JasonKoivu

Oh! Now it all makes sense! Now I understand why so many of the characters in Dickens' novels seem so theatrically dramatic. Read Charles Dickens: A Life by Claire Tomalin and you too can unlock such mysteries as they expertly unfold in this top-notch biography!

After reading so many of his novels I figured it was high time I got to know the man behind the words. Tomalin combines his personal story with just enough historical detail while sprinkling in a compact summary and review of all of his works as each was produced when that point in time is reached in an ever-unfurling scroll upon which his life is written. Always with energy and passion the poor, unfortunate Dickens becomes the famous, benevolent Dickens, who then decays into the elderly and selectively vindictive Dickens. See how the man of the people rose to untouchable heights so high he felt free to snub the Queen, and yet remained earth-bound and ever-able to reach into the souls of the lowest of the low and play sorrowfully sweet upon their heartstrings. Finally understand what in the dickens was going on in Dickens.