The Lantern

"This is not the republic of my imagination," Charles Dickens noted ruefully of his 1842 visit to the United States. His American Notes forms a stinging reproof of the country's embrace of slavery, its corrupt press and woeful sanitary conditions, and its citizens' offensive manners. Written with the author's customary observational powers and incisive wit, this volume offers a fascinating glimpse of 19th-century America. Dickens was not entirely...

Here is the second volume; the first volume of short works - fiction, essays, poetry and speeches celebrating Dickens' birthday on February 7th 2012. The wonder of Charles Dickens resides in his unparalleled ability to transport readers into the vivid tapestry of Victorian England. With an uncanny knack for illuminating both the harsh realities of life in the 19th century and the enduring resilience of the human spirit, Dickens crafted stories that...

An orphan, Oliver receives his education at the hands of Cockney thieves, but a stroke of luck changes his life