Dickens and the Classics
Dickens and the Classics
Description
This book examines Charles Dickens's underappreciated engagement with Classical knowledge and its role in his cultural commentary. By treating his novels as collaborations with illustrators, particularly Phiz, it explores how Dickens drew on Ancient Greek and Roman myths, history and art to engage with 19th-century debates. Through detailed analysis of both text and illustrations, the book reveals the complexity of Dickens's Classical references and their significance in shaping broader cultural conversations.
Each chapter pairs novels such as David Copperfield, Bleak House and A Tale of Two Cities with Dickens's journalism, letters and short fiction, supported by analysis of a range of illustrations. Christian Lehmann challenges the notion that Victorian Classics were the preserve of an elite, showing instead how Dickens adapted a demotic Classicism rooted in burlesque, satire, architecture and popular culture. He argues that Dickens's Classical allusions, often dismissed as superficial, form an integral part of his literary output. These references are examined alongside historical developments in the ideology of scientific racism, evolving views on sexual violence, and critiques of imperialism, demonstrating how Dickens reshaped Classical traditions to reflect and critique the cultural and political dynamics of his era.
Accessibility Information
Additional accessibility information
- EPUB 3.0
- Conforms with the requirements of EPUB Accessibility Spec v1.1
- WCAG level AA
- WCAG v2.2 compliant
- accessibility@bloomsbury.com
Hazards
The publication contains no hazards
Support for non-visual reading
- No accessibility features offered by the reading system, device or reading software are disabled or otherwise unusable with the product
- Has alternative text descriptions for images
Visual adjustments
Appearance of the text and page layout can be modified according to the capabilities of the reading system (font family and size, spaces, as well as color of background and text)
Navigation
- Page list to go to pages from the print source version
- Elements such as headings, tables, etc for structured navigation
- All or substantially all textual matter is arranged in a single logical reading order
- Content is enhanced with ARIA roles to optimize organization and facilitate navigation
- Purposes of all links are made clear
Rich content
Language tagging provided
Table of Contents
Chapter One: Barnaby Rudge
Chapter Two: David Copperfield
Chapter Three: Bleak House
Chapter Four: Little Dorrit
Chapter Five: Tale of Two Cities
Coda
Notes
Bibliography
Index
Product details
| Published | May 28 2026 |
|---|---|
| Format | Ebook (Epub & Mobi) |
| Edition | 1st |
| Pages | 288 |
| ISBN | 9781350548466 |
| Imprint | Bloomsbury Academic |
| Illustrations | 80 bw illus & 10 colour illus |
| Series | Bloomsbury Studies in Classical Reception |
| Publisher | Bloomsbury Publishing |
Reviews
ONLINE RESOURCES
Bloomsbury Collections
This book is available on Bloomsbury Collections where your library has access.
Related Titles
