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THE SELECTED LETTERS OF CHARLES DICKENS by Frederick- Ed. Dupee

THE SELECTED LETTERS OF CHARLES DICKENS

By

Publisher: Farrar, Straus & Cudahy

Eleventh in this Great Letters Series, the pleasant introduction to Dickens, the letter writer, by the editor promotes a nice feeling towards the contents, gives many clues to letters included, and offers a guide to personalities and characteristics displayed therein. Each section, arranged chronologically, has its own prefatory bridge which further places the correspondence that follows so that the whole, from 1834 and his earliest writings until 1869 just before his death, gives a many-faceted view of the man, something of his novels and readings, and much of his friends. Here you can see his readiness in communication, his prodigies of production, his formidably busy years, his many acts of friendship, the drive of ambition, his experiences that led to social criticism, the growing strain of his marriage, the ups and downs of some of his friendships, his gracious, warm gestures, the variety and liveliness of his interests and his unflagging energy and courtesy as a traveler and visitor. Since Dickens' published letters are either inaccessible or unavailable, this selection will be welcome with the current interest in his works, and should add a personal touch to the biographies recently published.