PODULARITY

In this Bookhugger exclusive, Michael Slater reads from his new biography of Charles Dickens, the first major life of the novelist to appear in nearly twenty years.

In this extract, Michael Slater describes the wildly popular public readings Dickens gave from his works towards the end of his life - veritable tours de force in which the novelist displayed his considerable acting talents. By this time, Dickens best-known works had become, as Michael Slater puts it, “part of the very fabric of English life”.

Hear how Dickens’ performances went down with his Victorian audiences by clicking here.