Conversations with Dickens: A Fictional Dialogue Based on Biographical Facts

by Paul Schlicke

Imagined by one of the world's foremost Dickens scholars, this fictionalised conversation presents the essential biography of Britain's most beloved novelist.

Sheltering from a summer downpour, you encounter the ghost of Charles Dickens. Join him for a chat in the inn beloved by Mr Pickwick and be swept away by his vigour, warmth and humanity. You'll feel as if you've known him all your life.

The great novelist Charles Dickens attracted international adulation on an unprecedented scale. He cultivated a genial intimacy with his readers, and after he died many of his admirers felt that they had lost a personal friend. Sit back and listen to this master conversationalist talk about everything from work in a boot-polish factory to lecture tours in America.

Who could possibly ask for more?

Genres: Biography

128 pages, Hardcover

Published November 12, 2019

About the author

Paul Schlicke, an internationally renowned Dickens scholar, celebrates 200 years since the birth of one of Britain's most popular authors. He draws together an unparalleled diversity of information on one of Britain's greatest writers, covering his life and work, He throws new and often unexpected light on the most familiar of Dickens's works, and explores the experiences, events, and literature which influenced him.

Reviews

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

A hearty little introductory book presenting imaginary conversations with the great Charles Dickens! It covers 15 different themes which center more around his writing rather than personal matters.

The beginning of the book provides background for Charles Dickens, so the conversations do not start until 20% (on a Kindle). The first half of the book focuses on his favorite authors, their influence on his writing, and his financial agreements with publishers. It isn’t until after 57% (on a Kindle) when the conversation turns a bit more personal; Dickens then recounts memories of his mother and further goes on to address romantic rumors. The conversation thereafter proceeds to tackle his religious beliefs, moral principles, travels, thoughts on crime and punishment, education, politics, hobbies/activities, and lastly Christmas.

This is a great introduction to Dickens and would be beneficial to students. It is short and would be valuable in comparative literature circles. The premise is fun, and my favorite parts were hearing his voice containing his acclaimed slang and neologisms.

“So, you see, Mrs. Seymour’s claim that her late husband deserved most of the credit for the success of Pickwick is sheer poppycock!”

“…many readers thought that it was intended as a likeness of Nicholas, and not me. As if – ha, ha! – any fictional character could be as a dashing as I was in those days!”

Thanks to Netgalley, Paul Schlicke, and Watkins Publishing for this copy. Opinions are my own.



More on Charles Dickens:
How Charles Dickens changed the English language
Dickens Museum

[Diane S ☔ · Rating 3 out of 5]

An unusual but interesting format. Interviewing the ghost of Charles Dickens. Starts out with a short biography of this wonderful author and then goes to a question and answer format. How he named his characters, his titles, his illustrators and publishers. Likes and dislikes. In between each change of subject, we get a shirt explanation on what follows. The ending is about his personal life, his wife, her sisters and his last relationship. Would have rated this higher but I already knew much of what was within. One does though I think, get a balanced look at the man and author.

ARC from Netgalley.

[Katarína Laurošková · Rating 5 out of 5]

An accessible introduction to the life of Charles Dickens.
Written in the form of a fictional interview, it provides a great background to the life and works of this well-known writer. It is suitable mainly for readers who do not have any previous experiences with the biographies of Dickens, as it is quite a brief overview of events.
I appreciate the research of the author that was put into making the interview as genuine as possible, quoting from Dickens' letters and books. The form of a fictional dialogue is a great idea of how to present canon writers in a modern way.

[Karschtl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew nothing before about the personal life of Charles Dickens, and thus this 'Conversation' was a quite informative read where I learned about his childhood (not always easy, but in a loving family), his start as a journalist, his love-life, his fight for international copyright, and his love for walking and also acting.

The manner in which Dickens' answers are written really make you believe that it is this great author of the 19th century that is replying to the questions. The facts stated seem all very credible to me, even though they are a bit tedious at some points, e.g. when he talks about the quarrels with his publishers and how much money he got for this or that manuscript etc.

It is also noted that Charles Dickens often did public readings of his works, and that indeed it was not only a marketing gig to get people to buy his books but a very welcome source of income for Dickens. I didn't know that public readings by authors was popular already by that time.

[AcademicEditor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charles Dickens led an interesting life, and his novels feature many seemingly autobiographical details. However, he destroyed many of his letters and personal writings, leaving biographers to make educated guesses about some very important aspects of his life. In this book, after some preliminary biography, Paul Schlicke has imagined what it would be like if Dickens had been interviewed by a genial admirer. It is an interesting exercise, and one that I think that my students will be able to relate to and even imitate in their own assignments.

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the digital ARC!

[Perry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a nice primer on Dickens. It is easy to read and provides some information from his life. The effort to get his voice is appreciated even if it mainly just includes a few stock phrases: Lor, my goodness me, etc. Dickens doesn't talk too much about controversial subjects, but that is why the superior The Mystery of Charles Dickens exists.

[Michelle Kidwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Conversations with Dickens
A Fictional Dialogue Based on Biographical Facts

by Paul Schlicke

Watkins

Watkins Publishing

Biographies & Memoirs , Nonfiction (Adult)

Pub Date 12 Nov 2019

I am reviewing Conversations With Dickens through Watkins Publishing and Netgalley:

Charles Dickens was the equivalent to a Pop Star. Before radio, cinema, television and the internet he attracted international adulation on an unprecedented scale. His first novel the Pickwick papers was written when he was only twenty four years old. The Pickwick Papers was a publishing sensation going through multiple editions, abridgments, translations, adaptations, dramatizations and spin-offs throughout the century.

In this imagined interview you run into the Ghost of Charles Dickens at the beloved Inn of Mr Pickwick while sheltering from a Summer downpour. While chatting you become swept away by his vigors, warmth and humanity feeling as if you’ve known him all your life.

Charles Dickens was a great novelist who continues to attract international education on an unprecedented scale. He cultivated an intimacy with his readers, and after he died many of his admirers felt that they had lost a personal friend.

In Conversations With Dickens you get to sit back and listen to this master conversationalist talk about everything from work in a boot-polish factory to lecture tours in America.

I give Conversations With Dickens five out of five stars!

Happy Reading

[J.D. DeHart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this unique and informed exploration of Dickens. This is a book to be enjoyed on its own — or, even better, paired as a reading with a classic example.