Charles Dickens: A Life

Jane Smiley takes an interesting approach to Charles Dickens for the Penguin Lives series. This is a short and easy to read book, and as much literary criticism than a full length biography.The focus is on each of the major works/novels that Dickens wrote and Smiley approaches them chronologically, weaving what was going on in the author's life around that fact. In the process we get a lot less about Dickens' dismal childhood and a lot more about the breakup of his marriage.I must admit that I do not always agree with Smiley on her ranking of the novels - I like Bleak House much better than she did and was less enthusiastic about Our Mutual Friend, which she loved. But that is the fun of this type of work, especially with this type of author, and Smiley always makes her points intelligently and respectfully, noting when she is a minority opinion (as with Bleak House). It is good than the more obscure novels get their due amount of time.For me, this approach often worked quite well. I am not nearly as interested in Dickens' financial dealings with his publishers than I am with Oliver Twist. Along the way, Smiley makes a very interesting point and supports it very well - despite being the most Victorian of writers, in many ways Dickens the man feels very modern in his cult of celebrity, his self promotion via book tours/speaking engagements, and the very public (even tabloid) aspects of his life.

Charles Dickens has been a lifelong obsession for me, and Jane Smiley a more recent one. This is what happens when a really good writer sets out to write about another really good writer -- lots of insight into the well-known facts and terrific, always-interesting prose. As Dickens biographies go, this is short, but I can't imagine anyone but a graduate student needing more information to enjoy Dickens' work. Lots of memorable insights,

This is a book that could be a text in a literary criticism class. I'm nearly finished with it after reading Little Dorritt, one of Dickens' novels. I had decided to spend some time reading and re-reading Dickens' books. I read some of them when I was a child. And of course, everyone knows The Christmas Carol. This book by Jane Smiley is so excellent - it makes me think that Dickens should be studied in English literature courses in college, rather than some of those by Bronte, etc. One doesn't have to be a college student to get a great deal from this book as it is written in very accessible language. Smiley discusses Dickens' personality, his life, his ideas, his criticism of English society, and several of his books. I recommend that schools study more of Dickens' work and use this book as a guide.

This lively book provides an overview of the literary achievements and personal life of Charles Dickens. For those Amazon.com customers who, like me, don't know how to approach this writer's vast achievements, I provide this advice from Smiley, who is an intelligent, charming, and enthusiastic biographer: "But a newcomer to Dickens can do no better than to begin with a novel-my suggestions are David Copperfield, to be followed by Great Expectations, Dombey and Son, A Tale of Two Cities, and Our Mutual Friend, in that order, light, dark, light, dark, light, a wonderful chiaroscuro of Dickens's most characteristic and accessible work." Bravo for Jane and her fun and concise treatment of an enormous subject!

Good, brief biography of Dickens with emphasis on his life-long development as a novelist, written by a fine novelist. Smiley's continual comments about the nature of the novel were fascinating for me.

Terrific companion to reading Dickens. All the biography you will even need, insightful and thought provoking analysis of the novels. Highly recommended. It's like being in the best book club anywhere.

This is a great little book on the life of Charles Dickens. For anyone who wants a glimpse into his life, this is a great little book, and a fairly short, easy read.

Heavy going, but insightful on several works (e.g., "Great Expectations")