Charles Dickens, página 10 de 119

A Tale of Two Cities differs essentially from all of Dickens other novels in style and manner of treatment. Forster, in his Life of Dickens, writes that "there is no instance in his novels excepting this, of a deliberate and planned departure from the method of treatment which had been pre-eminently the source of his popularity as a novelist." To rely less upon character than upon incident, and to resolve that his actors should be expressed by the story more than they should express themselves by dialogue, was for him a hazardous, and can hardly be called an entirely successful, experiment. With singular dramatic vivacity, much constructive art, and with descriptive passages of a high order everywhere, there was probably never a book by a great humorist, and an artist so prolific in conception, with so little humor and so few remarkable figures. Its merit lies elsewhere. The two cities are London and Paris. The time is just before and during the French Revolution. A peculiar chain of events knits and interweaves the lives of a "few simple, private people" with the outbreak of a terrible public event. Dr. Manette has been a prisoner in the Bastille for eighteen years, languishing there, as did so many others, on some vague unfounded charge. His release when the story opens, his restoration to his daughter Lucie, the trial and acquittal of one Charles Darnay, nephew of a French marquis, on a charge of treason, the marriage of Lucie Manette to Darnay, these incidents form the introduction to the drama of blood which is to follow. Two friends of the Manette family complete the circle of important characters: Mr.

Since the voyage of Columbus in search of the New World, and of Raleigh in quest of El Dorado, no visit to America has excited so much interest and conjecture as that of the author of "Oliver Twist." . . . In the mean time the book, however disconcerting to those persons who had looked for something quite different, will bring no disappointment to such as can be luxuriously content with good sense, good feeling, good fun, and good writing. The information, with few exceptions, might be gained much more advantageously from the map and gazetteer. The perusal of them has served chiefly to lower our estimate of the man, and to fill us with contempt for such a compound of egotism, coxcombry, and cockneyism. . . . We have never read a book, professing to give an account of any country, which, in respect to its natural features, its towns and cities, its manners and customs, its social, civil, and religious institutionsin short, in respect to everything about which the reader wishes to receive information, or at least to ascertain the opinions of the author, is so profoundly silent as the book before us.

Barnaby Rudge was Dickenss fifth novel, and was published in 1841. The plot is extremely intricate. Barnaby is a poor half-witted lad, living in London toward the close of the eighteenth century, with his mother and his raven Grip. His father had been the steward of a country gentleman named Haredale, who was found murdered in his bed, while both his steward and his gardener had disappeared. The body of the steward, recognizable only by the clothes, is presently found in a pond. Barnaby is born the day after the double murder. Affectionate and usually docile, credulous and full of fantastic imaginings, a simpleton but faithful, he grows up to be liked and trusted. His mother having fled to London to escape a mysterious blackmailer, he becomes involved in the famous "No Popery" riots of Lord George Gordon in 1780, and is within an ace of perishing on the scaffold. The blackmailer, Mr. Haredale the brother and Emma the daughter of the murdered man, Emmas lover Edward Chester, and his father, are the chief figures of the nominal plot; but the real interest is not with them but with the side characters and the episodes. Some of the most whimsical and amusing of Dickenss character-studies appear in the pages of the novel; while the whole episode of the gathering and march of the mob, and the storming of Newgate, is surpassed in dramatic intensity by no passage in modern fiction, unless it is by Dickenss own treatment of the French Revolution in the Tale of Two Cities.

When Arthur Clennam returns to England after many years abroad, he takes a kindly interest in Amy Dorrit, his mother's seamstress, and in the affairs of Amy's father, William Dorrit, a man of shabby grandeur, long imprisoned for debt in the Marshalsea. Cuando Arthur Clennam regresa a Inglaterra despues de pasar muchos años en el extranjero, comienza a sentir un sano interes por Amy Dorrit, la costurera de su madre, y en los asuntos del padre de Amy, William Dorrit, un hombre de una informal grandeza, que esta cumpliendo una larga condena por deudas en las Islas Marshall.

The issue of a new edition of Martin Chuzzlewit tempts us to devote a few words to the consideration of what we venture to think the most brilliant and entertaining of all the works of Mr. Dickens. This new edition is in a very convenient form, and is clearly and handsomely printed; it contains, moreover, the illustrations published in the original issue, and therefore those happy young people to whom Martin Chuzzlewit is unknown may enjoy its perusal with every advantage. We do not pretend to have any observations to offer on so familiar a work that can have much novelty for the established admirers of Mr. Dickens. There are especially three parts of Martin Chuzzlewit that have thus been incorporated into the body of English thought. There is the history and character of Mr. Pecksniff; there is the figure, the habits, and the friend of Mrs. Gamp; and there is the description of all that Martin did and saw in America. Whenever an oily and plausible man is to be pointed out, he is at once called a Pecksniff. Whenever an unknown authority is quoted against us, we exclaim " Mrs. Harris;" and the press of New York, and the speeches of American statesmen, forbid us ever to forget the " Pogram Defiance" and the proceedings of the Water-toast Association. These are the great contributions of Martin Chuzzlewit to the resources of the English language, and to the completeness of English literature.

A whole generation, on either side of the Atlantic, used to fall sobbing at the name of Little Nell, which will hardly bring tears to the eyes of any one now, though it is still apparent that the child was imagined with real feelings, and her sad little melodrama was staged with sympathetic skill. When all is said against the lapses of taste and truth, the notion of the young girl wandering up and down the country with her demented grandfather, and meeting good and evil fortune with the same devotion, till death overtakes her, is something that must always touch the heart. It is preposterously overdone, yes, and the author himself falls into pages of hysterical rhythm, which once moved people, when he ought to have been writing plain, straight prose; yet there is in all a sense of the divinity in common and humble lives, which is the most precious quality of literature, as it is almost the rarest, and it is this which moves and consoles. It is this quality in Dickens which Tolstoy prizes and accepts as proof of his great art, and which the true critic must always set above any effect of literary mastery. "The Old Curiosity Shop" makes strong appeal to a youthful imagination, and contains little that is beyond its scope. Dickenss sentiment, however it may distress the mature mind of our later day, is not unwholesome, and, at all events in this story, addresses itself naturally enough to feelings unsubdued by criticism. His quality of picturesqueness is here seen at its best, with little or nothing of that melodrama which makes the alloy of "Nicholas Nickleby" and "Oliver Twist" to speak only of the early books.

In Charles Dickens novel, Bleak House, readers are immersed in a complex narrative that weaves together multiple storylines centered around the Jarndyce and Jarndyce legal case, exploring themes of injustice, class struggle, and the corruption of the legal system in Victorian England. Dickens signature style of social critique and rich character development shines through in this novel, as he meticulously depicts the lives of both the upper-class aristocrats and the lower-class working poor. The novels unique narrative structure, alternating between a third-person omniscient narrator and the first-person perspective of protagonist Esther Summerson, adds depth and nuance to the storytelling. Bleak House stands as a literary masterpiece that continues to resonate with readers today, showcasing Dickens profound understanding of human nature and societal issues. For those interested in Victorian literature, social commentary, and intricate plotlines, Bleak House is a must-read that delves into the complexities of 19th-century Britain with unparalleled insight and compassion.

A Christmas Carol, Cuento de Navidad o Canción de Navidad, es una de las obras más aclamadas del gran escritor británico Charles Dickens, escrita en 1843, en ésta novela corta nos enseña como hasta el mas avaro de los personajes, el mas ruin, despota y necio puede cambiar por el gran espiritu de la navidad. Un final lleno de esperanza que nos reconcilia con la bondad del ser humano.Dickens (1812-1870) fue uno de los mas importantes novelistas de habla inglesa y el principal de la era victoriana. Un gran maestro del genero narrativo, un mago el cual imprimio ciertas dosis de humor e ironia en todos sus escritos. El narrador por medio de su afilada pluma practico feroces criticas a la sociedad de la epoca y sus libros disfrutaron de una gran popularidad, siendo uno de los grandes literatos y uno de los preferidos por lectores de todo el mundo y de todas las epocas.En Cuento de navidad descubrimos a uno de los grandes personajes de la literatura universal el señor Scrooge recoge todos los argumentos del hombre avaro, de la persona egoista, alguien tan huraño que hace increible que el lector desprenda aprecio y pena por el. Mediante una estructura en tres partes consigue despertar en el lector una simpatia por un hombre de tan baja estima moral. La navidad obra el milagro del cambio. Mil veces llevada la obra a las tablas y al celuloide, no deja por ello de traspasar la frontera del tiempo y seguir en primera linea. Con un argumento sencillo nos descubre los grandes problemas de todas las sociedades modernas, la avaricia y con pequeño giro nos devuelve un alo de esperanza en el ser humano.En esta edicion de Editorial ViveLibro publicamos el libro original y la traduccion al castellano, una forma de explorar la gran calidad del texto original y descubrir los matices infinitos del lenguaje literario de uno de los grandes autores de la literatura universal.

What happens if two boys are given the exact same name? If you guessed disaster in adulthood, you would be right. When one of the men dies, there is an exciting adventure to find his heir. Leading from London to the sunny Mediterranean and across to the Alps, you will meet a diverse cast of characters; some good, some bad, and some that are eerie and exotic. No Thoroughfare is a play in five acts written as a collaboration between two great writers; Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins. Full of mystery and romance with a touch of excitement, this dramatic play is well worth reading for any Dickens or Collins fan.

Un ominoso fantasma sobre las vías del tren, cuyas apariciones desde un túnel tenebroso anuncian tragedia y muerte, atormenta al protagonista de El guardavía. Estamos ante una muestra de la prolífica dedicación que Charles Dickens dispensó a las historias de terror narradas al calor del hogar, una prueba de su atención a la cultura popular, pero también de su papel en la exploración de la psique victoriana, siempre tensada por dualidades: la tradición rural y la revolución industrial, lo espiritual y lo científico, el relato bíblico y Darwin.

The majority of the poems in this collection The Poems and Verses are a classic collection of poetic works by Charles Dickens. They are brought together in this anthology after appearing in Dickens other works, including The Pickwick Papers and several plays that he wrote together with Wilkie Collins.

In Pictures From Italy, Charles Dickens embarks on a vivid journey through the Italian landscape, intertwining rich description with insightful commentary on the culture and people he encounters. This travelogue, crafted in his distinctive, engaging prose, captures the essence of 19th-century Italy during a time of social and political upheaval. Dickens employs a blend of realism and romanticism, using evocative imagery and character sketches that breathe life into the cities of Genoa, Venice, and Rome, while simultaneously critiquing the societal conditions he witnesses. Charles Dickens, a master of Victorian literature, was inspired to write Pictures From Italy after traveling through the country in 1844. His experiences during this trip offered a stark contrast to the industrial landscape of England, shaping his perceptions of art, social justice, and human resilience. The journey provided a rare opportunity for Dickens to reflect on his own life and the broader implications of modernization, prompting him to pour his observations into this compelling narrative. This book is highly recommended for readers who seek not just travel literature but an exploration of cultural insights and nuanced reflections. Dickenss ability to blend travel narrative with social critique makes Pictures From Italy an essential read for anyone interested in literature that captures both place and time.

Olivers mother dies when he is born and he is brought up in a workhouse. His first years are cold and lonelyand then he runs away to London. But he falls into the hands of Fagin and the terrifying Bill Sykes. They try to turn Oliver into a criminal. Will he escape to find a better life?

Para celebrar el segundo centenario de Charles Dickens queremos ofrecer a nuestros lectores, en la cuidada traducción de Sandra Gutiérrez Valiente, esta pequeña joya que es una muestra muy representativa del que es considerado, justamente, uno de los mas grandes escritores en la lengua inglesa.

It is the year 1800 and a young medical practitioner has opened his own surgery. Scalpel in hand, he eagerly awaits his first patient. Yet no one comes. Late one night a tall woman dressed all in black mourning attire, a veil covering her face, steps into his practice. The woman does not say a word. Dickens creates a palpable atmosphere with the inclement weather, the mourning clothes and the womans chilling request.In true Dickens style, The Black Veil is a Gothic thriller that is sympathetic, mysterious and has a twist you never saw coming.

La colección Bolsillo Everest ofrece una atractiva serie de títulos de gran éxito. Con esta colección pretendemos acercarnos al lector con obras tan conocidas de la literatura universal como David Copperfield, Dracula, Jane EyreEs la oportunidad de tener grandes obras en pequeño tamaño.... y, sin que ahora nadie me lo impidiera, permaneci a su lado, atareado, mientras todos los medios por recobrarlo estaban siendo probados; pero habia sido golpeado hasta la muerte por la ola atroz, y su generoso corazon estaba callado para siempre. Dickens narra en esta novela episodios de su propia vida desde su infancia hasta la edad adulta, personalizados en la figura de David o Trot, un muchacho que pasa por diferentes vicisitudes en la vida, desde los estudios en un internado, hasta la muerte de su madre y el despiadado trabajo en una fabrica del Londres del siglo XIX que le hace huir hasta encontrar a su tia Betsy.Texto en version integra, adaptado a las ultimas reglas gramaticales y ortograficas.

Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens is a novel by Charles Dickens, originally published in serial form between 1855 and 1857. The story features Amy Dorrit, youngest child of her family, born and raised in the Marshalsea prison for debtors in London. Arthur Clennam encounters her after returning home from a 20-year absence, ready to begin his life anew.The novel satirises some shortcomings of both government and society, including the institution of debtors prisons, where debtors were imprisoned, unable to work and yet incarcerated until they had repaid their debts. The prison in this case is the Marshalsea, where Dickenss own father had been imprisoned. Dickens is also critical of the impotent bureaucracy of the British government, in this novel in the form of the fictional "Circumlocution Office". Dickens also satirises the stratification of society that results from the British class system.The novel begins in Marseilles "thirty years ago" (c. 1826), with the notorious murderer Rigaud telling his prison cellmate John Baptist Cavalletto how he killed his wife, just prior to being taken to trial. Businessman Arthur Clennam is detained with other travellers in quarantine in Marseilles and becomes friends with the merchants Mr. and Mrs. Meagles, their spoiled daughter "Pet", and their maid, an orphan named Harriet Beadle the family has nicknamed Tattycoram.Another traveller, Miss Wade, takes interest in the rebellious Tattycoram. Arthur has spent the last twenty years in China with his father, handling that part of the family business; his father died recently there. Arthur is now returning to London to see his mother, Mrs Clennam.

Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens Oliver Twist, or the Parish Boys Progress, Charles Dickenss second novel, was published as a serial from 1837 to 1839, and as a three-volume book in 1838.Born in a workhouse, the orphan Oliver Twist is sold into apprenticeship with an undertaker. After escaping, Oliver travels to London, where he meets the "Artful Dodger", a member of a gang of juvenile pickpockets led by the elderly criminal Fagin.Oliver Twist unromantically portrays the sordid lives of criminals, and exposes the cruel treatment of the many orphans in London in the mid-19th century.The alternative title, The Parish Boys Progress, alludes to Bunyans The Pilgrims Progress, as well as the 18th-century caricature series by painter William Hogarth, A Rakes Progress and A Harlots Progress.In an early example of the social novel, Dickens satirises child labour, domestic violence, the recruitment of children as criminals, and the presence of street children. The novel may have been inspired by the story of Robert Blincoe, an orphan whose account of working as a child labourer in a cotton mill was widely read in the 1830s. It is likely that Dickenss own experiences as a youth contributed as well.Oliver Twist has been the subject of numerous adaptations, including a highly successful musical, Oliver!, the multiple Academy Award-winning 1968 motion picture, Disneys animated film Oliver & Company in 1988 and the 1948 film, starring Alec Guinness as Fagin.

"Di tutti i miei libri" confesso Charles Dickens "amo soprattutto David Copperfield. Nessuno potra mai, leggendola, credere in questa narrazione piu di quanto non vi abbia creduto io mentre la scrivevo." E in effetti ben pochi scrittori hanno saputo catturare in modo piu efficace le emozioni dell''infanzia e la sorpresa, la magia e il terrore del mondo quali li vedono gli occhi di un bambino. In realta le avventurose esperienze di David Copperfield adombrano le vicende che hanno contrassegnato la vita dell''autore, che tuttavia riesce ad andare ben oltre il banale autobiografismo. In questo suo meraviglioso affresco, insieme realistico e visionario, in cui i malvagi vengono sbeffeggiati e i buoni sono chiamati a una paradossale rivincita, Dickens descrive infatti con rara incisivita tutta una galleria di personaggi raccolti attorno alla figura del giovane protagonista, sino a formare una delle "commedie umane" piu lette di ogni tempo. Il favore con il quale il romanzo fu accolto fin dal suo primo apparire, nel 1850, non e mai venuto meno.