because of – his own failings, Dickens never stopped exploring the themes of sin, guilt, repentance, redemption, and restoration found in the gospel. In some passages the Christian elements are explicit, in others implicit, but, as Dickens himself said, they all reflect his understanding of and reverence for the gospel.
The Gospel in Dickens includes selections from Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, A Tale of Two Cities, Great Expectations, A Christmas Carol, Nicholas Nickleby, The Old Curiosity Shop, Martin Chuzzlewit, Dombey and Son, Bleak House, Hard Times, Little Dorrit, Our Mutual Friend, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, and Sketches by Boz – with a cast of unforgettable characters such as Ebenezer Scrooge, Sydney Carton, Jenny Wren, Fagin, Pip, Joe Gargery, Mr. Bumble, Miss Havisham, Betsey Trotwood, and Madame Defarge.
Take heart: Dickens enthusiast Gina Dalfonzo has done the heavy lifting for you. In short, readable excerpts she presents the essence of the great novelist’s prodigious output, teasing out dozens of the most memorable scenes to reveal the Christian vision and values that suffuse all his work.
Dickens can certainly entertain, but his legacy endures because of his power to stir consciences with the humanity of his characters and their predicaments. While he could be ruthless in his characterization of greed, injustice, and religious hypocrisy, again and again the hope of redemption shines through.
In spite of – or perhaps because of – his own failings, Dickens never stopped exploring the themes of sin, guilt, repentance, redemption, and restoration found in the gospel. In some passages the Christian elements are explicit, in others implicit, but, as Dickens himself said, they all reflect his understanding of and reverence for the gospel.
The Gospel in Dickens includes selections from Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, A Tale of Two Cities, Great Expectations, A Christmas Carol, Nicholas Nickleby, The Old Curiosity Shop, Martin Chuzzlewit, Dombey and Son, Bleak House, Hard Times, Little Dorrit, Our Mutual Friend, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, and Sketches by Boz – with a cast of unforgettable characters such as Ebenezer Scrooge, Sydney Carton, Jenny Wren, Fagin, Pip, Joe Gargery, Mr. Bumble, Miss Havisham, Betsey Trotwood, and Madame Defarge.
264 pages, Paperback
Published September 22, 2020
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About the author
Charles Dickens
13.1k books31.7k 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 - 19 of 19 reviews
January 22, 2021
I came into this one not knowing quite what to expect. I don't know how someone who is not a reader of Dickens in the general sense would fare with this collection. Having read most of the books represented here, I enjoyed seeing how Dalfonzo teases out Dickens's portrayals of faith, character, hypocrisy, and redemption. Very enjoyable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 14, 2020
This book captured my attention because (I must confess) I’m delinquent when it comes to the writings of Charles Dickens. I’ve only read “A Christmas Carol” and that is admittedly sad given the profound impact of (and masterful storytelling in) Dickens’ work. The challenge confronting me is that (excepting “A Christmas Carol”) the works of Dickens tend to be huge bookshelf-cracking tomes, and so I’m seeking a strategy by which to approach his publications – given the time investments involved. Because this is a book that largely consists of excerpts from his various works, I figured it might help me devise a plan of how to tackle Dickens (figuratively.) I believe it did help me in that regard.
The book’s theme is how biblical teachings feature in the works of Dickens. While my own reading objectives tend toward the secular, I figured that knowing about the moral conundrums and growth, or lack thereof, of characters would be a good way to understand Dickens’ canon as stories and not only as reflections of religious attitudes. Moral dilemma is, after-all, a central element of storytelling -- universally, and not just with regards to religious or mythological contexts. I feel I was correct in this regard, as well. I did learn about which stories were most likely to appeal to me.
I do believe the book was as much about how Dickens (not by himself, by any means, but as part of an artistic and societal movement of the day) influenced the nature of Christianity (both in his time and beyond) as it was about how the Gospel influenced Dickens. I’m not saying this with intent to blaspheme. It’s just that the nature of the problems and how they were approached is very different between the time of ancient Rome and Dickensian London. So, one has a kind of general teaching of being charitable and kind to those less fortunate and it is applied to policy questions that were nonexistent at the time of the Bible or that individuals in the Bible were silent upon.
There are three chapters or section to the book. The first looks at attitudes toward the poor. If one knows anything about the works of Charles Dickens, it’s that they virtually all deal with down-and-out characters having to make their way through worlds controlled by (often uncharitable) wealthy people. This was true of my beloved “A Christmas Carol,” but I know it’s also a major feature in “Oliver Twist,” “Great Expectations,” “Bleak House,” “The Old Curiosity Shop,” and others. This first section takes up about half the book. The second section involves the issue of redemption, and it’s about a quarter of the book. The final section is also about twenty-five percent of the book and it looks at living a good life. Each of these chapters has a series of excerpts. Generally, there is a short paragraph of editorial input before each excerpt to explain any necessary background as well as to provide some insight into why the excerpt is included (i.e. how it relates to the book’s theme.) While most of the excerpts come from Dickens’ major novels, it should be pointed out that there are some that come from other works (i.e. nonfiction and short fiction.)
There are some artistic drawings that are congruous with expectations of a Dickens book. Otherwise, there’s not much in terms of ancillary matter, though there is a Forward. I didn’t feel anything else was particularly needed (though a timeline of publications and / or an appendix with concise plot summaries might have made the book a bit easier to use.)
If you’re interested in learning more about the works of Dickens, I’d recommend this book – particularly (but not necessarily exclusively) if you have interests at the intersection of literature and religion.
The book’s theme is how biblical teachings feature in the works of Dickens. While my own reading objectives tend toward the secular, I figured that knowing about the moral conundrums and growth, or lack thereof, of characters would be a good way to understand Dickens’ canon as stories and not only as reflections of religious attitudes. Moral dilemma is, after-all, a central element of storytelling -- universally, and not just with regards to religious or mythological contexts. I feel I was correct in this regard, as well. I did learn about which stories were most likely to appeal to me.
I do believe the book was as much about how Dickens (not by himself, by any means, but as part of an artistic and societal movement of the day) influenced the nature of Christianity (both in his time and beyond) as it was about how the Gospel influenced Dickens. I’m not saying this with intent to blaspheme. It’s just that the nature of the problems and how they were approached is very different between the time of ancient Rome and Dickensian London. So, one has a kind of general teaching of being charitable and kind to those less fortunate and it is applied to policy questions that were nonexistent at the time of the Bible or that individuals in the Bible were silent upon.
There are three chapters or section to the book. The first looks at attitudes toward the poor. If one knows anything about the works of Charles Dickens, it’s that they virtually all deal with down-and-out characters having to make their way through worlds controlled by (often uncharitable) wealthy people. This was true of my beloved “A Christmas Carol,” but I know it’s also a major feature in “Oliver Twist,” “Great Expectations,” “Bleak House,” “The Old Curiosity Shop,” and others. This first section takes up about half the book. The second section involves the issue of redemption, and it’s about a quarter of the book. The final section is also about twenty-five percent of the book and it looks at living a good life. Each of these chapters has a series of excerpts. Generally, there is a short paragraph of editorial input before each excerpt to explain any necessary background as well as to provide some insight into why the excerpt is included (i.e. how it relates to the book’s theme.) While most of the excerpts come from Dickens’ major novels, it should be pointed out that there are some that come from other works (i.e. nonfiction and short fiction.)
There are some artistic drawings that are congruous with expectations of a Dickens book. Otherwise, there’s not much in terms of ancillary matter, though there is a Forward. I didn’t feel anything else was particularly needed (though a timeline of publications and / or an appendix with concise plot summaries might have made the book a bit easier to use.)
If you’re interested in learning more about the works of Dickens, I’d recommend this book – particularly (but not necessarily exclusively) if you have interests at the intersection of literature and religion.
October 7, 2020
The Gospel in Dickens: Selections from His Works, edited by Gina Dalfonzo with a foreword by Karen Swallow Prior, highlights the many ways in which Charles Dickens highlights various aspects of the Gospel message through the characters in many beloved novels. Dalfonzo begins by providing an introduction to Dickens' life, his religious viewpoints, and works. After this introduction, Dalfonzo groups excerpts from Dickens' novels into three sections: Sin and Its Victims, Repentance and Grace, and The Righteous Life. Each section includes an introduction to section followed by excerpts which portray the topic. Dalfonzo offers insights between each excerpt which highlight specific aspects to notice while reading as well as offers enough information regarding the larger novel so that the reader can join a story in progress. This is useful if the reader is not as familiar with a specific novel or has not read it in quite some time.
The Gospel in Dickens is recommended for several different audiences and can be used in a variety of ways. This would be a great resource in a literature class devoted to Dickens or to Victorian literature. If you were teaching a course on biblical or religious themes in literatures, this would definitely be appropriate either as a textbook or for teacher preparation. Ministers, public speakers, or writers may find it useful as a resource when they wish to find an illustration to use as Dalfonzo has done some a marvelous job of categorizing scenes from various novels. Moving beyond the classroom or professional use, this work is wonderful for individuals who simply enjoy great literature ,or Dickens specifically, and wish to read it for enjoyment or who want to have an introduction to the entirety of Dickens writing. You may find after reading The Gospel in Dickens that you wish to re-read your favorite Dickens novel or find a new one to enjoy.
The Gospel in Dickens is recommended for several different audiences and can be used in a variety of ways. This would be a great resource in a literature class devoted to Dickens or to Victorian literature. If you were teaching a course on biblical or religious themes in literatures, this would definitely be appropriate either as a textbook or for teacher preparation. Ministers, public speakers, or writers may find it useful as a resource when they wish to find an illustration to use as Dalfonzo has done some a marvelous job of categorizing scenes from various novels. Moving beyond the classroom or professional use, this work is wonderful for individuals who simply enjoy great literature ,or Dickens specifically, and wish to read it for enjoyment or who want to have an introduction to the entirety of Dickens writing. You may find after reading The Gospel in Dickens that you wish to re-read your favorite Dickens novel or find a new one to enjoy.
June 30, 2021
“The Gospel In Dickens” consists of thirty-six excerpts drawn from Dickens’ canon that illustrate his religious beliefs as manifested in his writing. Divided into three parts, “Sin and Its Victims”, “Repentance and Grace” and “The Righteous Life”, it focuses on some of the most heart-warming stories for which he is remembered.
In some, including “What Sunday Should Be” from “Sunday Under Three Heads” the Christian references are overt, but in most they are gleaned from the lives of Dickens’ characters as presented in the samples.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. My favorite scenes are from the works with which I am most familiar, such as when Oliver Twist was encouraged to “ask for more” or when the revived Scrooge rejoiced in Christmas Day. Humor is found, and pity elicited, as in “Our Mutual Friend” when Jenny Wren plays mother to the drunken father who should be parenting her. Editor Gina Dalfonzo has skillfully selected accounts that demonstrate Christian themes in Dickens’ works.
I found comfort in a literature that extolls Christian virtue, rather than subjecting it to ridicule. I was entertained by the verbal craftmanship that made Dickens the great icon of English literature that he is. It left me with a yearning for more of his craft. A book that can achieve that is a treasure.
I did receive a free copy of this book without an obligation to post a review.
In some, including “What Sunday Should Be” from “Sunday Under Three Heads” the Christian references are overt, but in most they are gleaned from the lives of Dickens’ characters as presented in the samples.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. My favorite scenes are from the works with which I am most familiar, such as when Oliver Twist was encouraged to “ask for more” or when the revived Scrooge rejoiced in Christmas Day. Humor is found, and pity elicited, as in “Our Mutual Friend” when Jenny Wren plays mother to the drunken father who should be parenting her. Editor Gina Dalfonzo has skillfully selected accounts that demonstrate Christian themes in Dickens’ works.
I found comfort in a literature that extolls Christian virtue, rather than subjecting it to ridicule. I was entertained by the verbal craftmanship that made Dickens the great icon of English literature that he is. It left me with a yearning for more of his craft. A book that can achieve that is a treasure.
I did receive a free copy of this book without an obligation to post a review.
September 22, 2020
4 1/2 stars A great introduction to the writing of Dickens, particularly for readers who are looking for Christian themes in his books.
August 23, 2020
Summary: A collection of excerpts from the works of Charles Dickens showing the Christian gospel themes evident throughout these works.
Many who have read or are familiar the stories and life of Dickens might think him hostile to religious faith. His personal life was not always exemplary, particular his relations with his wife, with whom he separated to pursue his affair with actress Ellen Ternan. Often his portrayals of religious figures are sharply barbed as with Mr. Bumble the beadle in Oliver Twist. In this book, Gina Dalfonzo proposes that what Dickens despised was not Christian faith, but the hypocrisy of some of its leading figures.
Like other books in Plough's "The Gospel in..." series, this consists of excerpts of a number of his major works organized around three main themes: Sin and Its Victims, Repentance and Grace, and The Righteous Life. Dalfonzo offers an introduction to the work of Dickens seen from a Christian perspective, and concludes with two letters that evidence his personal warm sentiments toward a morally Christian life, one to his son, "Plorn" and the other, written on the next to the last day of his life.
In "Sin and Its Victims" we have the familiar scene from Oliver Twist "I Want Some More" and one I had not read before from Bleak House that was quite striking under the title "He Who is Without Sin" in which a godmother raising an illegitimate child bore a grudge against the mother until struck down with a stroke on hearing the story read from the gospels of the woman caught in adultery and Jesus response to her accusers: "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.' So many of these are warnings against the ways we may be blind to our own sin.
"Repentance and Grace" consists of excerpts that reflect the theme of awakening to one's sin, the harms one has caused and in some cases finding grace to begin again. One of the most famous is the awakening of Miss Havisham in Great Expectations to the deleterious effects of training Estella not to love, when she sees the hurt Estella inflicts upon Pip. Her cry, "What have I done?" reveals her remorse, and leads to a new resolve to help Pip. A short passage from Little Dorrit between Mrs Clennam who set herself to combat evil in all its forms mercilessly, and Little Dorrit, contrasts wrathful lawkeeping and the gospel of grace. Little Dorrit replies:
"O Mrs Clennam, Mrs. Clennam. . . angry feelings and unforgiving deeds are no comfort and no guide to you and me. My life has been passed in this poor prison, and my teaching has been very defective; but let me implore you to remember later and better days. Be guided by the healer of the sick, the raiser of the dead, the friend of all who were afflicted and forlorn, the patient Master who shed tears of compassion for our infirmities. We cannot but be right if we put all the rest away, and do everything in remembrance of Him. There is no vengeance and no infliction of suffering in his life, I am sure. There can be no confusion in following Him, and seeking for no other footsteps, I am certain.
The third part portrays "The Righteous Life." Sometimes we see the beauty of a life lived under grace as in "Little Mother" from Little Dorrit in the ways Amy Dorrit cares for and advocates for Maggy, a brain-damaged young woman. There is the attractive character of Septimus Crisparkle in The Mystery of Edwin Drood, at one a proponent of "muscular Christianity" and yet solicitous toward his mother and kind toward all he meets. This section concludes with the speech of Sydney Carton at the end of A Tale of Two Cities and the transformed Ebenezer Scrooge of A Christmas Carol.
Short introductions set each excerpt (and there are many more than mentioned here) in context, although at times with works of Dickens I had not read, I felt I did not have enough context. Still, Dalfonzo's exploration reminded me of the times of delight in reading him and whet my appetite for "more." I read this in conjunction with a book "weed out" and set aside several volumes of Dickens I'd not read. It's been a half dozen years or more since my last Dickens. Dalfonzo persuaded me that for reasons of both delight and spiritual edification, it was time to return to "our mutual friend."
________________________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Many who have read or are familiar the stories and life of Dickens might think him hostile to religious faith. His personal life was not always exemplary, particular his relations with his wife, with whom he separated to pursue his affair with actress Ellen Ternan. Often his portrayals of religious figures are sharply barbed as with Mr. Bumble the beadle in Oliver Twist. In this book, Gina Dalfonzo proposes that what Dickens despised was not Christian faith, but the hypocrisy of some of its leading figures.
Like other books in Plough's "The Gospel in..." series, this consists of excerpts of a number of his major works organized around three main themes: Sin and Its Victims, Repentance and Grace, and The Righteous Life. Dalfonzo offers an introduction to the work of Dickens seen from a Christian perspective, and concludes with two letters that evidence his personal warm sentiments toward a morally Christian life, one to his son, "Plorn" and the other, written on the next to the last day of his life.
In "Sin and Its Victims" we have the familiar scene from Oliver Twist "I Want Some More" and one I had not read before from Bleak House that was quite striking under the title "He Who is Without Sin" in which a godmother raising an illegitimate child bore a grudge against the mother until struck down with a stroke on hearing the story read from the gospels of the woman caught in adultery and Jesus response to her accusers: "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.' So many of these are warnings against the ways we may be blind to our own sin.
"Repentance and Grace" consists of excerpts that reflect the theme of awakening to one's sin, the harms one has caused and in some cases finding grace to begin again. One of the most famous is the awakening of Miss Havisham in Great Expectations to the deleterious effects of training Estella not to love, when she sees the hurt Estella inflicts upon Pip. Her cry, "What have I done?" reveals her remorse, and leads to a new resolve to help Pip. A short passage from Little Dorrit between Mrs Clennam who set herself to combat evil in all its forms mercilessly, and Little Dorrit, contrasts wrathful lawkeeping and the gospel of grace. Little Dorrit replies:
"O Mrs Clennam, Mrs. Clennam. . . angry feelings and unforgiving deeds are no comfort and no guide to you and me. My life has been passed in this poor prison, and my teaching has been very defective; but let me implore you to remember later and better days. Be guided by the healer of the sick, the raiser of the dead, the friend of all who were afflicted and forlorn, the patient Master who shed tears of compassion for our infirmities. We cannot but be right if we put all the rest away, and do everything in remembrance of Him. There is no vengeance and no infliction of suffering in his life, I am sure. There can be no confusion in following Him, and seeking for no other footsteps, I am certain.
The third part portrays "The Righteous Life." Sometimes we see the beauty of a life lived under grace as in "Little Mother" from Little Dorrit in the ways Amy Dorrit cares for and advocates for Maggy, a brain-damaged young woman. There is the attractive character of Septimus Crisparkle in The Mystery of Edwin Drood, at one a proponent of "muscular Christianity" and yet solicitous toward his mother and kind toward all he meets. This section concludes with the speech of Sydney Carton at the end of A Tale of Two Cities and the transformed Ebenezer Scrooge of A Christmas Carol.
Short introductions set each excerpt (and there are many more than mentioned here) in context, although at times with works of Dickens I had not read, I felt I did not have enough context. Still, Dalfonzo's exploration reminded me of the times of delight in reading him and whet my appetite for "more." I read this in conjunction with a book "weed out" and set aside several volumes of Dickens I'd not read. It's been a half dozen years or more since my last Dickens. Dalfonzo persuaded me that for reasons of both delight and spiritual edification, it was time to return to "our mutual friend."
________________________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
December 9, 2020
As a child, when I read the abridged editions of Charles Dickens’ novels, I had an overwhelming impression of bleakness. It was only when I read the complete novels while pursuing my BA in English Literature that I became aware of the essential faith, the consistent belief in the good and the right, that informed his novels and shone through his writing.
I only managed to read Oliver Twist and A Tale of Two Cities in their entirety. The earnest desire to someday finish reading all his novels remains unfortunately just an earnest desire.
That is why I was glad to read Gina Dalfonzo’s book. I am so happy that she considered Dickens’ work a fit subject for intense study as part of the Gospel In series.
Much of the theme of the book is set in context in the foreword by Karen Swallow Prior where she describes Dickens' compulsions and beliefs against the background of the time and place in which he lived and wrote.
The book quotes liberally from Dickens’ voluminous body of work, including 17 novels and 3 minor works. We are treated to excerpts from Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, A Tale of Two Cities, Great Expectations, A Christmas Carol, Bleak House, Hard Times, and several others. The most iconic characters from his novels, including Ebenezer Scrooge, Sydney Carton (as a child, I was struck by how self-sacrificing he was and how he had been Christ-like in giving up his life in place of another), Miss Havisham and Madame Defarge.
The author divides her book into three sections, Sin and its Victims, Repentance and Grace, and the Righteous Life.
Through large chunks of quoted text, the author draws attention to how each of Dickens’ villains sets out to tell the reader what kind of behaviour and conduct Christians must and must not display in their lives.
No part of any novel is meant for entertainment alone. There is scathing irony and ferocious sarcasm on display as Dickens points out the hypocrisy of the powerful and wealthy.
Religious hypocrisy is called out at every stage, proving just how offensive Dickens found that character trait.
I must commend the author for the painstaking manner in which she has mentioned each noteworthy character in Dickens’ novels, good and bad, alike, and delineated with copious examples why they deserve to be emulated or decried. If you need a push to head back to reading the Dickens novel you abandoned a long time ago, this book might just drive you to it.
But the admiration of Dickens is not blind. As Prior points out in the foreword, for all his larger-than-life world view, as exemplified in his writing, Dickens didn’t often show his best face at home. She points out his many flaws on the domestic front.
The only issue I had with this book was that the formatting in the Kindle made the footnotes hard to read. Also, there should have been some differentiation in terms of font or point size or even style for the portions quoted from Dickens. In the absence of this differentiation, it’s hard to tell where the author’s commentary ends and the quoted text begins.
I am now inspired to re-read my copy of A Tale of Two Cities.
I only managed to read Oliver Twist and A Tale of Two Cities in their entirety. The earnest desire to someday finish reading all his novels remains unfortunately just an earnest desire.
That is why I was glad to read Gina Dalfonzo’s book. I am so happy that she considered Dickens’ work a fit subject for intense study as part of the Gospel In series.
Much of the theme of the book is set in context in the foreword by Karen Swallow Prior where she describes Dickens' compulsions and beliefs against the background of the time and place in which he lived and wrote.
The book quotes liberally from Dickens’ voluminous body of work, including 17 novels and 3 minor works. We are treated to excerpts from Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, A Tale of Two Cities, Great Expectations, A Christmas Carol, Bleak House, Hard Times, and several others. The most iconic characters from his novels, including Ebenezer Scrooge, Sydney Carton (as a child, I was struck by how self-sacrificing he was and how he had been Christ-like in giving up his life in place of another), Miss Havisham and Madame Defarge.
The author divides her book into three sections, Sin and its Victims, Repentance and Grace, and the Righteous Life.
Through large chunks of quoted text, the author draws attention to how each of Dickens’ villains sets out to tell the reader what kind of behaviour and conduct Christians must and must not display in their lives.
No part of any novel is meant for entertainment alone. There is scathing irony and ferocious sarcasm on display as Dickens points out the hypocrisy of the powerful and wealthy.
Religious hypocrisy is called out at every stage, proving just how offensive Dickens found that character trait.
I must commend the author for the painstaking manner in which she has mentioned each noteworthy character in Dickens’ novels, good and bad, alike, and delineated with copious examples why they deserve to be emulated or decried. If you need a push to head back to reading the Dickens novel you abandoned a long time ago, this book might just drive you to it.
But the admiration of Dickens is not blind. As Prior points out in the foreword, for all his larger-than-life world view, as exemplified in his writing, Dickens didn’t often show his best face at home. She points out his many flaws on the domestic front.
The only issue I had with this book was that the formatting in the Kindle made the footnotes hard to read. Also, there should have been some differentiation in terms of font or point size or even style for the portions quoted from Dickens. In the absence of this differentiation, it’s hard to tell where the author’s commentary ends and the quoted text begins.
I am now inspired to re-read my copy of A Tale of Two Cities.
September 24, 2020
First sentence: Good literature is fresh water for the soul. While some writers offer a sip ladled from the well, Dickens takes us to a mountain waterfall where rushing waters saturate, overwhelm, and put us at risk of drowning as we drink. But fear not. This book of selected readings is more like a gentle brook whose waters will quench the thirst of Dickens’ aficionados and neophytes alike. I know this volume will attract those who know and love Dickens already. But I hope it woos those who have yet to drink from his depths.
Only read this book if you want to struggle with the dilemma of what Dickens book to pick up next. I jest.
I definitely enjoyed reading The Gospel in Dickens, and would happily recommend it to any and all who enjoy Victorian literature and/or the classics.
The book is divided into three sections: Sin and Its Victims, Repentance and Grace, and The Righteous Life. Each section has excerpts thoughtfully selected and introduced by the editor Gina Dalfonzo.
Before reading The Gospel in Dickens I wouldn't have thought much of Dickens being a Christian--or not being a Christian. I probably would have assumed that he believed in God to some extent, perhaps attended church services, held Christian values and morals to some degree. But I wouldn't have really thought here is a man who knows and loves the Lord. The truth is when you read all these excerpts together it paints a powerful portrait of a man who does just that--love the Lord and love the Word of the Lord.
This one features excerpts from
A Christmas Carol
Great Expectations
Hard Times
Bleak House
Oliver Twist
Sketches by Boz
Martin Chuzzlewit
Our Mutual Friend
Little Dorrit
A Tale of Two Cities
David Copperfield
Nicholas Nickleby
The Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain
The Life Of Our Lord
The Mystery of Edwin Drood
The Old Curiosity Shop
Dombey and Son
personal letters
My background? I have a BA and MA (bachelor of arts, master of arts) degree in English literature. I love and adore Dickens. Perhaps he's not my absolute favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite Victorian author. (That may be Gaskell or Trollope). But I love Dickens. I have often found that it takes reading each book twice to really go from like to love or love to REALLY love, love, love. There is something substantive and unforgettable about his characters and stories. I have read all but three of his novels. I've read most of them twice--though not all. Every January I start off thinking this will be the year where I read TONS of Dickens. But usually I just manage one or two. Not from lack of desire--but from a million or so books competing for my attention saying read me, read me, read me. Dickens doesn't push himself forward into the fight to be read. But there are certain times of the year when I seek him out.
As I was reading this one I kept thinking, I HAVE to reread this one. Then I'd go onto the other excerpt and it was, NO, I have to read THIS one. I may never make up my mind!!!
Only read this book if you want to struggle with the dilemma of what Dickens book to pick up next. I jest.
I definitely enjoyed reading The Gospel in Dickens, and would happily recommend it to any and all who enjoy Victorian literature and/or the classics.
The book is divided into three sections: Sin and Its Victims, Repentance and Grace, and The Righteous Life. Each section has excerpts thoughtfully selected and introduced by the editor Gina Dalfonzo.
Before reading The Gospel in Dickens I wouldn't have thought much of Dickens being a Christian--or not being a Christian. I probably would have assumed that he believed in God to some extent, perhaps attended church services, held Christian values and morals to some degree. But I wouldn't have really thought here is a man who knows and loves the Lord. The truth is when you read all these excerpts together it paints a powerful portrait of a man who does just that--love the Lord and love the Word of the Lord.
This one features excerpts from
A Christmas Carol
Great Expectations
Hard Times
Bleak House
Oliver Twist
Sketches by Boz
Martin Chuzzlewit
Our Mutual Friend
Little Dorrit
A Tale of Two Cities
David Copperfield
Nicholas Nickleby
The Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain
The Life Of Our Lord
The Mystery of Edwin Drood
The Old Curiosity Shop
Dombey and Son
personal letters
My background? I have a BA and MA (bachelor of arts, master of arts) degree in English literature. I love and adore Dickens. Perhaps he's not my absolute favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite Victorian author. (That may be Gaskell or Trollope). But I love Dickens. I have often found that it takes reading each book twice to really go from like to love or love to REALLY love, love, love. There is something substantive and unforgettable about his characters and stories. I have read all but three of his novels. I've read most of them twice--though not all. Every January I start off thinking this will be the year where I read TONS of Dickens. But usually I just manage one or two. Not from lack of desire--but from a million or so books competing for my attention saying read me, read me, read me. Dickens doesn't push himself forward into the fight to be read. But there are certain times of the year when I seek him out.
As I was reading this one I kept thinking, I HAVE to reread this one. Then I'd go onto the other excerpt and it was, NO, I have to read THIS one. I may never make up my mind!!!
September 22, 2020
Excerpts from Dickens' works in which are contained some of Jesus' message. The book consists of three parts. In the first, Dickens excoriates all forms of hypocrisy and other sins through actions of some of his most evil characters; in the second, there are examples of grace, repentance, and forgiveness; in the third, examples of righteous living. All of them were fascinating and gave me much to think about, but the three selections that impressed me the most were from David Copperfield where a father seeks his runaway daughter wherever he might find her; Bleak House where a dying old man forgives his scandalous wife whom he has treated abominably through the years; and from Nicholas Nickleby protects a schoolboy from severe punishment from a sadistic schoolmaster. This was a good idea: to give us a taste of Dickens' ponderous [to us, since we aren't Victorians and used to their flowery way of writing] selections. I, for one, will seek out one of his complete novels as well as other volumes in the "Gospel in great writers" series. Highly recommended.
I thank LibraryThing for an ARC.
I thank LibraryThing for an ARC.
Want to read
October 2, 2020This book is the latest entry in “The Gospel in Great Writers” series. Over the years, so many have come to love the work of Charles Dickens. Through his novels and stories, we have enjoyed not only great works but also commentaries on social inequities that existed during the Victorian Era. It is interesting to note that many of the inequities that occurred during the Victorian Era are also occurring in the present.
The challenge with authors like Dickens is that they weave the challenges into their stories so well that the reader often has to read through his works to pull out the excerpts needed. For the reader who would like to pull those issues out of Dickens’ work but is also fighting against time constraints, this book is for you. The author has pulled out various excerpts from Dickens’ works and categorized them under various Christian concepts. This is both wonderful and time-saving! It makes this book a valuable resource for anyone who desires to connect Christian concepts with great literature.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book provided by the publisher and Net Galley. However, the thoughts expressed are my own.
The challenge with authors like Dickens is that they weave the challenges into their stories so well that the reader often has to read through his works to pull out the excerpts needed. For the reader who would like to pull those issues out of Dickens’ work but is also fighting against time constraints, this book is for you. The author has pulled out various excerpts from Dickens’ works and categorized them under various Christian concepts. This is both wonderful and time-saving! It makes this book a valuable resource for anyone who desires to connect Christian concepts with great literature.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book provided by the publisher and Net Galley. However, the thoughts expressed are my own.
October 22, 2020
The Gospel in Dickens commences with a foreword by Karen Swallow Prior (whose works I love). Next, editor Gina Dalfonzo introduces the compilation as well as some of Dickens’ history. The selections immediately follow and are sorted into three categories: (1) Sin and Its Victims, (2) Repentance and Grace, (3) The Righteous Life. More entries are devoted to Sin and Its Victims than the other categories and it sometimes felt heavy. When needed, I skipped around to the other sections for something more hopeful.
The Gospel in Dickens inspired me to check out a Charles Dickens biography and some of his works from my local library. While each reading selection is prefaced by a paragraph or two that explains the background of the selection, I sometimes felt a bit lost because I have not read his works recently. The book is best suited for Christian readers who have already enjoyed the works of Charles Dickens.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.
The Gospel in Dickens inspired me to check out a Charles Dickens biography and some of his works from my local library. While each reading selection is prefaced by a paragraph or two that explains the background of the selection, I sometimes felt a bit lost because I have not read his works recently. The book is best suited for Christian readers who have already enjoyed the works of Charles Dickens.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.
July 1, 2020
A copy of this book was provided to me through NetGalley via Plough publishing for review. Thank you!
I was never made to read Charles Dickens in school, which I feel was a huge slight against my education. I took it upon myself to read many great classics after graduation from High School, a friend and I would get together to discuss those books each month. It was quite an enjoyable time.
This is a collection of excerpts from many works of Dickens, including notes on those scenes. My only issue is that the kindle formatting is off, and so it becomes somewhat difficult to read where there's headers and page-numbers interjecting between paragraphs or sometimes in the middle of them.
Overall, if you're a fan of, or wish to look into the works of, Charles Dickens, this is a good book to pick up to cut your teeth on.
I was never made to read Charles Dickens in school, which I feel was a huge slight against my education. I took it upon myself to read many great classics after graduation from High School, a friend and I would get together to discuss those books each month. It was quite an enjoyable time.
This is a collection of excerpts from many works of Dickens, including notes on those scenes. My only issue is that the kindle formatting is off, and so it becomes somewhat difficult to read where there's headers and page-numbers interjecting between paragraphs or sometimes in the middle of them.
Overall, if you're a fan of, or wish to look into the works of, Charles Dickens, this is a good book to pick up to cut your teeth on.
October 22, 2020
DNF
I got this book for free from Netgalley. I have always liked The Christmas Carol as a classic Christmas story. I thought I would enjoy this book so much more than I did. I don’t know if it was just the formatting of the free galley I got or the work itself. I found it impossible to get into. I couldn’t tell where Dicken’s works began or ended and when it was the commentary on said works. It was also hard for me to understand the messages completely. Maybe I need to invest in a better dictionary? I had high hopes, but sadly, they were disappointed.
I got this book for free from Netgalley. I have always liked The Christmas Carol as a classic Christmas story. I thought I would enjoy this book so much more than I did. I don’t know if it was just the formatting of the free galley I got or the work itself. I found it impossible to get into. I couldn’t tell where Dicken’s works began or ended and when it was the commentary on said works. It was also hard for me to understand the messages completely. Maybe I need to invest in a better dictionary? I had high hopes, but sadly, they were disappointed.
August 2, 2020
Dalfonzo digs into not just Dickens' best-known work, but also his minor works (including a posthumously published book titled The Life of Our Lord and several letters he wrote) to show the Biblical themes that he was so passionate about. In doing so, she does a great job of showing how Christianity was something that Dickens didn't just intellectually assent to, it was something which moved him deeply and bled into his work.
March 7, 2021
I did not have very positive experiences with Dickens in school. But I've always loved A Christmas Carol, and because of that, and the advice of several readers I trust, I've been persuaded to give him another shot. This has been an excellent guide to understanding Dickens' redemptive vision, and has helped me find a few titles I'd like try now that I've finally finished David Copperfield. Highly recommend!
May 30, 2021
Dalfonzo prints selections from famous works of Dickens and uses them to show various aspects of the Gospel in his writing. Topics include Sin and Its Victims, Repentance and Grace, and The Righteous Life. Fans of Dickens, and those who are not familiar with his work, should read this book. It is especially interesting if you have a knowledge of, or are of, the Christian faith.
August 28, 2020
Great book!I'll be reading this one again and again!
July 31, 2023
Beautiful selections. Love those author for so many more reasons now! Hungry to read Old Curiosity Shop and Dombey and Sons & Nicholas Nickleby!
November 2, 2020
As a teen I was assigned the Dickens classic, A Tale of Two Cities, which I labored through. Reading the selections found in these pages and focused on the Christ/sacrificial figure of Sidney Carton, I realized "What a great story." This is the latest in an excellent series from Plough publishers.
Dickens, associated in the popular mind with the sentimental "A Christmas Carol," was a sharp social observer and religious critic- and sometime skeptic. These selections embrace the library of Dickens classics to bring us back to the "blackened forest of chimneys" (Little Dorrit) of Old London. A London of extreme poverty and social extremes. Dickens locates the blindness and oppression of the poor found too often among representatives of organized religion in the dirty streets of mid- nineteenth century England. He favors the Gospel message of Christ in the New Testament to the harsh and punishing God of the Old Testament, a positive bias reflected in a selection from Little Dorrit and in a letter to his young son about to depart for Australia. If Dickens is often a harsh critic of organized religion, he finds redemption in a series of impoverished, tattered and often flawed human characters who represent the Gospel message of Jesus Christ in everyday life.
Dickens, associated in the popular mind with the sentimental "A Christmas Carol," was a sharp social observer and religious critic- and sometime skeptic. These selections embrace the library of Dickens classics to bring us back to the "blackened forest of chimneys" (Little Dorrit) of Old London. A London of extreme poverty and social extremes. Dickens locates the blindness and oppression of the poor found too often among representatives of organized religion in the dirty streets of mid- nineteenth century England. He favors the Gospel message of Christ in the New Testament to the harsh and punishing God of the Old Testament, a positive bias reflected in a selection from Little Dorrit and in a letter to his young son about to depart for Australia. If Dickens is often a harsh critic of organized religion, he finds redemption in a series of impoverished, tattered and often flawed human characters who represent the Gospel message of Jesus Christ in everyday life.
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