dickens

Classic Review: Tale of Two Cities

Posted by

0

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

A Tale of Two Cities
by Charles Dickens

5 out of 5 stars

Dr. Manette is released from the Bastille after years of unlawful incarceration. He is restored to health by his daughter, Lucie, and they live happily in England. Lucie is courted by a young man calling himself Charles Darnay to hide to his noble family name. When the French Revolution takes hold of Paris, Charles Darnay returns to help an old servant who is in trouble, and he is embroiled in the violence of the revolution. Lucie and Dr. Manette travel from London to Paris, but the tides of the revolution are stronger than they imagine.

Continue reading →

Classic Book Review: David Copperfield

Posted by

0

David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

David Copperfield
by Charles Dickens

5 of 5 stars

David Copperfield relates the history of his life from his birth to adulthood. We follow him through his childhood and school years, his romantic attachments, his professional career, and his family connections. David begins life with his affectionate mother and his loyal nurse, Peggoty. But a new person enters David’s life and destroys their happiness. David has many troubles and challenges before he meets with his aunt, Betsy Trotwood, who takes him under her wing to be educated. David’s life is populated with heroes and villains, each with unique personalities. As their drama unfolds, David stands at the center of it all.

Continue reading →

Classic Book Review: Bleak House

Posted by

0

Bleak House by Charles Dickens

Bleak House
by Charles Dickens

5 out of 5 stars

Esther Summerson goes to live with her guardian, Mr. Jarndyce, and two other young wards, who are his cousins. The Jarndyce family are involved in a lengthy court case disputing a will that has lagged on for generations, bringing nothing but debt and heartache to all involved. Mr. Jarndyce hopes to repair some of the emotional damage in his family by bringing his young cousins, Ada and Richard, into his own home and providing for them.
Esther herself is completely ignorant of her biological family, and is thrown into the mystery of her parentage, when a certain lawyer begins investigating the death of a man who may have been connected to the secretive Lady Dedlock. Esther must discover the truth about her mother and father before the lawyer can publicly humiliate them all.

This has always been one of my favorite Dickens books, and re-reading it several times just confirms this book as a forever favorite!

Continue reading →

Book Review: Little Dorrit

Posted by

0

Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens
Little Dorrit
by Charles Dickens

4 out of 5 stars on GoodReads

 

Amy Dorrit was born in debtor’s prison, where her father has been incarcerated for so long that he is called the Father of the Marshalsea prison. Arthur Clenham has just returned to England after spending most of his adult life abroad. He investigates a family mystery, believing that his parents have somehow wronged the Dorrit family, but unsure how to make restitution. He befriends Amy, nicknaming her “Little Dorrit”, since she is the youngest of her family.

Typical of Dickens, there are numerous subplots, a complex tapestry of connections between characters, and various plot-lines that intersect and combine. I love the complexity and depth of his plots! There is a lot of wonderful family drama, blackmail, financial ruin and sudden financial gain, romance and despair, and of course, that inimitable Dickens’ charm.
Continue reading →