{"product_id":"charles-dickens-and-his-performing-selves-readings-and-performance","title":"Charles Dickens and His Performing Selves - Readings and Performance","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn this review of Charles Dickens and His Performing Selves, the reviewer finds a focused study for readers interested in the performative side of Dickens's career and the impact of his public readings. The book reconstructs the last 12 years of Dickens's life on the platform, showing how his mimicry and theatrical presence transformed prose into a communal event. This review is for literature scholars, performance historians and devoted Dickens readers who want a detailed account of how readings animated characters and shaped public response.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eKey Features\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFocus on public readings:\u003c\/strong\u003e The book concentrates on Dickens's third professional career, documenting how his two-hour performances brought characters to life for audiences of over two thousand.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReconstruction of performance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Detailed narrative attempts to recreate the sense of a Dickens reading, helping modern readers imagine the sounds, gestures and audience reaction.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBiographical context:\u003c\/strong\u003e Coverage of the final 12 years of Dickens's life places the readings alongside his work as novelist and journalist, clarifying why the performances mattered.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTransatlantic scope:\u003c\/strong\u003e The account includes Dickens's tours in Britain and America, showing differences and similarities in reception across the Atlantic.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAttention to mimicry:\u003c\/strong\u003e The text emphasizes Dickens's gift for mimicry and how this skill allowed audiences to forget they were watching the author and instead perceive a full cast of characters.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis book suits literary critics, theatre historians and serious Dickens enthusiasts who want a concentrated study of performance practice and public reception rather than a general biography. It is valuable for anyone researching Victorian public culture or the relationship between authorship and live performance.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eReaders seeking a broad, introductory life of Dickens or a comprehensive edition of readings may find the narrow focus less useful; this is a specialized study aimed at those wanting depth on the reading phenomenon rather than a general overview.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003ePros \u0026amp; Cons\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePros\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProvides a focused, well-argued account of Dickens's career as a public Reader, illuminating an often-overlooked aspect of his life.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRecreates the atmosphere of live readings so that readers can grasp how performances altered public perception of characters.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePlaces the readings in biographical and transatlantic context, which helps explain differences in audience response.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCons\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003eThe specialized scope means readers seeking a full biography or annotated texts of readings will need supplementary volumes.\u003c\/li\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTitle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCharles Dickens and His Performing Selves: Dickens and the Public Readings\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAuthor\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMalcolm Andrews\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSubject focus\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePublic readings and performance practice\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTime period covered\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFinal 12 years of Dickens's life\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGeographic scope\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBritain and America\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMain themes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMimicry, audience reception, theatricality\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eOur Verdict\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eCharles Dickens and His Performing Selves is a targeted, rewarding study for readers who want to understand how Dickens's public readings functioned as theatrical events and influenced popular reception. It offers strong value to scholars and dedicated readers by illuminating a neglected professional strand in Dickens's career, though those seeking a general biography should supplement it with broader works.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes the book cover Dickens's entire life?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe focus is specifically on the last 12 years when Dickens gave public readings, not a complete life biography.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAre American tours discussed?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes; the book includes Dickens's tours in both Britain and America and compares audience reception.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs this a performance guide?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt is an analytical reconstruction of readings and performance practice rather than a practical how-to for performers.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Malcolm Andrews","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48601389072603,"sku":"0199236208","price":54.54,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1043\/1707\/files\/71jTz2UQzZL._SL1500.jpg?v=1776355022","url":"https:\/\/gearmusthave.com\/products\/charles-dickens-and-his-performing-selves-readings-and-performance","provider":"GearMustHave","version":"1.0","type":"link"}