The Letters of Charles Dickens. Vol. 3, 1836-1870

The Story

This volume, the third in a series collecting the letters of Charles Dickens, spans the years 1836 to 1870, offering a chronological journey through the personal and professional life of the author during his most productive and turbulent decades. Unlike a traditional narrative, the book unfolds through Dickens’s correspondence, revealing the contours of his life in a series of candid, often vivid snapshots.

The story begins in the mid-1830s, when Dickens is emerging as a literary figure in London. Early letters show him grappling with the reception of his works and the pressures of public and critical opinion. He writes from Furnival’s Inn, a London address, sharing his anxieties and hopes with friends like John Hullah and Washington Irving. These letters capture the excitement and uncertainty of a young writer establishing himself, as well as his warm, conversational tone and sharp wit.

As the years progress into the 1840s, Dickens’s correspondence reveals his expanding social and literary circles, including interactions with notable contemporaries such as Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton, Professor Felton, and Mr. Macvey Napier. His letters from this period reflect his deep involvement in literary and social causes, including his advocacy for prison reform and international copyright laws. The letters also document his travels, such as his time in America in 1842, where he writes from Washington and New York, sharing impressions of the New World and its people.

The mid-1840s to 1850s show Dickens balancing his literary career with personal commitments and social engagements. His letters reveal the intensity of his work habits, the challenges of managing his publications like All the Year Round, and his relationships with family and friends. He writes with affection and concern to close acquaintances, discussing health, theatrical productions, and social events. The letters also touch on his reflections about his own creative process, the demands of authorship, and the toll it takes on his life.

In the 1860s, Dickens’s letters become more reflective and sometimes somber, as he confronts health issues and the pressures of his public role. Correspondence from his country home at Gad’s Hill Place shows a man deeply engaged with his work but also aware of his mortality. He continues to correspond with a wide circle of friends and colleagues, including artists, actors, and literary figures, discussing everything from theatrical rehearsals to social causes and personal losses.

The volume closes with letters from the final years of Dickens’s life, including his last known correspondence in 1870. These letters reveal a man still active and engaged despite physical ailments, maintaining his characteristic warmth and sharpness. The collection ends not with a dramatic conclusion but with the quiet persistence of a life devoted to literature and friendship.

Throughout, the letters are interspersed with footnotes that provide context for references and allusions, enriching the reader’s understanding of the social and historical background. The book also includes acknowledgments of the sources of the letters and editorial notes on corrections, underscoring the care taken to present Dickens’s voice authentically.

The People

• Charles Dickens: The central figure, a prolific and passionate writer whose letters reveal his restless creativity, social conscience, and personal warmth. He is driven by a commitment to his art and social causes but often struggles with health and the demands of public life. Over time, he becomes more reflective and aware of his limitations, yet remains engaged and affectionate toward his friends and family.

• Georgina Hogarth: Dickens’s sister-in-law and close confidante, who assists with the editorial work on the letters and provides a stabilizing presence in his life. She represents the familial support that underpins much of Dickens’s personal world.

• Washington Irving: An American writer and friend, with whom Dickens exchanges letters that reveal mutual admiration and a transatlantic literary camaraderie. Irving’s correspondence with Dickens highlights the international reach of Dickens’s influence and the cultural exchange between England and America.

• Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton: A contemporary novelist and correspondent, whose letters to and from Dickens show a relationship marked by mutual respect and literary discussion. Their exchanges touch on theatrical adaptations and literary criticism, reflecting the interconnectedness of Victorian literary society.

• Mr. Macvey Napier: Editor and literary figure who corresponds with Dickens on matters of publication and literary events. His letters illustrate the professional networks Dickens navigates and his involvement in the literary establishment.

• Mr. James T. Fields: An American publisher and friend, whose correspondence with Dickens reveals personal affection and concern, as well as the practicalities of transatlantic publishing and the circulation of Dickens’s works.

In Its Own Voice

Dickens’s letters speak with immediacy and personality, as in this early letter to John Hullah, where he reflects on criticism with humor and humility:

"I have seen The Sunday Times, The Dispatch, and The Satirist, all of which blow their critic trumpets against unhappy me most lustily. Either I must have grievously awakened the ire of all the 'adapters' and their friends, or the drama must be decidedly bad."

In a letter to Washington Irving, Dickens conveys the excitement and intimacy of correspondence:

"You know what the feeling is, after having written a letter, sealed it, and sent it off. I shall picture your reading this, and answering it before it has lain one night in the post-office."

Later, in a letter from 1855, Dickens reveals the demands of his creative life and the toll it takes:

"I hold my inventive capacity on the stern condition that it must master my whole life, often have complete possession of me, make its own demands upon me, and sometimes, for months together, put everything else away from me."

These excerpts showcase Dickens’s blend of wit, warmth, and candor, offering a direct connection to his thoughts and feelings.

What It's Really About

At its core, this collection is about the life of a writer as lived through his letters—the interplay between public success and private struggle, the demands of creativity, and the social responsibilities Dickens felt keenly. The letters reveal a man deeply engaged with the world around him, not only as a storyteller but as a social reformer and public figure. His correspondence touches on themes of friendship, artistic integrity, health, and the burdens of fame.

The letters also illuminate the Victorian literary and social milieu, showing Dickens’s interactions with contemporaries, his involvement in theatrical productions, and his advocacy on issues such as prison reform and international copyright. Through his letters, Dickens emerges as a figure who bridges the personal and the public, the artistic and the political.

Moreover, the collection explores the nature of communication itself—the anticipation, the joy, and sometimes the frustration of letter writing in the 19th century. Dickens’s reflections on the post office, the act of writing, and the exchange of ideas reveal a man who valued connection and dialogue deeply.

The volume also subtly traces Dickens’s evolving self-awareness, from the confident young author to the mature man confronting illness and the limits of his own endurance. His letters convey a persistent dedication to his craft and his friends, even as he acknowledges the costs.

Why Read It Today

This volume offers readers a richly textured portrait of Charles Dickens beyond his novels, revealing the man behind the public persona in his own words. For those interested in literary history, Victorian culture, or the art of letter writing, it provides a treasure trove of insight and detail.

Reading these letters is to enter a world of intense creativity and social engagement, where the boundaries between personal and professional life blur. The warmth and immediacy of Dickens’s voice make the experience intimate, though the length and density of the correspondence demand patience and attention.

The letters also expose the challenges of the period—the health struggles Dickens faced, the social issues he championed, and the complexities of literary production in the 19th century. Some period attitudes and language may feel dated, but they offer valuable context for understanding Dickens’s time and work.

Ultimately, the volume leaves a lasting impression of a man devoted to his art and his friends, whose letters continue to resonate with their honesty, humor, and humanity. It is a book for readers who appreciate the depth and texture of a life lived in words.