When this study first appeared in 1898 it was praised as the first piece of thorough and level-headed criticism of Charles Dickens and his works. Published at a time when Dickens' literary reputation was at its lowest ebb, it helped to instigate a revival of appreciation for the novelist which has continued unabated ever since. The book offers a complete exploration of Dickens as a writer, from detailed studies of his literary style and techniques in chapters that focus on his characterisation, satiric portraiture and use of humour and pathos, to his impact as a 'Radical' and as a man who wrot