Charles Dickens
43. G. K. Chesterton, Charles Dickens
As the title suggests, this book is Chesterton’s biographical sketch of Charles Dickens, although it’s really more of an ode. It was written at a time when Dickens’ popularity among literary critics was low, and Chesterton’s response was to write this spirited defense of Dickens’ work and the philosophy on which it is based. The book covers Dickens’ life in brief outline, as well as a discussion of many of his works, but Chesterton focuses most on the characters and books that resonated with him as a reader, most notably The Pickwick Papers.
My basic response to this book is that it’s not particularly useful for fans of Dickens; however, it’s a great read for fans of Chesterton. Since I love Chesterton, I really enjoyed this book, but I can see how his style might not be for everyone. Here’s a characteristic paragraph:
”It is a great mistake to suppose that love unites and unifies men. Love diversifies them, because love is directed towards individuality. The thing that really unites men and makes them like to each other is hatred. Thus, for instance, the more we love Germany the more pleased we shall be that Germany should be something different from ourselves, should keep her own ritual and conviviality and we ours. But the more we hate Germany the more we shall copy German guns and German fortifications in order to be armed against Germany.”
In all, the book, written in 1906, is much more breezy and philosophical (and off-topic) than a contemporary biography would be. I enjoyed it, as I think any fans of Chesterton’s would, but it’s definitely not a comprehensive resource on Dickens.