Subjects

Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens (1812-1870) remains one of the most popular of all English novelists. Many of his characters have become proverbial: Mr Micawber for naive optimism, Wackford Squeers for harsh school discipline, Uriah Heep for false humility, and of course Ebenezer Scrooge for misanthropy. His stories were one of the chief driving forces behind rising literacy in the Victorian age, and changes in public policy from schools to welfare and sanitation. All was done with charm, humour and common sense.

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31

Redeeming Time

Pip Pirrip never misses a moment of visiting time with Abel Magwitch, the convict who made him into a gentleman, in the prison hospital.

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Picture: © X7photo, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0.. Source.

32

The Great Baby

Charles Dickens rails at the way Parliament and do-gooders treat the public like an irresponsible child.

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Picture: © wfmillar, Geograph. Licence: CC BY-SA 2.0.. Source.

33

Demetrius the Diver

A survivor of the infamous massacre of Chios in 1821 goes to Marseilles, but discovers he has not entirely left the Turks behind.

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Picture: © Tiia Monto, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 3.0.. Source.

34

No Thoroughfare

At twenty-five and owner of his own business, Walter Wilding thought his world was secure, but it was about to be rocked to its foundations.

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Picture: © Roger Jones, Geograph. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0.. Source.

35

The Duel

Sir Mulberry Hawk’s coarse conduct towards Kate Nickleby has awoken a spark of decency in Lord Frederick Verisopht.

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Picture: © Michael E. Cumpston, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0.. Source.

36

One Last Question

English lawyer Sydney Carton goes to the guillotine in place of a French aristocrat.

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Picture: By Jules Girardet, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.. Source.