Charles Dickens: A Life

I thoroughly enjoyed this biography. Claire Tomalin gives a real sense of Dicken's frantic genius and has captured a life full of event and intrigue. A tremendous amount of research has gone into this, but she doesn't let it bog down the forward momentum of the book, which has real verve. She is clear sighted about his weaknesses, and excellent on his family and social circle and the society in which he moved. I've read most of the novels and found her analysis of them illuminating, but I think you could read and enjoy this even if you haven't read much Dickens. Well read too.

This was a brilliant audiobook excellently narrated and very well researched by the author, I have loved Dickens work since I began watching the old BBC adaptations as a child back in the early sixties but never gave much thought to the man who created all these wonderful stories. Having now learned so much about him I can view his work with fresh eyes and ears. Claire Tomalin has written a biography that is informative, entertaining and very accessible.

As I learned of Dickens early life I could see the events mirrored in his later writings and I could almost understand the dual aspects of his personality as an adult. For all his genius as a writer he was deeply flawed in his ability to form truly meaningful emotional relationships with his own family and often treated them in a cold, cruel manner. However I still could not help but feel sad for him instead of angry, and like most of the people who knew him, I too am willing to overlook his flaws in the face of his creative powers. I would certainly recommend this audiobook as an excellent biography which kept me fascinated and stirred my desire to revisit some of my favourite Dickens books again.

I really enjoyed this biography read excellently by Alex Jennings. The author had a colourful character to write about which helps, but she has created a pacy life-story that cracks along like a novel, but is also a work of scholarship involving much delving into archives. Dickens is presented as a complex man, not all good, and driving himself to extinction by over-work. The characters and themes of his books are woven into the biography and one can see how his life experiences have enriched his writings.

I am a fan of Dickens' work, but have always felt uncomfortable with his treatment of his wife. This slow, well researched book helps to shed a more human, vulnerable light on the author. As usual anything written by Claire Tomalin will is well worth the read.

I have the The Complete Barchester Chronicles, and so was delighted at the choice of Alex Jennings as the reader for Claire Tomalin's remarkable biography of Dickens. She gives a clear account of his life, in all its complexities, and Victorian background, and adds an excellent reflection of the much later evidence of behaviours his daughter and sister-in-law would have preferred to remain hidden. At last I realised why Dickens' women are generally so two-dimentional. Both scholarly and a brilliant listen.

Claire tomalin has a knack of bringing characters to life in her biographies, and as with Samuel Pepys, she brings Charles Dickens to life, covering his formative relationships and his key influences. This audiobook is easy to follow and well read, highly recommended.

I bought this as an audio book as I was fascinated to read about Dickens but didn't want to carry around the large hardback edition. It is a very comprehensive account of the life and works of a brilliant, complex and flawed man. Like many readers/listeners, I found that the more I knew about Dickens the less I liked him. My main criticism is that there is just too much detail. At times it felt more like an account of diary extracts than a biography, especially in the last couple of chapters. There is a mind numbing number of references to guest lists, menus and travel arrangements. A tougher editor could have cut the length by at least a third. Also, Tomalin is happy to give us her analysis of his novels but I never really felt I got her analysis of Dickens the man.

I liked Alex Jennings' narration although wasn't sure about his choice of a rather fey voice for Dickens himself. But it is a much more enjoyable listen than the Radio 4 Book of the Week version with Penelope Wilton, which was too syrupy and deferential in tone.As Tomalin makes clear, Dickens is one of the greatest English novelists, but was far from a 'national treasure' in other aspects of his life.

The industrial revolution in England produced opportunities for the rich and wealthy but a nightmare for the poor. Laissez Fair and exploitation of the downtrodden was the norm of the day. In these dark times the hope of light was Dickens' novels which exposed the tyranny, injustice and cruelty of the system under the garb of progress. He was the only English novelist who spoke against these malpractices and what he said he also acted upon. He opened shelter homes for the fallen women of Victorian England and showed to the people that authors did not live in the 'ivory towers' as Wordsworth said.
This biography is a befitting attribute to the services of Dickens and his glorious life.

A well told biography of one of our greatest writers. I particularly enjoyed the fact that Ms. Tomalin contextualised Dickens work and his world. Dickens comes a cross as a man full of contradictions; he uses his influence to be a champion of the poor and needy yet treats his wife cruelly towards the end of their marriage.

The story is full of energy which mirrors Dickens driven and restless nature. He had a venal and grasping extended family, who happily took his money and expected him to support them. He never seemed to rest and drove himself to death at the relatively early age of 58. What a shame for literary fans everywhere, but my goodness what a roller coaster of a life! A really thrilling biography.

Claire Tomalin's entertaining , detailed and revealing study of Dickens' life is read in a tone which perfectly matches the subject both serious and entertaining. It reveals the complex character of Dickens in a non judgemental manner , ,supporting the reader with relevant historical context . I am looking forward to Book 2 with anticipation and curiosity .