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Paul Schlicke is the author of Dickens and Popular Entertainment and the editor of the Oxford Companion to Charles Dickens, and has served as president of the Dickens Society and the Dickens Fellowship, and as chairman of the trustees of the Charles Dickens Museum. Prior to his retirement in 2010, he taught English at the University of Aberdeen for 40 years.
Reviewed by Carla Trueheart for Readers' Favorite
Simply Dickens by Paul Schlicke covers just about everything you want to know about the great writer Charles Dickens. As the book begins, the reader gets a glimpse of the childhood of Charles Dickens, including the struggles involved in his father’s debt and other family issues. Through his upbringing, we start to see the inspiration for his characters evolve, as well as learn about the early jobs he held as a journalist. The history of the Pickwick Papers is covered, then the book delves into the other popular works of the great Dickens, including Oliver Twist, and my personal favorite, A Christmas Carol. Also covered is the trip Dickens took to America, his failing marriage with wife Catherine, a possible mistress he had in later years, and the final works he did and left behind unfinished. At the heart of the book, and what it does best in general, is explain that Charles Dickens had a strong political side and many if not all of his works reflect his take on the social issues of his day.
Charles Dickens is one of my favorite writers, and I was pleased to learn so much about him in Simply Dickens. There was so much trauma in his personal life, and all of this is mentioned in the book as it makes its way into the narrative and characters we have all come to love so well. Author Paul Schlicke surprises the reader with little known facts as well, such as the evolution of A Christmas Carol and Oliver Twist. We also learn about the last days of Charles Dickens and how his family remembers him. I was surprised to learn there is little evidence linking Dickens with his mistress, and that there may have even been a child who was unfortunately lost. I recommend this book to fans of Charles Dickens, literature buffs, and anyone who wants to learn more about the personal life, career, and final mysteries of the great author.
