Best Selling Books by Charles Dickens

Oliver Twist or, the Parish Boy''s Progress is author Charles Dickens''s second novel, and was first published as a serial 1837-39. The story centres on orphan Oliver Twist, born in a workhouse and sold into apprenticeship with an undertaker. After escaping, Twist 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 is notable for its unromantic portrayal by Dickens of criminals and their sordid lives, as well as for exposing the cruel treatment of the many orphans in London in the mid-19th century. The alternative title, The Parish Boy''s Progress, alludes to Bunyan''s The Pilgrim''s Progress, as well as the 18th-century caricature series by William Hogarth, A Rake''s Progress and A Harlot''s Progress.In this early example of the social novel, Dickens satirises the hypocrisies of his time, including child labour, 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 Dickens''s own youthful experiences contributed as well.Oliver Twist has been the subject of numerous adaptations for various media, including a highly successful musical play, Oliver!, and the multiple Academy Award-winning 1968 motion picture. Disney also put its spin on the novel with the animated film called Oliver & Company in 1988.

A Tale of Two Cities (1859) is a novel by Charles Dickens, set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. The novel depicts the plight of the French peasantry demoralized by the French aristocracy in the years leading up to the revolution, the corresponding brutality demonstrated by the revolutionaries toward the former aristocrats in the early years of the revolution, and many unflattering social parallels with life in London during the same period.

Hard Times is a novel written by Charles Dickens. Set in the fictional industrial town of Coketown, the story explores the harsh realities of life during the Victorian era, particularly the impact of industrialization, utilitarianism, and social inequality on individuals and society as a whole. The plot revolves around several characters, including Thomas Gradgrind, a strict and utilitarian schoolmaster who emphasizes facts and logic over emotions and imagination in the upbringing of his children, Louisa and Tom. As the story unfolds, the Gradgrind family becomes entangled with other inhabitants of Coketown, such as Josiah Bounderby, a wealthy industrialist, and Stephen Blackpool, a humble and honest factory worker. Through the experiences of these characters, Dickens critiques the dehumanizing effects of industrialization and the rigid social structures of Victorian society. He explores themes of compassion, empathy, and the importance of embracing the complexities of human nature beyond mere utilitarian values. Hard Times is celebrated for its vivid characters, sharp social commentary, and exploration of moral and ethical dilemmas. It remains a powerful indictment of the injustices and inequalities of the Industrial Revolution and continues to resonate with readers as a timeless work of literature.

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Hard Times - For These Times (commonly known as Hard Times) is the tenth novel by Charles Dickens, first published in 1854.The book surveys English society and satirises the social and economic conditions of the era.Hard Times is unusual in several ways. It is by far the shortest of Dickens'' novels, barely a quarter of the length of those written immediately before and after it.Also, unlike all but one of his other novels, Hard Times has neither a preface nor illustrations. Moreover, it is his only novel not to have scenes set in London.Instead the story is set in the fictitious Victorian industrial Coketown, a generic Northern English mill-town, in some ways similar to Manchester, though smaller. Coketown may be partially based on 19th-century Preston.

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A Christmas Carol. In Prose. Being a Ghost Story of Christmas, commonly known as A Christmas Carol, is a novella by Charles Dickens, first published in London by Chapman & Hall in 1843 and illustrated by John Leech. A Christmas Carol recounts the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, an elderly miser who is visited by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley and the spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come. After their visits, Scrooge is transformed into a kinder, gentler man.Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol during a period when the British were exploring and re-evaluating past Christmas traditions, including carols and newer customs such as Christmas trees. He was influenced by the experiences of his own youth and by the Christmas stories of other authors including Washington Irving and Douglas Jerrold. Dickens had written three Christmas stories prior to the novella, and was inspired following a visit to the Field Lane Ragged School, one of several establishments for London''s street children.

In one of his most energetic and enjoyable novels, Dickens tells the life story of David Copperfield, from his birth in Suffolk, through the various struggles of his childhood, to his successful career as a novelist. The early scenes are particularly masterful, depicting the world as seen from the perspective of a fatherless small boy, whose idyllic life with his mother is ruined when his mother marries again, this time to a domineering and cruel man. The novel is partly modelled on Dickens''s own experiences, but that is not to say that it is in any way a direct autobiography. Indeed, one of the great joys of the book lies in its outlandish cast of characters, which includes the glamorous Steerforth, the cheerful, verbose Mr Micawber, the villainous Uriah Heep, and David''s eccentric aunt, Betsey Trotwood. Dickens described it as his ''favourite child'' among his novels and it is easy to see why.

A Christmas Carol is one of Charles Dickens most cherished and loved stories. Loved by both adults and children. The story of Ebenezer Scrooge on a cold Christmas Eve Night, three ghosts take him on a scary journey and show him the error of his ways. Showing him his past, present and future. Scrooge eventually learns to love Christmas and everyone around him! A must read at Christmas time.

Oliver Twist, or The Parish Boy''s Progress, is the second novel by English author Charles Dickens, and was first published as a serial 1837-39. The story is of the orphan Oliver Twist, who starts his life in a workhouse and is then sold into apprenticeship with an undertaker. He escapes from there and 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 is notable for its unromantic portrayal by Dickens of criminals and their sordid lives, as well as for exposing the cruel treatment of the many orphans in London in the mid-19th century.The alternate title, The Parish Boy''s Progress, alludes to Bunyan''s The Pilgrim''s Progress, as well as the 18th-century caricature series by William Hogarth, A Rake''s Progress and A Harlot''s Progress

The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club (also known as The Pickwick Papers) was Charles Dickens''s first and personal favourite novel. He was asked to contribute to the project as an up-and-coming writer following the success of Sketches by Boz, published in 1836 (most of Dickens'' novels were issued in shilling instalments before being published as complete volumes). Dickens (still writing under the pseudonym of Boz) increasingly took over the unsuccessful monthly publication after the original illustrator Robert Seymour had committed suicide.With the introduction of Sam Weller in chapter 10, the book became the first real publishing phenomenon, with bootleg copies, theatrical performances, Sam Weller joke books, and other merchandise.After the publication, the widow of Robert Seymour claimed that the idea for the novel was originally her husband''s; however, in his preface to the 1867 edition, Dickens strenuously denied any specific input, writing that "Mr Seymour never originated or suggested an incident, a phrase, or a word, to be found in the book."

A Christmas Carol. In Prose. Being a Ghost Story of Christmas, commonly known as A Christmas Carol, is a novella by Charles Dickens, first published in London by Chapman & Hall in 1843; the first edition was illustrated by John Leech. A Christmas Carol tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, an old miser who is visited by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come. After their visits, Scrooge is transformed into a kinder, gentler man. Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol at a time when the British were examining and exploring Christmas traditions from the past, such as carols, as well as new customs such as Christmas trees. He was influenced by his own past, and from the Christmas stories of other authors, including Washington Irving and Douglas Jerrold. Dickens had written three Christmas stories prior to the novella, and was inspired to write the story following a visit to the Field Lane Ragged School, one of several establishments for London''s half-starved, illiterate street children. The treatment of the poor and the ability of a self-interested man redeeming himself by transforming into a more sympathetic character are the key themes of the story. There is discussion among academics as to whether this was a fully secular story, or if it is a Christian allegory. Published on 19 December, the first edition sold out by Christmas Eve; by the end of 1844 thirteen editions had been released. Most critics reviewed the novella favourably. The story was illicitly copied in January 1844; Dickens took legal action against the publishers, who went bankrupt, further reducing Dickens''s small profits from the publication. He went on to write four other Christmas stories in subsequent years. In 1849 he began public readings of the story which proved so successful he undertook 127 further performances until 1870, the year of his death. A Christmas Carol has never been out of print and has been translated into several languages; the story has been adapted many times for film, stage, opera and other media. With A Christmas Carol, Dickens captured the zeitgeist of the mid-Victorian revival of the Christmas holiday. He has been acknowledged as an influence on the modern Western observance of Christmas and inspired several aspects of Christmas, such as family gatherings, seasonal food and drink, dancing, games and a festive generosity of spirit.

Continue your journey through the complex, fog-filled world of Dickens with Bleak House Vol 2 by Charles Dickens. As the story unfolds, secrets are revealed and destinies are shaped, all under the shadow of the never-ending Jarndyce and Jarndyce lawsuit. This volume delves deeper into the characters'' lives, drawing readers further into their joys, sorrows, and secrets. With its engaging narrative and profound social commentary, Bleak House Vol 2 stands as a testament to Dickens'' narrative prowess. Continue your journey through Dickens'' London with Bleak House Vol 2. Order your copy today and uncover the secrets that lie within the walls of Bleak House.

This carefully crafted ebook: “The Adventures of Oliver Twist (Unabridged with the Original Illustrations by George Cruikshank)” is formatted for your eReader with a functional and detailed table of contents. The Adventures of Oliver Twist, first published in 1838, is a story written by Charles Dickens. Orphaned at birth, Oliver Twist grows up under the loveless, relentless watch of a workhouse. He runs away with hopes for a better life in London and finds himself taken under the wing of the Artful Dodger and caught up with a group of pickpockets, headed by Fagin. As he tries to free himself from their clutches he becomes immersed in the seedy underbelly of the Capital, amongst criminals, prostitutes and the homeless. He is rescued by Mr. Brownlow but the gang kidnap him back. But Oliver discovers the identity of his parents and the gang is exposed. Charles John Huffam Dickens ( 1812 – 1870) was an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world''s most memorable fictional characters and is generally regarded as the greatest novelist of the Victorian period. During his life, his works enjoyed unprecedented fame, and by the twentieth century his literary genius was broadly acknowledged by critics and scholars. His novels and short stories continue to be widely popular.

First published in the year 1840, celebrated Victorian romantic novelist Charlotte Brontë''s present book ''The Old Curiosity Shop'' follows the life of Nell Trent and her grandfather, both residents of The Old Curiosity Shop in London.

Great Expectations follows the young protagonist Pip, a lower-class orphan who lives with his sister and her husband in Kent. At the beginning of the novel, Pip is visiting his parents'' graves when a mysterious stranger-clearly an escaped prisoner-grabs ahold of him and makes several demands of the young boy. Following these demands, Pip steals food and a file (items the prisoner requests), but the man is caught by authorities anyway. This deed serves as the inciting incident of the novel, as it is later revealed in the text that this escaped prisoner, Magwitch, is Pip''s anonymous benefactor.

The French classic in which a group of guards to the king engage in adventure and mishap protecting the throne.

"The Mystery of Edwin Drood" is one of the finest novels of Charles Dickens but the novel could not be completed by Dickens because he kissed death before the completion of the novel. Charles Dickens''s final, unfinished novel, and one that has puzzled readers and inspired writers since its publication, The Mystery of Edwin Drood is edited with an introduction by David Paroissien in Penguin Classics. The identity of the murderers in the novel is still a matter of debate. Though the name of the novel is inspired by the character of Edwin Drood but the story actually revolves around Edwin''s uncle Mr. John Jasper who falls in love with his pupil who is also Edwin''s fiancé. Rosa Bud; Edwin''s fiancé also catches the attention of Neville Landless who comes with his twin sister Helena from Ceylon. Neville is madly in love with Rose and the result is as anyone can possibly expect; both Neville and Edwin become enemies. The story takes an unexpected turn when Edwin disappears under mysterious circumstances. Before Edwin goes missing, a lot of things happen which consequently ends in a mystery which is unsolved till date because of the death of Dickens. Edwin and Rose are madly in love with each other and they are not bothered about the fact that Edwin''s uncle and Neville re madly in love with Rose. Mr. Grewgious gives Edwin the ring which Rose''s father gave to her mother and now Edwin makes Rose wear the ring. They are too much in love to notice what is going around them. One fine day Rosa, Edwin and Neville meet at a party and Edwin casually goes to a nearby shop. There he meets a mysterious woman who asks his name. When he says that his name is Edwin, the woman says that if his name would have been Ned, he would be in danger. Edwin ignores this lady''s strange talk and leaves the place nodding happily to the woman. Edwin and Neville go down to the steaming river next day and since then, Edwin goes missing. Neville is obviously suspected as the murderer but he denies all the allegations stating that he did love Rose but that did not mean that he will end up killing her fiancé. Mr. John Jasper now enters again in the scenario. He proposes marriage to Rose and when she disagrees he blackmails her by saying that he will threaten the life of Neville, her best friend Helena''s twin brother.

"David Copperfield is the eighth novel by Charles Dickens. The novel''s full title is The Personal History, Adventures, Experience and Observation of David Copperfield the Younger of Blunderstone Rookery (Which He Never Meant to Publish on Any Account).[N 1] It was first published as a serial in 1849-50, and as a book in 1850.The novel features the character David Copperfield, and is written in the first person, as a description of his life until middle age, with his own adventures and the numerous friends and enemies he meets along his way. It is his journey of change and growth from infancy to maturity, as people enter and leave his life and he passes through the stages of his development.It has been called his masterpiece, ""the triumph of the art of Dickens"",[2][3] which marks a turning point in his work, the point of separation between the novels of youth and those of maturity.[3][4] Though written in the first person, David Copperfield is considered to be more than an autobiography, going beyond this framework in the richness of its themes and the originality of its writing, which makes it a true autobiographical novel.[4][5] In the words of the author, this novel was ""a very complicated weaving of truth and invention"".[6] Some elements of the novel follow events in Dickens''s own life.[7] It was Dickens'' favourite among his own novels. In the preface to the 1867 edition, Dickens wrote, ""like many fond parents, I have in my heart of hearts a favourite child. And his name is David Copperfield."