Charles Dickens: A Critical Study

George Gissing's Charles Dickens: A Critical Study (1898) is a perceptive work of literary criticism by the English novelist known for his unflinching realism. Gissing, who admired Honoré de Balzac, wrote this study during his prolific career, which produced 22 novels. While Dickens enjoyed immense popularity, Gissing's critical study emerged during a period when Dickens received less serious attention from critics, with exceptions like Gissing himself, G.K. Chesterton, and George Bernard Shaw. The study offers insights into Dickens's multifaceted talents and the complexities of his work, which ranged from abundant comedy to profound social commentary.12