A classic novel by Charles Dickens, following the life of David Copperfield from childhood to adulthood.
Jacqueline Goldfinger's adaptation of 'A Christmas Carol' is a family-friendly version that includes music, making it suitable for a wide range of audiences. This play retains the core themes and characters of the original while adding a musical element to enhance the storytelling and emotional impact.
The novel tells the story of two Chuzzlewits, Martin and Jonas, and their diverse fates. Young Martin Chuzzlewit, an apprentice architect, is disinherited by his grandfather after falling in love with Mary Graham, the grandfather's companion. Martin and his servant, Mark Tapley, travel to the United States, where they face various misadventures. The novel satirizes American society, highlighting hypocrisy, greed, and other social ills. It also features notable characters like Seth Pecksniff and Mrs. Gamp, and introduces one of the first literary private detective characters, Mr. Nadgett. The story ultimately resolves with Martin's moral redemption and reconciliation with his grandfather.
The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, commonly known as The Pickwick Papers, is Charles Dickens's first novel. It tells the story of Samuel Pickwick, the founder and president of the Pickwick Club, and his three companions: Mr. Tupman, Mr. Winkle, and Mr. Snodgrass. Along with Pickwick’s loyal servant Sam Weller, they embark on various adventures across the English countryside, encountering a range of eccentric characters and humorous misadventures. The novel is notable for its episodic structure, having been originally published in serial form from 1836 to 1837. It includes a famous legal case, Bardell vs. Pickwick, and satirizes various aspects of Victorian society and culture[2][4][6].
The novel follows the story of Amy Dorrit, known as Little Dorrit, who is born and raised in the Marshalsea debtors' prison in London. Her father, William Dorrit, is imprisoned for debt and becomes known as the 'Father of the Marshalsea'. The story explores themes of poverty, societal injustice, and the constraints of the prison system. It also delves into the lives of other characters, including Arthur Clennam, who becomes involved in the Dorrit family's affairs. The novel satirizes the British class system and the inefficiencies of the government, particularly through the fictional 'Circumlocution Office'. As the Dorrits' fortune changes dramatically, the novel examines the impact of wealth and social status on individuals and society[1][2][5].
Just as Scrooge wanders London's streets on a cold Christmas night, Dan Snow follows the ghosts of Charles Dickens' past to discover the city that inspired his greatest works. With London-born tour guide David Charnick, they slip down hidden alleyways to find the old debtor's prison that the Dickens family once called home; a place that haunted a young Charles for the rest of his life. They find the old counting houses and graveyards that inspired the creation of Ebenezer Scrooge and the locations that appear in A Christmas Carol. With David's masterful guidance and atmospheric readings, this immersive episode takes you to the fireside of a London coaching inn as the sun sets outside on a late December afternoon.
A warning: this episode contains references to historical suicides.
Dickens' extracts are read by Robyn Wilson.
Produced by Mariana Des Forges and edited by Dougal Patmore.
Dan Snow's History Hit 
