Sketches of Young Gentlemen and Young Couples
with Sketches of Young Ladies by Edward Caswall
Charles Dickens author Paul Schlicke editor
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Oxford University Press
Published:10th Nov '11
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
Following the phenomenal popularity of Sketches by Boz and The Pickwick Papers, Dickens produced two short volumes of Sketches of Young Gentlemen and Young Couples, in response to the appearance of Sketches of Young Ladies by 'Quiz'. Each volume purports to dissect the characteristics of familiar types such as 'The Bashful Young Gentleman', 'The Literary Young Lady', and 'The Couple who Coddle themselves'. Whimsical, satirical, witty and exuberant, the sketches ridicule the behaviour of their subjects with perfect comic effect, rendering Mr Whiffler, Mrs Chopper and their companions instantly recognizable. They offer intriguing glimpses of courtship rituals and relations between the sexes at the outset of the Victorian era, and fascinating evidence of a writer learning his craft and refining his style. This edition includes the original illustrations by Phiz, and an introduction that examines the appeal of the sketch, a literary genre in which Dickens excelled throughout his career.
This is an elegantly produced and beautifully presented volume ... Rarely published in any accessible format in the past hundred years, the Sketches are a welcome addition to the bicentenary output. * Times Literary Supplement09/02/2012 *
I've loved reading the Sketches - a delicious and illuminating part of the vast hidden forest of unknown Dickens, enchanting and surprising, and beautifully introduced by Dr Schlicke. * Simon Callow, CBE *
The young Dickens at his most playful, writing anonymously and slyly observant of the manners and morals of the 1830s, when he was himself a young gentleman and one member of a young couple. Paul Schlicke's delightful edition includes the original Phiz illustrations. * Claire Tomalin *
So little known they qualify as "new Dickens", and as hugely enjoyable socio-economic writing from his most exuberant phase. Paul Schlicke is to be thanked for bringing them to our attention in his handsomely embellished volume. * John Sutherland, Emeritus Lord Nortcliffe Professor, UCL *
A little gem. * Editor's Picks, The Bookseller *
ISBN: 9780199603282
Dimensions: 202mm x 135mm x 20mm
Weight: 362g
256 pages