Appreciations and Criticisms of the Works of Charles Dickens

G. K. Chesterton (1874 - 1936)

“These papers were originally published as prefaces to the separate books of Dickens in one of the most extensive of those cheap libraries of the classics which are one of the real improvements of recent times. Thus they were harmless, being diluted by, or rather drowned in Dickens. My scrap of theory was a mere dry biscuit to be taken with the grand tawny port of great English comedy; and by most people it was not taken at all--like the biscuit.

Nevertheless the essays were not in intention so aimless as they appear in fact. I had a general notion of what needed saying about Dickens to the new generation, though probably I did not say it. I will make another attempt to do so in this prologue, and, possibly fail again." (Summary by G. K. Chesterton)

Genre(s): Essays & Short Works, Literary Criticism

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 00 Introduction Part 1 Ray Clare
00:10:39
Play 01 Introduction Part 2 Ray Clare
00:14:18
Play 02 Introduction Part 3 Ray Clare
00:11:45
Play 03 Introduction Part 4 Ray Clare
00:09:33
Play 04 Sketches by Boz Part 1 Ray Clare
00:11:36
Play 05 Sketches by Boz Part 2 Ray Clare
00:12:51
Play 06 Pickwick Papers Part 1 Ray Clare
00:11:56
Play 07 Pickwick Papers Part 2 Ray Clare
00:13:09
Play 08 Nicholas Nickleby Part 1 Ray Clare
00:11:57
Play 09 Nicholas Nickleby Part 2 Ray Clare
00:11:40
Play 10 Oliver Twist Ray Clare
00:21:48
Play 11 The Old Curiosity Shop Part 1 Ray Clare
00:13:51
Play 12 The Old Curiosity Shop Part 2 Ray Clare
00:14:59
Play 13 Barnaby Rudge Ray Clare
00:20:40
Play 14 American Notes Ray Clare
00:20:17
Play 15 Pictures from Italy Ray Clare
00:05:46
Play 16 Martin Chuzzlewit Ray Clare
00:23:55
Play 17 Christmas Books Ray Clare
00:20:33
Play 18 Dombey and Son Part 1 Ray Clare
00:14:58
Play 19 Dombey and Son Part 2 Ray Clare
00:15:52
Play 20 David Copperfield Ray Clare
00:20:35
Play 21 Christmas Stories Ray Clare
00:14:46
Play 22 Bleak House Ray Clare
00:21:48
Play 23 Child's History of England Ray Clare
00:17:00
Play 24 Hard Times Ray Clare
00:17:28
Play 25 Little Dorrit Ray Clare
00:19:06
Play 26 A Tale of Two Cities Ray Clare
00:17:05
Play 27 Great Expectations Ray Clare
00:19:11
Play 28 Our Mutual Friend Ray Clare
00:21:51
Play 29 Edwin Drood Ray Clare
00:20:10
Play 30 Master Humphrey's Clock Ray Clare
00:16:52
Play 31 Reprinted Pieces Ray Clare
00:09:37