"In this book we have examined several of Dicken's novels in the light of the conditions under which he wrote them. The surviving evidence of these conditions is extensive and has been generally neglected hitherto, but if we are right in our estimate of the importance of this material, it suggests more than one new direction in the criticism of his work..." - Preface.

12 critical essays that analyze and evaulate the style and works of the 19th century British novelist, Charles Dickens.