In his works, from Oliver Twist to Our Mutual Friend, Charles Dickens reveals a continuum of artistic as well as social development over a period of four decades. In this highly original study, Badri Raina relates Dickens' novels thoroughly to one another, illuminating the works by seeing them in terms of the author's changing social outlook, personal attitudes, and aesthetic practice. Raina's book will fascinate readers of Dickens, and will serve social historians as well. The unifying point of Raina's study is Dickens' ambivalence toward respectable Victorian bourgeois society; he criticized the bourgeois myths of unbridled success and achievement through aggressive individualism, yet wished to be a great success himself. Raina argues that Dickens projected this personal ambivalence through the creation of key characters and combinations of characters in his novels, creating also a continual movement toward self-awareness and self-criticism. This personal movement, argues Raina, found expression in a steady improvement in the quality of Dickens' art. Two of the most interesting issues in Dickens studies--that of his development as a novelist and that of his mass appeal in combination with towering aesthetic achievement--are both addressed thoroughly in this lucid and highly readable book. By following common threads of plot and character through the novels, Raina demonstrates how Dickens matured both socially and artistically, until in his last finished novel, Our Mutual Friend, social values that were earlier espoused (for instance, in Oliver Twist) were wholly and willingly rejected. Raina's critical procedure illuminates not just the career of a Victorian novelist, but one who embraces, traverses, and evaluates the social climate of a critical period of the nineteenth century.

"David Edgar, like Balzac, seems to be the secretary for our times." - The Guardian This selection of David Edgar's dramatic work features three plays: Ecclesiastes, a late 1970s radio play; his acclaimed stage version of Nicholas Nickleby; and Entertaining Strangers, an English left-wing social drama. Ecclesiastes is a radio play that looks at the rise and fall of a "fundamentalist" Christian clergyman in the US. Nicholas Nickleby: "With uncommon audacity Nicholas Nickleby not only takes on Dickens' sprawling novel, it fractures all the petty limitations we have imposed upon the stage as well ... A landmark." - New Statesman In Entertaining Strangers, a community constructs a nativity play: "English left-wing social drama at its sturdiest and finest: human, argumentative, utterly unafraid of human realities, and seething with indignation and compassion." - The Sunday Times

THE STORY: Despite its length and large cast, the play requires relatively simple staging, enabling it to move smoothly through its many scenes and related story lines. The sum total is a brilliant recapturing of the sights and sounds of Victorian England

This Companion analyzes the representation of disability in literatures in English, including American and postcolonial writing, across all major time periods and through a variety of critical approaches. Through the alternative ideas of mind and embodiment generated by physiological and psychological impairments, an understanding of disability narrative changes the way we read literature. With contributions from major figures in literary disability studies, The Cambridge Companion to Literature and Disability covers a wide range of impairments, including cognitive difference, neurobehavioral conditions, and mental and chronic illnesses. This book shows how disability demands innovation in literary form and aesthetics, challenges the notion of a human 'norm' in the writing of character, and redraws the ways in which writing makes meaning of the broad spectrum of humanity. It will be a key resource for students and teachers of disability and literary studies.

The Complete Works of Charles Dickens (Illustrated) is a comprehensive collection of the literary works of the renowned Victorian author. The book includes classic novels such as 'Great Expectations,' 'A Tale of Two Cities,' and 'Oliver Twist,' each filled with rich descriptions, complex characters, and social commentary. Dickens' writing style is characterized by his vivid storytelling, detailed settings, and memorable characters that explore themes of poverty, class struggle, and redemption. The illustrated edition adds an extra layer of visual depth to Dickens' already immersive narratives. This collection provides readers with a deep dive into the world of Dickens, showcasing his literary mastery and enduring impact on literature. Charles Dickens was a prolific writer known for his detailed portrayal of Victorian society and his advocacy for social reform. Drawing inspiration from his own experiences and observations, Dickens wrote with a keen eye for social injustice and human resilience. The Complete Works of Charles Dickens (Illustrated) is a must-read for anyone interested in classic literature, social history, or the art of storytelling.