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La señora Lirriper
Al morir su marido cubierto de deudas, la señora Lirriper abre una pensión en el 81 de la calle Norfolk, en Londres, para pagar a sus acreedores e iniciar una nueva vida. «Si las paredes de esta pensión pudiesen hablar […] tendrían tantas cosas que contar…» Una extensa galería de personajes genuinamente dickensianos desfila por estas páginas, desde el doctor Goliath, «enciclopedia animada del conocimiento universal», hasta el doctor Bernard, que ayuda a los tristes y hastiados a quitarse la vida en unas lujosas cenas que anticipan El club de los suicidas de R. L. Stevenson. Historias cómicas, sentimentales, de fantasmas, de niños hambrientos y de fortunas enterradas componen el legado de la señora Lirriper. Dickens creó este personaje para su revista All the Year Round y animó a varios autores amigos, entre ellos Elizabeth Gaskell, a escribir las andanzas de sus huéspedes. La señora Lirriper (1863-1864) tuvo un éxito fulgurante: según Chesterton, Dickens «no hizo, literariamente hablando, nunca nada mejor» que esta «versión femenina del señor Pickwick».
424 pages, Paperback
First published November 16, 1863
26 people are currently reading
417 people want to read
About the author
Charles Dickens
13k books31.6k 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 34 reviews
December 29, 2025
La signora Lirriper è una vedova che si sostiene affittando camere e nella novella racconta di alcuni suoi inquilini e di come siano entrati a far parte della sua vita, costituendo la sua vera famiglia. Il racconto è narrato in prima persona, come se la signora Lirriper si rivolgesse ad un'amica ed è una vicenda di buoni sentimenti, nel puro stile Dickens.
Un po' favolistica se vogliamo, ma proprio per questo perfetta da leggere nel periodo natalizio.
Un po' favolistica se vogliamo, ma proprio per questo perfetta da leggere nel periodo natalizio.
October 5, 2025
"'Mrs Lirriper' isn't completely by Charles Dickens. It's a book of short stories, four of which are by him." I said to my mother yesterday afternoon.
"Really?" she said.
"Mm-hmm. It was actually published as two books - 'Mrs. Lirriper's Lodgings' and 'Mrs. Lirriper's Legacy' and then they put them into one book. Each one begins and ends with a short story by Charles Dickens writing as Mrs. Lirriper, who is the landlady. The stories inbetween are written by different writers, like Henry Spicer and Andrew Halliday, pretending to be different lodgers Mrs. Lirriper has had, or pretending to know one of her lodger's stories. One of her lodgers, the Major, has been with her a long time, and they adopted a baby boy, and the Major is the person who knew all the lodger's stories, and he wrote them down for the boy to read when he came back from boarding school."
"Sounds complicated to me."
"It does the way I explain it, but it really works. Trust me."
"That's the most words I've had out of you all day."
"That's because I've been reading it all day!"
"Really?" she said.
"Mm-hmm. It was actually published as two books - 'Mrs. Lirriper's Lodgings' and 'Mrs. Lirriper's Legacy' and then they put them into one book. Each one begins and ends with a short story by Charles Dickens writing as Mrs. Lirriper, who is the landlady. The stories inbetween are written by different writers, like Henry Spicer and Andrew Halliday, pretending to be different lodgers Mrs. Lirriper has had, or pretending to know one of her lodger's stories. One of her lodgers, the Major, has been with her a long time, and they adopted a baby boy, and the Major is the person who knew all the lodger's stories, and he wrote them down for the boy to read when he came back from boarding school."
"Sounds complicated to me."
"It does the way I explain it, but it really works. Trust me."
"That's the most words I've had out of you all day."
"That's because I've been reading it all day!"
November 8, 2023
3.64⭐
Forward by Philip Hensher ✔
Part One: Mrs. Lirriper's Lodgings
How Mrs. Lirriper Carried on the Business by Charles Dickens 4⭐
How the First Floor Went to Crowley Castle by Elizabeth Gaskell 3.5⭐
How the Side Room Was Attended by a Doctor by Andrew Halliday 3.25⭐
How the Second Floor Kept a Dog by Edmond Yates 3.25⭐
How the Third Floor Kept the Potteries by Amelia Edwards 4⭐
How the Best Attic Was under a Cloud by Charles Collins 3.5⭐
How the Parlours Added a Few Words by Charles Dickens 3⭐
Part Two: Mrs. Lirriper's Legacy
Mrs. Lirriper Relates How she Went On, and Went Over by Charles Dickens 4⭐
A Past Lodger Relates a Wild Story of a Doctor by Charles Collins 4.5⭐
Another Past Lodger Relates his Experience as a Poor Relation by Rosa Mulholland 4.5⭐
Another Past Lodger Relates What Lot he Drew at Glumper House by Henry Spicer 3.25⭐
Another Past Lodger Relates His Own Ghost Story by Amelia Edwards 3.25⭐
Another Past Lodger Relates Certain Passages to Her Husband by Hesba Stretton 3⭐
Mrs. Lirriper Relates How Jemmy Topped Up by Charles Dickens 4⭐
Forward by Philip Hensher ✔
Part One: Mrs. Lirriper's Lodgings
How Mrs. Lirriper Carried on the Business by Charles Dickens 4⭐
How the First Floor Went to Crowley Castle by Elizabeth Gaskell 3.5⭐
How the Side Room Was Attended by a Doctor by Andrew Halliday 3.25⭐
How the Second Floor Kept a Dog by Edmond Yates 3.25⭐
How the Third Floor Kept the Potteries by Amelia Edwards 4⭐
How the Best Attic Was under a Cloud by Charles Collins 3.5⭐
How the Parlours Added a Few Words by Charles Dickens 3⭐
Part Two: Mrs. Lirriper's Legacy
Mrs. Lirriper Relates How she Went On, and Went Over by Charles Dickens 4⭐
A Past Lodger Relates a Wild Story of a Doctor by Charles Collins 4.5⭐
Another Past Lodger Relates his Experience as a Poor Relation by Rosa Mulholland 4.5⭐
Another Past Lodger Relates What Lot he Drew at Glumper House by Henry Spicer 3.25⭐
Another Past Lodger Relates His Own Ghost Story by Amelia Edwards 3.25⭐
Another Past Lodger Relates Certain Passages to Her Husband by Hesba Stretton 3⭐
Mrs. Lirriper Relates How Jemmy Topped Up by Charles Dickens 4⭐
February 18, 2020
Not at his best my dear charlie in short stories. At least not here ...
December 30, 2007
Mrs. Lirriper is a kindly woman who keeps a respectable boarding house. When one of her lodgers dies in childbirth, she and her good friend the Major decide to raise the baby as their own. Everything goes well...until they hear news of the child's father.
This is one of Dickens' lesser-known characters, but she is very memorable and it is worthwhile to hear her story about love and social responsibility. Dickens serialized her story in All The Year Round and used an interesting gimmick to involve other authors: The residents of Mrs. Lirriper's boarding house contribute their own stories (written by other Victorian-era authors including Elizabeth Gaskell). After these stories are recounted, Dickens returns to tie up the conclusion of Mrs. Lirriper's story with a mysterious message and a trip to France.
Although the quality of the boarder's stories is uneven, reading them all together with the sections of the book by Dickens helped me form a better picture of Dickens' quality as a writer within his own time, rather than in isolation. It was also interesting to see how themes in this book are explored in some of his other stories.
This is the first complete edition of the Mrs. Lirriper stories since 1865. More information can be obtained from the publisher, Hesperus Press.
This is one of Dickens' lesser-known characters, but she is very memorable and it is worthwhile to hear her story about love and social responsibility. Dickens serialized her story in All The Year Round and used an interesting gimmick to involve other authors: The residents of Mrs. Lirriper's boarding house contribute their own stories (written by other Victorian-era authors including Elizabeth Gaskell). After these stories are recounted, Dickens returns to tie up the conclusion of Mrs. Lirriper's story with a mysterious message and a trip to France.
Although the quality of the boarder's stories is uneven, reading them all together with the sections of the book by Dickens helped me form a better picture of Dickens' quality as a writer within his own time, rather than in isolation. It was also interesting to see how themes in this book are explored in some of his other stories.
This is the first complete edition of the Mrs. Lirriper stories since 1865. More information can be obtained from the publisher, Hesperus Press.
May 31, 2011
Keeping up lodgings in London is not an easy job, as Mrs. Lirriper will tell you! It is an interesting one, however, full of servants who can't keep their faces clean, guests who steal your belongings and callous men who leave behind their jilted lovers. For Mrs. Lirriper, it's also one that provides her with a sweet little grandson and a dashing companion with whom she faces a variety of exciting adventures, from setting up the United Grand Junction Lirriper and Jackman Great Norfolk Parlour Line to saving the local taxman from a huge conglomeration and traveling to France in search of a legacy. Though she has a tendency to ramble (and to omit her punctuation), Mrs. Lirriper's amusing accounts of her life as a landlady make for some entertaining and enjoyable reading!
October 11, 2025
Two stories which are actually one story. Beginning with Mrs. L's Lodgings, we meet the proprietress of a boarding house, some of her lodgers, neighbors and the tax man. Also how she and the Major come to bring up an orphan in the boarding house. The Legacy completes the tale.
Shorter than a Dicken's novel, it has a smaller caste of characters and a simpler story line. The characters and settings are as detailed as ever. This might be a good introduction to Dickens for some, but I still would prefer Oliver Twist or A Christmas Carol for that.
Shorter than a Dicken's novel, it has a smaller caste of characters and a simpler story line. The characters and settings are as detailed as ever. This might be a good introduction to Dickens for some, but I still would prefer Oliver Twist or A Christmas Carol for that.
May 21, 2024
I enjoyed how Dickens started by scene setting and then inviting colleagues to also add stories - I did really feel like I was in Mrs Lirriper's parlour, along with the Major, listening in.
June 7, 2019
'Mrs Lirriper' is a collection of connected short stories. The stories were first published in two groups in the Christmas issues of a publication in 1863 and 1864 under the overall titles 'Mrs Lirriper's Lodgings' and 'Mrs Lirriper's Legacy' respectively. The two groups each comprise 7 short stories loosely connected by the setting, a boarding house in Victorian London run by Mrs Lirriper. Charles Dickens was both editor and contributor, whilst other stories are contributed by 7 other authors. The stories include elements of melodrama, humour, and as befits the original Christmas publication date, the supernatural. Good editing has prevented too much of the unevenness in style that would usually result from an enterprise of this nature, and I really enjoyed it.
March 13, 2025
Reve romanzo che non conoscevo,narra la vita della vedova Lirriper, della sua pensione e di alcuni personaggi che vi alloggiano, in particolare il Maggiore. Personaggi molto Dickensiani, buoni fin nel profondo
January 1, 2018
Very sweet, finally a lovable female character
December 27, 2021
Una lettura entusiasmante che ci fa fare la conoscenza con alcuni dei più bei personaggi dickensiani.
Credo non vi sia bisogno di ribadire che ce ne straconsiglio la lettura, vero?!
Credo non vi sia bisogno di ribadire che ce ne straconsiglio la lettura, vero?!
December 27, 2019
El libro es escrito por Charles Dickens, con la colaboración de 8 escritores.
La historia gira en torno a la Sra. Lirriper (viuda), es una mujer amable que quiere mantener su casa de huéspedes respetablemente. Cuando una de sus inquilinas muere durante el parto, ella y su buen amigo el Mayor deciden criar al bebé como propio.
Las otras historias son contadas por huéspedes que pasan por su casa.
Es uno de los personales menos conocidos del escritor, pero es muy memorable y vale la pena escuchar sus historias.
El libro se compone de 14 historias, de las cuales 4 son de Dickens, 2 de Charles Collins, quien era hermano de Wilkie Collins y además se terminó casando con una de las hijas de Dickens, 2 relatos de Amelia Edwards y 1 de Elizabeth Gaskell, Andrew Halliday, Edmund Yates, Rosa Mulholland, Henry Spicer y Hesba Stratron.
La historia gira en torno a la Sra. Lirriper (viuda), es una mujer amable que quiere mantener su casa de huéspedes respetablemente. Cuando una de sus inquilinas muere durante el parto, ella y su buen amigo el Mayor deciden criar al bebé como propio.
Las otras historias son contadas por huéspedes que pasan por su casa.
Es uno de los personales menos conocidos del escritor, pero es muy memorable y vale la pena escuchar sus historias.
El libro se compone de 14 historias, de las cuales 4 son de Dickens, 2 de Charles Collins, quien era hermano de Wilkie Collins y además se terminó casando con una de las hijas de Dickens, 2 relatos de Amelia Edwards y 1 de Elizabeth Gaskell, Andrew Halliday, Edmund Yates, Rosa Mulholland, Henry Spicer y Hesba Stratron.
September 16, 2024
These are two short stories of Charles Dickens published in 1863 and 1864. Told from the point of view of the title character, with run-on sentences and shifting subjects galore, the stories provide a glimpse into the harried life of a mid-nineteenth century widow, London lodging house proprietor, and surrogate mother. If you enjoyed Bleak House, I fear you will not enjoy these stories. The plots fail to grab, the characters are generally uninteresting and undeveloped, and the lodging house is an imperfect microcosm of British society in that era.
March 11, 2019
Un poco decepcionante para tratarse de Dickens. Y es que él apenas está detrás de un par de relatos que conforman el libro, el resto son colaboraciones. Es entretenido pero algunas historias no me acababan de cuajar.
April 15, 2024
I enjoyed the multiple contributions of various writers, unlike the comments of other reviewers. I like to read or reread a classic once in a while, but I am usually disappointed. I enjoyed David Copperfield some sixty years ago; perhaps, it is time to see if it still is appealing.
March 25, 2018
The Elizabeth Gaskell short story about Victorine, Therese, and Bessie, which is 1 of the lodger's tales, wrapped by Dickens' introductory and closing chapters, is a classic.
November 8, 2020
A Short Gem From Dickens
I would recommend this book to anybody who loves Dickens and wants to spend an hour in the company of a beautiful soul.
I would recommend this book to anybody who loves Dickens and wants to spend an hour in the company of a beautiful soul.
November 16, 2025
Las historias que le ocurren a los huéspedes de la señora Lirrimer tienen el aire de la época victoriana, pero se nota mucho que están escritas por autores diferentes y eso le hace perder homogeneidad al libro. Algunas son mejores y otras peores, destacando lógicamente la de Dickens por una trama más completa, por una mayor atención a los detalles más insignificantes de la historia y por una técnica más elaborada. Una forma clásica de convertir relatos inconexos en un todo.
February 28, 2017
Una selección de relatos escritos por los grandísimos Dickens o Gaskell, pero también de otros escritores, no tan conocidos, que harán las delicias de cualquier lector.
December 17, 2022
Este libro empieza con un cuento de Dickens y luego varios autores de la época son invitados a también escribir historias que involucren a la Señora Lirriper. En su época se publicaba periódicamente y ahora poder leerlas todas juntas hace la lectura de este compendio de lo mas entretenida.
La Sra. Lirriper ha enviudado y al querer cumplir con todos los acreedores de su difunto marido, abre una pensión en Londres y cada uno de los personaje que pasan por la pensión tiene una aventura que contar. Y asi te sumerges en la época victoriana con las más variadas historias.
Cada autor le pone su toque y te encuentras con algunas lecturas cómicas, otras con fantasmas, algunas incluyen romance y hasta fortunas escondidas.
Mis favoritas fueron las que escribió el propio Dickens porque la Sra. Lirriper, el Sr. Jackman y el pequeño Jemny aparecen más activamente (y los amé a los tres); pero también disfruté las historias “De como un doctor asistió a la habitación de al lado” o “De como el primer piso viajó a Crowley Castle” o “De como el segundo piso tuvo un perro” entre las escritas por otros autores.
Un clásico de la literatura inglesa que me ha dado unas buenas horas de lectura distendida.
La Sra. Lirriper ha enviudado y al querer cumplir con todos los acreedores de su difunto marido, abre una pensión en Londres y cada uno de los personaje que pasan por la pensión tiene una aventura que contar. Y asi te sumerges en la época victoriana con las más variadas historias.
Cada autor le pone su toque y te encuentras con algunas lecturas cómicas, otras con fantasmas, algunas incluyen romance y hasta fortunas escondidas.
Mis favoritas fueron las que escribió el propio Dickens porque la Sra. Lirriper, el Sr. Jackman y el pequeño Jemny aparecen más activamente (y los amé a los tres); pero también disfruté las historias “De como un doctor asistió a la habitación de al lado” o “De como el primer piso viajó a Crowley Castle” o “De como el segundo piso tuvo un perro” entre las escritas por otros autores.
Un clásico de la literatura inglesa que me ha dado unas buenas horas de lectura distendida.
October 26, 2025
No es justo desmerecer la cualidad de Dickens para dar vida a un personaje entrañable y sincero con una historia tan bien llevada porque el resto del libro sean colaboraciones de otros autores, con una calidad bastante dispar. Si valorara ese conjunto el libro no alcanzaría el 4, pues varias de las intervenciones no están a la altura en ningún aspecto, son historias muy olvidables. Pero los fragmentos de la Señora Lirriper (en formato epistolar) son excelentes. La luz y la oscuridad en las experiencias de la señora Lirriper a cargo de una pensión, y la historia detrás de una inesperada adopción, son apasionadas y están llenas del espíritu humano del realismo victoriano de Dickens. Merecen por completo ser leídas. El resto, en general, son prescindibles.
March 30, 2011
Two series of stories published in Charles Dickens' periodical, All the Year Round (1863 & 1864)
The first & last story of each series is by Dickens, defining Mrs. Lirriper and the Major and Jemmy.
The intervening stories are written by
Elizabeth Gaskell
Andrew Halliday
Edmund Yates
Amelia Edwards (the Victorian Egyptologist & travel writer)
Charles Collins (brother of Wilkie Collins and son-in-law of Dickens)
Rosa Mulholland
Henry Spicer
Hesba Stretton
and purport to be about various boarders (told by the Major) or told by boarders.
The first & last story of each series is by Dickens, defining Mrs. Lirriper and the Major and Jemmy.
The intervening stories are written by
Elizabeth Gaskell
Andrew Halliday
Edmund Yates
Amelia Edwards (the Victorian Egyptologist & travel writer)
Charles Collins (brother of Wilkie Collins and son-in-law of Dickens)
Rosa Mulholland
Henry Spicer
Hesba Stretton
and purport to be about various boarders (told by the Major) or told by boarders.
September 1, 2016
This is actually a collaborative novel or collection of stories by Dickens and several other authors, most notably Elizabeth Gaskell and Charles Collins (brother of Wilkie). Mrs Lirriper runs a boarding house, her story being written by Dickens, while the other authors tackle stories related by various boarders to Mrs Lirriper's lodger and companion Major Jackman. Some of the stories are more entertaining than others, and were originally published in Dickens's journal 'All The Year Round'. If anything they are an added extra for any Dickens fan, not essential reading, but of some interest.
December 8, 2016
This books is a disappointment. Marketed as by Charles Dickens it is actually 'Dickens and Friends' as Chuck only contributes the opening chapter, a middle and a closing chapter. He creates the mechanism - a lodging house - on which the other stories rest. One however is quite prescient, a Doctor provides an exit service for people consumed by ennui; " a delicate and dainty way of getting out of the difficulties of life". He hosts a meal for like-minded people. The different courses are the component, fatal drugs. We wines and dines you, you leave to sleep and never awake. Amazing.
June 16, 2011
Some of the stories in this collection are very good (such as the stories on Crowley Castle, the Potteries, Under a Cloud, the Doctor, the Poor Relation and the Ghost Story) and would rate 5 stars. The rest of the stories are pretty poor and would only rate 2 or 3 stars. One to borrow from the library rather than buy and keep.
April 18, 2011
So it turns out this guy was a short story, which made it the fastest Dickens' read ever.
Loved it, though it had little depth and little plot adventures. I imagine if I had been alive while Charles Dickens was alive, we would have been friends. Funny guy.
Loved it, though it had little depth and little plot adventures. I imagine if I had been alive while Charles Dickens was alive, we would have been friends. Funny guy.
April 27, 2012
I didn't finish this book. I just can't get into the old-fashioned writing style. Call me uncultured, but I just can't get absorbed in this style of writing like I can in more modern novels. I tried.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews