Publisher's Synopsis
Dickens's multifacetedness as a writer and the wide range of his appeal to readers help to account for the extraordinarily large field of critical literature that has grown up in response to his work. Many anthologies of criticism devoted to particular works by Dickens have appeared, as have selections illustrating particular approaches to his writing or developments in criticism from the nineteenth to the twentieth century. However, the aim of this new series is to present a survey of the most important critical literature and key texts and thereby bring students and scholars up to date with developments at the forefront of research and provide a clear pathway through the mass of published material on Dickens. The six volumes in the series are organised around key thematic topics. Each volume is edited by a leading authority in the area who also provides a substantial introduction which surveys the current state of the field, identifies formative moments in its emergence, highlights important work and illustrates critical developments in relation to each theme. The essays and articles come from a variety of sources scattered across the globe, some of them now difficult to obtain. The volumes are published in hardcover and printed on acid-free paper suitable for library collections. This series reflects the international reach of Dickens scholarship, provides an authoritative selection of the best recent work and represents a significant resource for libraries and academics interested in easily locating the key modern literature published on Dickens. It is equally useful for scholars and students new to Dickens studies and experienced scholars who may have overlooked an important essay published in a journal with limited circulation.
