Charles Dickens letters, 1837-1868

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Summary

Creators:
Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870
Abstract:
A collection of letters written by Charles Dickens to various friends, family, and business associates.
Extent:
1.25 Linear Feet (1 box)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Charles Dickens letters, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

A collection of letters by Charles Dickens; the letters are written to, among others, William Harrison Ainsworth, George Bentley, Frederick William Dickens, William Empson, John Pritt Harley, Susan Horner, Robert Bulwer Lytton (Earl of Lytton), and John Palgrave Simpson.

Biographical / historical:

Charles Dickens (1812-1870) was a British writer during the Victorian era, perhaps the most celebrated writer of his time; he used his writing to entertain but to also expose the ills of Victorian society. Dickens was born in Portsmouth, England, and was forced by family circumstances to leave school at the age of 12 for three years. After some additional schooling, he began his writing career as a journalist; over the following decades, he was also a journal editor, publisher, critic, and a writer of novels, short stories, and articles. Dickens also gave many lectures and reading performances throughout England and America. He used his writing to campaign for social reform for children and education among other issues. In 1836, he married Catherine Thomson Hogarth; together they had 10 children. On June 8, 1870, Dickens had a second stroke at his home; he never regained consciousness and, the next day, he died at Gads Hill Place.

Acquisition information:
Purchased for the Huntington from Jarndyce Booksellers by the Library Collectors' Council, January 2013.
Processing information:

Processed by Gayle M. Richardson in 2013; in December 2023, a finding aid was created.

Arrangement:

Arranged chronologically.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.

Terms of access:

The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Charles Dickens letters, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
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