CHAPTER I. 1850-1853.Pages 21-50.David Copperfield and Bleak House. Æt.38-41.pageInterest ofCopperfield21Real people in novels22Scott, Smollett, and Fielding22Complaint and atonement23Earlier and later methods24Boythorn and Skimpole26Yielding to temptation27Changes made in Skimpole28Relatives put into books29Scott and his father29Dickens and his father30No harm done32Micawber and Skimpole32Dickens and David33Dangers of autobiography34Design of David's character35Why books continue36The storm and shipwreck37Goethe on the insane38The two heroines39Risks not worth running40Devonshire Terrace41Bleak House43Defects of the novel44Set-offs and successes45Value of critical judgments46The contact of extremes47Dean Ramsay on Jo48Town graves49One last friend49Truth of Gridley's case50CHAPTER II. 1853-1855.Pages 51-75.Home Incidents and Hard Times. Æt.41-43.Titles proposed forBleak House52Restlessness52Tavistock House53Last child born54A young stage aspirant54Deaths of friends55At Boulogne55Publishing agreements56At Birmingham56Self-changes57Employments in Boulogne59First reading in public60Argument against paid readings61Children's theatricals62Mr. H. inTom Thumb62Dickens in Fortunio63Titles for a new story65Difficulties of weekly parts66Mr. Ruskin onHard Times67Truths enforced68Early experiences69Strike at Preston69Speaking at Drury Lane70Stanfield scenes71Tavistock House theatricals71Peter Cunningham73Incident of a November night74Degrees in misery75CHAPTER III. 1853.Pages 76-95.Switzerland and Italy Revisited. Æt.41.Swiss people76Narrow escape77Lausanne and Genoa78The Peschiere and its owner79On the way to Naples80A night on board ship81A Greek potentate82Going out to dinner83The old idle Frenchman84Changes and old friends85A "scattering" party86The puppets at Rome87Malaria and desolation88Plague-smitten places89Again in Venice90A painter among paintings91Liking for the Sardinians92Neapolitans in exile93Travelling police arrangements94Dickens and the Austrian95CHAPTER IV. 1853, 1854, and 1856.Pages 96-120.Three Summers at Boulogne. Æt.41, 42, 44.Visits to France96First summer residence (1853)97Villa des Moulineaux98Doll's house and offices99Bon garçon of a landlord100Making the most of it101Among Putney market-gardeners102Shakespearian performance103Pictures at the pig-market104English friends105Change of villa (1854)105The Northern Camp106Visit of Prince Albert107Emperor, Prince, and Dickens108"Like boxing"109The Empress at a review110A French conjuror110Conjuring by Dickens111Making demons of cards112Conjuror's compliment and vision114Old residence resumed (1856)115Last of the Camp116A household war117State of siege118Death of Gilbert A'Becket119Leaving for England119CHAPTER V. 1855, 1856.Pages 121-153.Residence in Paris. Æt.43-44.Actors and dramas122Frédéric Lemaitre122Last scene inGambler's Life123Apartment in Champs Elysées124French Translation of Dickens125Ary Scheffer and Daniel Manin126English friends126Acting at the Français127Dumas'Orestes129Paradise Lostat the Ambigu130Profane nonsense131FrenchAs You Like It132Story of a French drama133A delightful "Tag"134Auber and Queen Victoria134Scribe and his wife136At Regnier's137Viardot inOrphée138Meets Georges Sand138Banquet at Girardin's139Second banquet141Bourse and its victims142Entry of troops from Crimea143Zouaves and their dog144Streets on New Year's Day145English and French art146Emperor and Edwin Landseer147Sitting to Ary Scheffer148Scheffer as to the likeness149A duchess murdered150Truth is stranger than fiction151Singular scenes described152What became of the actors153CHAPTER VI. 1855-1857.Pages 154-176.Little Dorrit, and a Lazy Tour. Æt.43-45.Watts's Rochester charity155Tablet to Dickens in Cathedral155Nobody's Fault155How theDorritstory grew156Number-Plan ofCopperfield157Number-Plan ofDorrit158Circumlocution Office159Flora and Mr. F——160Weak and strong points161A scene of boy-trials162Reception of the novel163Christmas theatricals164Theatre-making165Rush for places166Douglas Jerrold's death168Exertions and result168Seeing the serpents fed169Lazy Tour projected170Up Carrick Fell170Accident to Mr. Wilkie Collins171At Wigton and Allonby172The Yorkshire landlady173Doncaster in race week174A performance ofMoney175CHAPTER VII. 1857-1858.Pages 177-201.What Happened at This Time. Æt.45-46.Disappointments and distastes177What we seem and are178Compensations of Art179Misgivings180A defect and a merit181Reply to a remonstrance182Dangerous comfort183One happiness missed184Homily on life185Confidences186Rejoinder to a reply187What the world cannot give189An old project revived189Shakespeare on acting191Hospital for sick children192Charities of the very poor192Unsolved mysteries194Appeal for sick children195Reading for Child's Hospital195Proposal for Paid readings196Question of the Plunge198Mr. Arthur Smith199Separation from Mrs. Dickens200What alone concerned the public201CHAPTER VIII. 1856-1870.Pages 202-222.Gadshill Place. Æt.44-58.First description of it202The porch204Negotiations for purchase204Becomes his home205Gadshill a century ago206Past owners and tenants207Sinking a well209Gradual additions210Gift from Mr. Fechter211Dickens's writing-table211The châlet213Much coveted acquisition214Last improvement215Visits of friends216Dickens's Dogs218A Fenian mastiff218Linda and Mrs. Bouncer219Favourite walks220The study and chair222CHAPTER IX. 1858-1859.Pages 223-238.First Paid Readings. Æt.46-47.Various managements223One day's work224Impressions of Dublin225Irish audiences226Young Ireland and Old England227Railway ride to Belfast229Brought near his Fame229A knowing audience231Greeting in Manchester231Joined by his daughters232Strange life233Scotch audiences234When most successful in reading235At public meetings236Miss Marie Wilton asPippo237Ed. Landseer on Frith's portrait238CHAPTER X. 1859-1861.Pages 239-254.All The Year Round and the UncommercialTraveller. Æt.47-49.Household Wordsdiscontinued240Earliest and latest publishers240Dickens and Mr. Bentley241In search of a title242A title found243Success of new periodical244Difference from the old245At Knebworth246Commercial Travellers' Schools247A Traveller for human interests248Personal references in writing249Birds and low company250Bethnal-green fowls251An incident of Doughty Street252Offers from America253CHAPTER XI. 1861-1863.Pages 255-274.Second Series of Readings. Æt.49-51.Daughter Kate's marriage255Charles Alston Collins257Sale of Tavistock House257Brother Alfred's death258Metropolitan readings258Provincial circuit259New subjects for readings260Death of Mr. Arthur Smith261Death of Mr. Henry Austin262Readings at Brighton263At Canterbury and Dover264Alarming scene265Impromptu reading-hall266Scenes in Scotland267At Torquay268Death of C. C. Felton269Offers for Australia270Writing or Reading?271Home arguments272Religious Richardson's Show273Exiled ex-potentate274CHAPTER XII. 1855-1865.Pages 275-297.Hints for Books Written and Unwritten. Æt.43-53.Book of MS. memoranda275Originals of characters277Fancies put into books277Notions forLittle Dorrit278Suggestions for other books279Hints for last completed book280Fancies never used281Ideas not worked out282A touching fancy284Domestic subjects284Characters of women285Other female groups286Uncle Sam288Sketches of selfishness288Striking thoughts290Subjects not accomplished290Characters laid aside291Available names293Titles for books293Names for girls and boys295An undistinguished crowd296Mr. Brobity's snuff-box297CHAPTER XIII. 1864-1867.Pages 298-324.Third Series of Readings. Æt.52-55.Death of Thackeray298Mother's death300Death of second son300Interest in Mr. Fechter301Notes on theatres302Sorrowful new year303C. W. Dilke's death303Staplehurst accident305Illness and suffering305Enters on new readings306Last meeting with Mrs. Carlyle308Mrs. Carlyle's death309Offer for more readings309Grave warnings311In Scotland312Exertion and its result313Self-deception314An old malady314SceneatTynemouth316In Dublin with the Fenians317Yielding to temptation318Pressure from America319At bay at last320Warning unheeded321Discussion useless322The case in a nutshell323Decision to go324CHAPTER XIV. 1836-1870.Pages 325-386.Dickens as a Novelist. Æt.24-58.See before you oversee326M. Taine's criticism326What is overlooked in it327A popularity explained328National excuses for Dickens330Comparison with Balzac330Anticipatory reply to M. Taine332A critic in theFortnightly Review333Blame and praise to be reconciled333A plea for objectors334"Hallucinative" imagination335Vain critical warnings336The critic and the criticised336An opinion on the Micawbers338Hallucinative phenomena338Scott writingBride of Lammermoor339Claim to be fairly judged340Dickens's leading quality341Dangers of Humour342His earlier books343Mastery of dialogue344Character-drawing345Realities of fiction346Fielding and Dickens347Touching of extremes347Why the creations of fiction live349Enjoyment of his own humour350Unpublished note of Lord Lytton350Exaggerations of humour351Temptations of all great humourists352A word for fanciful descriptions353Tale of Two Cities355Difficulties and success355Specialty of treatment356Reply to objections357Care with which Dickens worked358An American critic359Great Expectations360Pip and Magwitch361Another boy-child for hero362Unlikeness in likeness363Vivid descriptive writing364Masterly drawing of character365A day on the Thames366Homely and shrewd satire367Incident changed for Lytton368As originally written369Christmas Sketches370Our Mutual Friend370Writing numbers in advance373Working slowly374Death of John Leech375A fatal anniversary376Effects on himself and his novel376A tale by Edmond About378First and Last378Doctor Marigold379Minor stories380"Something from Above"381Purity of Dickens's writings382Substitute for an alleged deficiency382True province of humour383Horace Greeley and Longfellow384Letters from an American385Companions for solitude386CHAPTER XV. 1867.Pages 387-406.America Revisited. November and December, 1867. Æt.55.Warmth of the greeting388Same cause as in 1842388Old and new friends389Changes since 1842390First Boston reading391Scene at New York sales393First New York reading393An action against Dickens394A fire at his hotel395Local and general politics397Railway arrangements398Police of New York398Mistletoe from England399As to newspapers400Nothing lasts long401Cities chosen for readings401Scene of a murder visited402A dinner at the murderer's403Illness and abstinence404Miseries of American travel405Startling prospect406CHAPTER XVI. 1868.Pages 407-443.America Revisited. January to April, 1868. Æt.56.Speculators and public408An Englishman's disadvantage408"Freedom and independence"408Mountain-sneezers and eye-openers409The work and the gain410A scene at Brooklyn411At Philadelphia412"Looking up the judge"413Improved social ways414Result of thirty-four readings415Shadow to the sunshine416Readings in a church417Change of plan417Baltimore women418Success in Philadelphia419Objections to coloured people420With Sumner at Washington421President Lincoln's dream423Interview with President Johnson423Washington audiences424A comical dog425Incident before a reading426The child and the doll427North-west tour428Political excitement429Struggle for tickets430American female beauty432Sherry to "slop round" with432Final impression of Niagara433Letter to Mr. Ouvry434"Getting along" through water435Again attacked by lameness437Illness and exertion437Seeing prevents believing439All but used up439Last Boston readings440New York farewells441The receipts throughout441Promise at public dinner442The Adieu443CHAPTER XVII. 1868-1870.Pages 444-460.Last Readings. Æt.56-58.Health improved444What the readings did and undid445Expenses and gains in America446Noticeable changes in him447Oliver Twistreading proposed448Objections to it449Death of Frederick Dickens450Macready atOliver Twistreading451Another attack of illness452A doctors' difference454At Emerson Tennent's funeral454The illness at Preston455Brought to London456Sir Thomas Watson consulted456His note of the case457Guarded sanction to other readings458Close of career as public reader460CHAPTER XVIII. 1869-1870.Pages 461-477.Last Book. Æt.57-58.The agreement forEdwin Drood461First fancy for it462Story as planned in his mind463What to be its course and end463Merits of the fragment464Comparison of early and late MSS466Discovery of an unpublished scene467Last page ofDroodin fac-simile468Page ofOliver Twistin fac-simile469Delightful specimen of Dickens470Unpublished scene forDrood470-476CHAPTER XIX. 1836-1870.Pages 478-526.Personal Characteristics. Æt.24-58.Dickens not a bookish man479Books and their critics479Design of present book stated480Dickens made to tell his own story480Charge of personal obtrusiveness481Lord Russell on Dickens's letters481Shallower judgments481Absence of self-conceit in Dickens482Letter to youngest son483As to religion and prayer485Letter to a clergyman in 1856485Letter to a layman in 1870486Objection to posthumous honours487As to patronage of literature488Vanity of human wishes488As to writers and publishers489Editorship of his weekly serials490Work for his contributors491Editorial troubles and pleasures493Letter to an author493Help to younger novelists495Adelaide Procter's poetry495Effect of periodical writing496Proposed satirical papers497Political opinions498Not the man for Finsbury499The Liverpool dinner in 1869500Reply to Lord Houghton501Tribute to Lord Russell501People governing and governed502Alleged offers from her Majesty503Silly Rigmarole504The Queen sees him act (1857)505Desires to hear him read (1858)506Interview at the Palace (1870)507What passed at the interview507Dickens's grateful impression508A hope at the close of life509Games in Gadshill meadow510Home enjoyments512Habits of life everywhere513Family dependence on him514Carlyle's opinion of Dickens514Street walks and London haunts515Christmas Eve and Christmas Day517The first attack of lameness518Effect upon his dogs518Why right things to be done519Silent heroisms519At social meetings520Delight in "assumption"520Humouring a joke522Unlucky hits522Ghost stories524Predominant feeling of his life525Sermon of the Master of Balliol525CHAPTER XX. 1869-1870.Pages 527-545.The End. Æt.57-58.Last summer and autumn527Showing London to a visitor528His son Henry's scholarship529Twelve more readings530Medical attendance at them531Excitement incident to them532The Farewell533Last public appearances535At Royal Academy dinner535Eulogy of Daniel Maclise536Return of illness537Our last meeting538A noteworthy incident538Last letter received from him539Final days at Gadshill539Wednesday the 8th of June540Last piece of writing540The 8th and 9th of June541The general grief542The burial544Unbidden mourners544The grave544——————APPENDIX.I.The Writings of Charles Dickens547II.The Will of Charles Dickens561III.Corrections made in the Later Editions of theSecond Volume of this Work566INDEX571
III.Corrections made in the Later Editions of theSecond Volume of this Work