The Pickwick Papers
1836–1837 novel by Charles Dickens / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club (also known as The Pickwick Papers) was the first novel by English author Charles Dickens. Because of his success with Sketches by Boz published in 1836, Dickens was asked by the publisher Chapman & Hall to supply descriptions to explain a series of comic "cockney sporting plates" by illustrator Robert Seymour,[1] and to connect them into a novel. The book became a publishing phenomenon, with bootleg copies, theatrical performances, Sam Weller joke books, and other merchandise.[2] On its cultural impact, Nicholas Dames in The Atlantic writes, "'Literature' is not a big enough category for Pickwick. It defined its own, a new one that we have learned to call 'entertainment'."[3] Published in 19 issues over 20 months, the success of The Pickwick Papers popularised serialised fiction and cliffhanger endings.[4]
Author | Charles Dickens ("Boz") |
---|---|
Original title | The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, Containing a Faithful Record of the Perambulations, Perils, Travels, Adventures and Sporting Transactions of the Corresponding Members |
Illustrator | Robert Seymour Robert William Buss Hablot Knight Browne (Phiz) |
Country | England |
Language | English |
Subject | Travels in the English Countryside |
Genre | Novel |
Published | Serialised March 1836 – November 1837; book format 1837 |
Publisher | Chapman & Hall |
Media type | |
Preceded by | Sketches by Boz |
Followed by | Oliver Twist |
Text | The Pickwick Papers at Wikisource |
Seymour's widow claimed that the idea for the novel was originally her husband's, but Dickens strenuously denied any specific input in his preface to the 1867 edition: "Mr Seymour never originated or suggested an incident, a phrase, or a word, to be found in the book."[5]