Home › Books › The Artful Dickens: The Tricks and Ploys of the G…
The Artful Dickens: The Tricks and Ploys of the Great Novelist
by
77/99
Critics
36/99
Readers
n/a
Scholars
70/99
Rating
84/99
Volume
59/99
Rating
12/99
Volume
—
Sign in to add to your shelf, rate, or review this book.
About This Book
Discover the tricks of a literary master in this essential guide to the fictional world of Charles Dickens. From Pickwick to Scrooge, Copperfield to Twist, how did Dickens find the perfect names for his characters?What was Dickens's favourite way of killing his characters?When is a Dickens character most likely to see a ghost?Why is Dickens's trickery only fully realised when his novels are read aloud? In thirteen entertaining and wonderfully insightful essays, John Mullan explores the literary machinations of Dickens's eccentric genius, from from his delight in clichés to his rendering of smells and his outrageous use of coincidences. A treat for all lovers of Dickens, this essential companion puts his audacity, originality and brilliance on full display.
Preview
Reviews
"There is a brilliant chapter on cliché — how Dickens revels in it, inventing characters who mix clichés up ..."
"The Artful Dickens is both an exposure of the trickster's methods and a celebration of close reading."
"Astute observations abound ..."
"Although Mullan assumes a reader's familiarity with Dickens' many works, his ebullient analysis may well generate new fans."
"There are some wonderful lines."
"Not all Mullan's attempts to argue for Dickens's distinctiveness are quite as persuasive."
Reader Reviews
0 reviewsSign in to write a review.
No reader reviews yet. Be the first!