Seven recommended works by the great British author Dickens - a literary giant famous for his heartwarming works such as "A Christmas Carol".

Seven recommended works by the great British author Dickens

Dickens is an English literary genius famous for "A Christmas Carol" and "Oliver Twist.

Dickens was born in 1812, nine years older than Dostoevsky.

Dickens originally started as a clerk at a law firm, from there he decided to become a journalist and mastered the art of stenography. After gaining experience as a courtroom stenographer, he moved on to become a newspaper reporter.

Then, while working as a newspaper reporter, he wrote "Boz's Sketches," which became a huge hit. From there, his life as a writer began.

Dickens' novels had an enormous impact on society.

The desire to save oppressed children reached people through "Oliver Twist" and various other novels. And this actually moved society.

I feel that this is a great achievement for a novelist. I think that is how much the stories he created touched people's hearts.

This article will introduce such recommended works by Dickens.

The Pickwick Club.

Mr. Pickwick, a wealthy gentleman retired from the business world, is a man of simple character and full of love for humanity. Wherever he goes, he tries his best to help people and put down evil. However, he is too good a person and instead always fails. ...... Dickens' first full-length novel, with the hope of human restoration at the bottom of his light-hearted, joyful laughter.

Chikuma Bunko, back cover of "The Pickwick Club" translated by Teiji Kitagawa

The Pickwick Club is Dickens' first full-length novel, first serialized in 1836.

This work is a part of Selvandes'Don Quixote."Dostoevsky's masterpiece, written with an awareness ofThe Moron.This work has also had a great influence on the

The figure standing up on the chair in this illustration is the good English "Don Quixote," Mr. Pickwick.

He has a distinctive appearance with a bald head, round glasses, and tight white pants around his plump belly.

The commentary at the end of the book gives a very clear overview of the "Pickwick Club".

Mr. Pickwick, the protagonist of this novel, is a wealthy gentleman retired from business, but he is a man of innocence and simplicity, an incarnation of charity and love for humanity. In the vanguard of his itinerant career, he seeks to bring down the wicked, save the afflicted, expose falsehoods, and right the wrongs of the world. But his character is so good, and his good intentions so pure, that he falls prey to the wiles of the wicked and makes nothing but comical mistakes. The laughter that he provokes is born of his chivalry and love of humanity, and thus a cheerful and joyful laughter always spreads around Mr. Pickwick.

He is accompanied by a squire named Sam Weller, an energetic, genuine Londoner who knows all about the world and serves his master faithfully. With such a follower, Mr. Pickwick resembles Don Quixote, who set out on his journey of self-training with Sancho Panza as his companion.

The laughter in "Don Quixote" is diverse and extremely complex, but the heart of the laughter comes from the conflict and discrepancy between Don Quixote's noble ideals and dreams, which are based on the ideals of chivalry, and the vulgar and prosaic reality of the world. In the case of "The Pickwick Club," the laughter is similarly generated when Mr. Pickwick's innocent good intentions and noble love of humanity clash with the vulgar reality of nineteenth-century England.
Some line breaks have been made.

Chikuma Bunko, translation by Teiji Kitagawa, "The Pickwick Club," middle volume, p. 478-479.

As this overview states, the main story of the novel is a hilarious tale centered around Mr. Pickwick.

The Pickwick Club" is just funny and humorously written. It is very similar to "Don Quixote" in this area. Don Quixote" was also full of scenes that made me giggle.

People who read this in England at the time laughed so hard that the whole of England looked forward to seeing Mr. Pickwick in action week after week. I love this piece too. Please take a look at this article, which talks about it in more detail.

Dickens' "The Pickwick Club" Synopsis - A powerful influence on Dostoevsky's "The Idiot"!

Oliver Twist."

Orphan Oliver Twist was kicked out of the poorhouse for asking for more thin gruel and dragged into a gang of juvenile thieves headed by the Jew Feigin. He is sheltered by the wealthy and kind-hearted gentleman Brownlow, who encourages his pure heart, but once again he is returned to Feigin and his fellow Sykes. What fate awaits Oliver and the secret of his birth? A masterpiece of Dickens' early work.

Shincho Bunko, back cover of Oliver Twist, translated by Takuro Kagayama

Oliver Twist" was published by Dickens in 1837.

There are "not evil people in the world, but a society that produces evil people.

Dickens considers evil in the world as a problem of individual evil, but also as an evil created by the social system.

The gap between rich and poor creates oppressed people, and those who want to get out of it but have no choice but to sin in order to live.

Few people commit crimes because they want to do bad things. Dickens believes that dismissing bad people because they are bad people is not the solution to the problem.

Oliver was born and raised in just such a situation, and when he was kicked out of the poorhouse, he was taken in by such a gang of thugs.

What will happen to Oliver, the kind and good boy?

And the secret of Oliver's birth will be revealed later in this story.

This work became a social phenomenon and actually improved the environment for children suffering from poverty.

Oliver Twist" is a follow-up to the previousThe Pickwick Club.Unlike the "The World of Evil," this work has a darker side, depicting a world of evil.

However, despite the darkness, there is salvation in it.

What saves the story from its peril is Oliver's noble heart and faith, and the message of confidence in the workings of love and goodness that pervades the story. The wandering human Oliver meets danger and suffering, but has a happy ending, protected by Maylee and Brownlow and saved by Nancy's sacrifice. Oliver is not drawn into Fagin's evil world, and the forces of good triumph in the end.

Keiko Shimada, Sairyusha, "The Darkness and Light of Dickens' Literature: Stories of People Fascinated by the Light that Illuminates Evil," P68

Such a plot of noble faith and the power of good overcoming evil and triumphing in the end would have given readers the courage to live.

Dickens' masterpiece, "Oliver Twist," was an interesting work, easy to read and with a dizzying storyline. Highly recommended.

Dickens' recommended work "Oliver Twist" Synopsis

"Antique Shop."

Against the backdrop of the turbulent 19th century British Industrial Revolution, this epic depicts the life of Nell, an innocent and pure-hearted girl taken in by her grandfather, and the misfortunes she endures. Her grandfather runs an antique shop, but his love for Nell leads him into gambling and bankruptcy. The antique shop is repossessed by a loan shark, Kwilp, and Nell leaves London with the old man and sets off on an aimless journey. The curtain rises on a tumultuous tale of beauty and ugliness, good and evil, and various conflicts. Commentary by Shigeo Komatsubara (First volume)

The hallmark of "The Antique Shop" is its glorious imagination, both innocent and vigorous. This is the book's omnipotent charm. It is not only evident in the way the story is handled and the characterizations, but also in the way each sentence is brought to life. Each language shines through it. After all, "The Antique Shop" is one of Mr. Dickens' best. I don't care how many times I praise this book. The admiration of all men of genius will be dedicated to this book. ［Edgar A. Poe, commentary by Fumichika Hasebe (lower volume)

Chikuma Bunko, "The Antique Shop," translated by Teiji Kitagawa.

The Antique Shop was published by Dickens in 1840.

The Antique Shop" is the story of the journey of a pure and innocent girl, Nell, and an old man.

The old man had led a solid life until then, but his desire to leave more money for his beloved Nell led him into gambling, and he went bankrupt.

The two set out on a journey to escape from Kwilp, a loan shark, who has his eye on them.

Like "The Pickwick Club," this film also became a tremendous sensation in England.

Nell, the protagonist of "The Antique Shop," is also the protagonist of Dostoevsky'sThe Oppressed.But she also appears under the name Nellie. Of course, they do not share the same circumstances and personalities, but it is undeniable that they are strongly inspired by "The Antique Shop.

This work also shows a strong aspect of Dickens as a Christian writer. Dostoevsky respected that aspect of Dickens as well.

Dickens' "The Antiquary" Synopsis and Commentary - Strong influence on Dostoevsky's "The Oppressed"!

A Christmas Carol.

Old man Scrooge, a stingy, ruthless, misanthropic, and gruff ghost, is confronted on Christmas Eve by the ghost of old Murray, who is wrapped in a long chain. The next day he visits the homes of his acquaintances, accompanied by the first, second, and third ghosts, just as he had predicted. When shown the poor but warm-hearted people celebrating Christmas by the fireside and his own future, Scrooge, as expected, has a change of heart. ...... A Christmas gift of love and inspiration from a literary master.

Back cover of "A Christmas Carol" translated by Hanako Muraoka, Shincho Bunko

A Christmas Carol was published by Dickens in 1843.

Perhaps the most well-known of Dickens' works, and perhaps the most familiar in modern times, is "A Christmas Carol.

The work is often familiar in venues other than novels, as it has been adapted into a film by Disney.

The novel is a very accessible work, with a simple and easy-to-read volume of only 180 pages in the paperback edition, as well as a gentle writing style and a clear storyline.

Now, as mentioned in the synopsis, Old Man Scrooge, the main character in "A Christmas Carol," is quite a strong personality.

He is stingy, stubborn, mean-spirited, foul-mouthed, cold, and misanthropic.

He is a typical figure who is not liked by anyone and does not attract people.

This grandfather's characteristics are so distinctive that the term "someone like Grandpa Scrooge" has become established in the world.

In "A Christmas Carol," old Scrooge comes face to face with the ghost of his deceased business partner, Marley, on Christmas Eve.

The next day, as Marley predicted, Grandpa Scrooge meets three ghosts and reflects on his life. He is horrified by the consequences of his life.

Finally, the old Scrooge, stubborn and cold-hearted, had a change of heart and started a new life.

A synopsis of Dickens' masterpiece "A Christmas Carol" - a work that has also been adapted for film by Disney!

David Copperfield."

David lost his father before he was born, and his mother remarried, leaving him to suffer the hardships of his cruel stepfather. After being sent to boarding school, his mother's death forces him to work as a schoolboy in his stepfather's trading house in London. Fearing for his future, he decides to run away and begins a journey on foot to his great-aunt's house in Dover. A masterpiece of Dickens's autobiographical style, this is a richly detailed portrait of a number of distinctive characters.

Shincho-Bunko, translated by Yoshio Nakano, David Copperfield, back cover

David Copperfield, published between 1849 and 1850, is Dickens' masterpiece.

As mentioned in the synopsis, this is Dickens's masterpiece, which is autobiographical in nature and has been selected as one of the world's ten greatest novels. Dickens himself was very fond of this work.

We have also spoken on this blog about Dostoevsky's particularly high regard for Dickens' works, and once again we quote a sentence in which he and Dickens are discussed.

During his imprisonment, Dostoevsky always read only "Pickwick Peepers" and "David Capersfield". Besides, one phrase that happened to be written in a letter in 1857 testifies to Dickens' familiarity with him during this period. Critics have always acknowledged that Dostoevsky borrowed Nelly in "The Oppressed," the first novel he wrote after returning from Siberia, directly from the pages of "The Antique Shop" (Dickens' novel, 1841).

Chikuma Shobo E. H. Carr, translated by Tatsuo MatsumuraDostoevsky."P79

During Dostoevsky's imprisonment in Siberia, his favorite book was "David Copperfield," which we are introducing here.

In this article, we will discuss Dostoevsky and "David Copperfield" in more detail.

Dickens' "David Copperfield" Synopsis - Relationship with Dostoevsky

A Tale of Two Cities" Synopsis

Charles Darnay, an exiled aristocrat who came to England because he hated the tyranny of France, and Sidney Carton, a prodigal and incorrigible lawyer who despairs of life. Both young men have feelings for Lucy, the daughter of Dr. Manette, who has been imprisoned in the Bastille for many years for a crime she did not commit. Just as the flames of the Revolution are about to ignite in Paris, the two young men find themselves at the mercy of the stormy times. What will be the fate of these three people who are tossed about by the stormy waves of the times? A magnificent historical romance, an eternal masterpiece in a new translation.

Shincho-Bunko, translated by Takuro Kagayama, "A Tale of Two Cities" back cover

Published in 1859, it is one of the most popular of Dickens' works.

Takuro Kagayama, the translator of the book, also wrote in his postscript

Dickens was not only the national author of England, but he was also widely read throughout the world and influenced such great writers as Dostoevsky, Proust, and Kafka. The "A Tale of Two Cities" is a case in point. A Tale of Two Cities" is one of these "dark" Dickens stories in full bloom, and is one of his most outstanding entertainments among his more than 20 works. One of only two historicals, it is best known along with "A Christmas Carol," and is one of the world's top best-selling novels of all time.

Shincho Bunko, A Tale of Two Cities, translated by Takuro Kagayama, p. 660

As Mr. Kagayama says, the humor in this film is clearly less humorous than in his previous works. Instead, the depiction of the evil that infested the French Revolution and the gloomy world of London are vividly depicted.

So, wouldn't a novel with such a dark atmosphere be boring?

No, no, you don't need to worry about that. Mr. Kagayama says, "I am not worried about that.

This book is short for a Dickens novel, and because it was published weekly, the story develops quickly. The book is rich in courtroom drama, murder, revenge, riot, espionage, and the hidden past, all of which will delight mystery fans. The first thing that comes to mind when one hears the name Dickens is his many fascinating characters. In particular, his skill in vividly and freely depicting ordinary people is unrivaled, even after more than 150 years of his writing (and his ability to write from the perspective of children is unrivaled). However, in this book, the author himself seems to have decided in advance to write a "story composed of incidents" and to have adopted a method of moving the characters along with the incidents.

　However, of course, this is Dickens, and while the historical upheaval of the French Revolution is featured, it is only the background. The story is centered on the human drama of the people who live in and travel between the two cities, London and Paris. Because the story is well written, the somewhat unrealistic actions of the people who devote themselves to their loved ones are convincing and move the reader emotionally.

Shincho Bunko, A Tale of Two Cities, translated by Takuro Kagayama, p. 662-663

As Kagayama says, this work develops quickly and each character is distinct and easy to read. Also, the storyline is developed enough to satisfy mystery fans.

One of Dickens' most popular works! A Tale of Two Cities" Synopsis - London and Paris during the French Revolution!

The Great Legacy.

Pip, a young boy being raised by his kind blacksmith brother-in-law Joe, meets an escaped convict one Christmas Eve. The memory of being threatened and given a file to cut off his shackles, which he stole from home, remained strong in his mind. One day, when a lawyer from London suggests that he inherit someone else's vast estate, Pip leaves his poor but humane life behind and travels to the big city of London. ...... (Volume 1)

Pip arrives in London and lives a life of luxury in order to become a gentleman worthy of his heritage. Pip is at the mercy of the people around him, including Havisham, an elderly woman who lives in seclusion wearing a bridal gown; Estella, his adopted daughter, who is enchanting Pip; and Magwitch, a former escaped convict who has reappeared. Where does this perilous fate lead? This is a masterpiece by one of England's greatest writers, who depicts the tragic and joyous world of human affairs with biting humor and deep emotion. (2nd volume)

Shincho Bunko, The Great Heritage, translated by Takuro Kagayama

The Great Inheritance was serialized by Dickens in 1860-61.

This story is about a young boy, Pip, growing up. Pip, who lives a poor but humane life, suddenly falls in love with Estella, a rich young lady.

His love for Estella led to a yearning for a life of luxury, which eventually led Pip to abandon his life of poverty.

However, Pip, now rich from a mysterious inheritance, becomes embroiled in a series of mysterious events, and his "great legacy" becomes increasingly enigmatic.

What exactly is the "great legacy"? From whom is it a legacy? And what will happen to Pip? The story will keep us entertained and breathless until the very end.

I won't mention it here because it would be a spoiler, but the identity of "The Great Inheritance" was quite surprising and full of the feeling that Dickens had done us in.

It will be a different twist from the previous Dickens.

When I picked up the book, I thought it might be a bit long, but once I started reading it, it didn't take long at all. As you would expect from Dickens.

His late masterpiece, "The Great Legacy," is also highly recommended.

A synopsis and description of Dickens' late masterpiece, "The Great Inheritance.

Extra Edition (1) No Dostoevsky without Dickens! Dickens and Dostoevsky, the Great British Writer

Dostoevsky, the great Russian writer, respected Dickens as a Christian writer.

He loved Dickens' loving work and felt his gentle worldview.

In his later years, Dostoevsky also expressed a strong concern for oppressed children and women.

Especially since 1876.Diary of a Writer."This trend is evident in the

When I first read "The Complete Works of Dostoevsky," it was this "Diary of a Writer" that made me aware of his kindness.

This gentle gaze of Dostoevsky may have been strongly influenced by Dickens.

Even in a world infested with evil, it is in Dickens' works that one can sense a gentle, loving humanity.

In this article, I will discuss the relationship between Dickens and Dostoevsky and the characteristics of Dickens' literature. I am sure that you will come to know a different side of Dickens from the image you have had of him so far. Please take a look.

No Dostoevsky without Dickens! Dickens and Dostoevsky, the Great British Writer

Extra Edition (2) Keiko Shimada, "Darkness and Light in Dickens' Literature

This is a masterpiece of a masterpiece. It is really great.

I was surprised to read this.

Dickens is a great English writer. In Russia, he is like Dostoevsky or Tolstoy.

Commentaries by such writers tend to be difficult or difficult to read, but this book is different.

They explain things in an easy-to-understand, yet very in-depth way.

The language is plain and the text is easy to read.

Moreover, it is very useful in understanding each work as it explains each work according to its theme. It is rare to find a book that is both so easy to understand and so in-depth in its discussion.

This work will explain Dickens' religious thought and itinerancy, as well as the biblical worldview as seen through his works.

Dickens' work is very much a Christian worldview.

The source of Dickens' creation is the Christian worldview.

However, Dickens is not a faith stiff. It is only that Christian thought was an important influence in shaping the worldview of the story.

Not everything about him is Christian. There are many different kinds of Christianity. There are many different forms of Christianity for each person. (This goes for Dostoevsky as well.)

It is the same in Japan. There are many different sects of Buddhists, and even if they belong to the same sect, each person's mind and life is completely different.

This book carefully follows Dickens and each of his works.

It is very easy to understand the Christian worldview that can be read from the works as Mr. Shimada explains it in a very detailed manner.

It is written in such a way that even those who have little interest in Christianity can understand it because it is stated from the perspective of "how Dickens sees the world," "how he thinks about right and wrong," and "how society can be improved," rather than from doctrinal or philosophical knowledge.

The way the storyteller gets to the heart of Dickens' work without using difficult words is nothing short of brilliant.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves Dickens. It is also a book that will be of great help to those who want to read Dickens in the future. Highly recommended.

Keiko Shimada, "Darkness and Light in Dickensian Literature," This is the book to know Dickens and Dostoevsky Christianity!

(Extra Edition) "The City and Life in Victorian London in Photographs" (Japanese only)

The book offers a large number of photographs of London in the mid- to late-19th century.

And the book is unique in that it tells the story of the city of London in the context of Dickens, the great 19th century English writer.

The Victorian era was a time of industrial revolution and Britain's greatest prosperity. Overwhelming prosperity and the disparity that accompanied it. The Victorian era was a time of light and darkness at the same time. Dickens lived in such a time of great change.

The book will also explain the relationship between each of Dickens' works. This makes the book a must for Dickens fans.

Also, the reason I decided to study Victorian London in the first place was to learn about London at the time Marx was staying there.

In fact, Marx was a favorite of Dickens and is said to have been strongly influenced by his work. Dickens' depictions of people suffering from poverty must have had something on Marx's mind.

This book is a wonderful way to learn about the London that Dickens and Marx would have seen. It is a very easy read with clear explanations of the life and culture of the people of the time. Highly recommended!

The City and Life of Victorian London in Photographs" is recommended to learn about London in the late 19th century as seen by Dickens!

Conclusion

Reading Dickens' novels will give you an idea of the social conditions in England at the time and the mentality of the English people.

In the mid-1800s, the Industrial Revolution was underway and Britain was a world power. At the same time, however, the working environment was extremely miserable, economic disparities were widening, and environmental pollution was occurring.

Dickens depicts the darkness of society with a dispassionate eye. Yet, even as he depicts such darkness, he also brings light into the story through his own humor and the power of a benevolent rescuer.

I believe that this perfect balance is the secret to the fun of Dickens' novels.

Even today, Dickens has a fascination that is not at all dated. I highly recommend this author.

The above is "7 recommended works by the great British writer Dickens - a literary giant famous for his heartwarming works such as "A Christmas Carol".

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