Franklin Library: CHARLES DICKENS: SKETCHES BY BOZ: OXFORD: NEWGATE PRISON

Description: Franklin Library leather spine edition of Charles Dickens's " Sketches by Boz: Illustrative of Every-Day Life and Every-Day People," introduced by Thea Holmes, Illustrated with fifty-five illustrations by George Cruikshank and Phiz, one of the OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS series, published in 1985. Bound with a 1/4 scarlet red leather spine, the book has marbled paper end leaves, satin book marker, hubbed spine, gold gilding on three edges---in FINE condition. Charles Dickens, who lived from 1812-1870, was born near PORTSMOUTH, England, but his family moved to LONDON when he was two years old. "Sketches by "Boz," a collection of short pieces, was originally published in various newspapers and other periodicals between 1833 and 1836. The 56 sketches concern London scenes and people, and the whole work is divided into four sections: "Our Parish," "Scenes," "Characters," and "Tales." The material in the first three sections consists of non-narrative pen-portraits, but the last section comprises fictional stories. The sketch "Mr. Minns and his Cousin" was the first work of fiction Dickens ever published. Who the dickens 'Boz' could be,/ Puzzled many a learned elf,/Till time unveiled the mystery,/ And 'Boz' appeared as Dickens's self." Dickens took the pseudonym from a nickname he had given his younger brother Augustus after a character in Oliver Goldsmith's "The Vicar of Wakefield." Boz is no objective reporter; the facts he presents are observed with his own reaction to them. In the "Sketch of a Visit to Newgate," Dickens admitted that he found NEWGATE PRISON 'a very difficult subject' and a heart-rending one: the women conversing through the bars of 'a kind of iron cage. . .and the three condemned murderers. He then describes fourteen infant pickpockets 'drawn up in a line for our inspection. There was not one redeeming feature among them---not a glance of honsety---not a wink expressive of anything but the gallows and the hulks." In 'Making a Night of It' he gives us what is thought to be a self-portrait. He is the romantic Smithers in his 'brown hat, very much turned up at the sides." Young Boz must undoubtedly have met 'The Theatrical Young Gentleman' who is the subject of another sketch, and who called Drury Lane the lane, and the Victoria the vic. Dickens wrote in the Preface that "these Sketches were written and published when I was a very young man." 744 pages. I offer combined shipping.

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End Time: 2024-11-19T14:40:09.000Z

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