Charles Dickens (1812–1870) published fifteen novels, most of them in monthly or weekly instalments, and edited two magazines. The four novels in this library span his early Christmas books, the historical novel of the French Revolution, the autobiographical David Copperfield, and the late, tightly plotted Great Expectations.
Novels on this site
- A Christmas Carol — Charles Dickens, 1843 · ~28,500 words · ~1.6 hours
- A Tale of Two Cities — Charles Dickens, 1859 · ~135,000 words · ~7.5 hours
- David Copperfield — Charles Dickens, 1850 · ~358,000 words · ~19.9 hours
- Great Expectations — Charles Dickens, 1861 · ~183,000 words · ~10.2 hours
Where to start
A Christmas Carol is an evening and the easiest entry. Great Expectations is the tightest of the full-length novels and the one most often taught. David Copperfield is the most autobiographical and the longest here at about 358,000 words. A Tale of Two Cities is the shortest of the four full novels and the one with the most direct plot.
Dickens in context
Dickens belongs to the Victorian novel, and his serial method — cliffhangers, recurring characters, social reform — shaped the form for the rest of the century. For the wider shelf, see the Victorian novels collection.