Sketches by Boz Volume 2

Written by Charles Dickens

Narrated by Peter Joyce

The ‘sketches’ in this volume are more the substance and length of short stories illustrating the development of the tools of the Masters trade: farce, parody, irony, black humour and wonderful one liners which unerringly hit the mark. The ensuing narrative, however, brings the listener bumpily back to earth with a reminder of the mean and often tragic lives that were being endured in the busy, uncaring  metropolis. The stories are in the following order and entitled: The Dancing Academy, Shabby Genteel People,The Prisoners Van, The Boarding House, Mr Minns and his Cousin, Sentiment, The Tuggses’ at Ramsgate, Horatio Sparkins, The Black Veil, The Steam Excursion, The Great Winglebury Duel, Mrs Joseph Porter, A Passage in the life of Mr Watkins Tottle, The Bloomsbury Christening, The Drunkards Death. National Press Reviewers had this to say of the first volume of ‘Sketches by Boz’. ‘I couldn’t wish for a better reader. It’s been one of the highlights of my listening’. The Publishing News. ‘A brilliant reading in tune with Dickens’ own vibrancy and humanity’ The Observer. ‘This is social history with a soul’. The Guardian.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Assembled Stories
• Release date: Jan 10, 2008
• ISBN: 9781860153136

Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens (1812-1870) was an English writer and social critic. Regarded as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era, Dickens had a prolific collection of works including fifteen novels, five novellas, and hundreds of short stories and articles. The term “cliffhanger endings” was created because of his practice of ending his serial short stories with drama and suspense. Dickens’ political and social beliefs heavily shaped his literary work. He argued against capitalist beliefs, and advocated for children’s rights, education, and other social reforms. Dickens advocacy for such causes is apparent in his empathetic portrayal of lower classes in his famous works, such as The Christmas Carol and Hard Times.