Charles Dickens'
Sketches by Boz
Charles Dickens' early magazine articles published in book form
Sketches by Boz - 1836
A collection of Charles Dickens' early stories that had been published in Monthly Magazine, The Morning Chronicle, and other periodicals (Letters, 1965, v. 1, p. 692-694). The collection was first published by John Macrone in February 1836 and was later expanded and issued in monthly parts (Nov 1837-June 1839) by Dickens' next publishers, Chapman and Hall. Illustrations for all of the iterations were provided by established artist George Cruikshank (Schlicke, 1999, p. 532-533). The sketches provide delightful glimpses into life in early Victorian London.
Dickens later wrote of Sketches: "They comprise my first attempts at authorship...I am conscious of their often being extremely crude and ill-considered, and bearing obvious marks of haste and inexperience" (Sketches by Boz, p. xii).
Dickens' pseudonym Boz came from his younger brother Augustus's through-the-nose pronunciation of his own nickname, Moses (Slater, 2009, p. 28).
Charles Dickens' first published work, A Dinner at Poplar Walk, appeared in Monthly Magazine in December 1833 (Johnson, 1952, p. 91-92). It was later renamed Mr Minns and His Cousin and was included in Sketches by Boz.
Contents
Our Parish | Scenes | Characters | Tales
Our Parish
The Beadle - The Parish Engine - The Schoolmaster
Originally published in the Evening Chronicle - February 28, 1835
Dickens just loves to poke fun at local government
Characters:
Brown, Mrs
Browns, Three Miss
Simmons
Tompkins, Mr
The Curate - The Old Lady - The Half-pay Captain
Originally published in the Evening Chronicle - May 19, 1835
The popularity of the young curate with the ladies is eclipsed by a new church official. The old lady and her neighbor the captain seem to be at odds.
Characters:
Gubbins, Mr
Purday, Captain
Sarah
The Four Sisters
First Published in the Evening Chronicle - June 18, 1835
The four Willis sisters are inseparable...but which one just got married?
Characters:
Dawson, Mr
Robinson, Mr
Willis Sisters
The Election for Beadle
Originally published in the Evening Chronicle - July 14, 1835
An unusual qualification in the Bung vs Spruggins election.
Characters:
Bung, Mr
Hopkins
Simmons
Spruggins, Thomas
Spruggins, Mrs
Timkins
The Broker's Man
Originally published in the Evening Chronicle - July 28, 1835
The new beadle and his former employer.
Characters:
Bung, Mr
Fixem, Mr
John
The Ladies' Societies
Originally published in the Evening Chronicle - July 28, 1835
The ladies are at it again...all in the name of charity.
Characters:
Browns, Three Miss
Bung, Mr
Brown, Henry
Parker, Mrs Johnson
Our Next-door Neighbour
Originally published in the Morning Chronicle - March 18, 1836
The inhabitants of the house next door are chronicled.
Characters:
William
Scenes
The Streets – Morning
Originally published in the Evening Chronicle - July 21, 1835
London wakes up and gets busy.
Characters:
Clark, Betsy
Todd, Mr
The Streets – Night
Originally published in Bell's Life in London - January 17, 1836
Beer, muffins, a little music, and off to bed.
Characters:
Macklin, Mrs
Peplow, Mrs
Smuggins, Mr
Thompson, Bill
Walker, Mrs
Shops and Their Tenants
Originally published in the Morning Chronicle - October 10, 1834
Tenants in a commercial building, from a draper to a dairy.
Scotland-yard
Originally published in the Morning Chronicle - October 4, 1836
Explores this area by the Thames in its transformation into the offices of the police commissioners.
Seven Dials
Originally published in Bell's Life of London - September 27, 1835
Explores this slum area and its rowdy residents.
Characters:
Mary
Sulliwin, Sarah
Meditations in Monmouth-street
Originally published in the Morning Chronicle - September 24, 1836
Oh, if clothes could talk!
Hackney-coach Stands
Originally published in the Evening Chronicle - January 31, 1835
Hackney coaches, from past glory to their present state of degradation.
Characters:
Tom
Doctors' Commons
Originally published in the Morning Chronicle - October 11, 1836
Marriages, divorces, wills...recorded here for posterity.
Characters:
Bumple, Michael
Sludberry, Thomas
London Recreations
Originally published in the Evening Chronicle - March 17, 1835
The joys of gardening!
Characters:
Bill, Uncle
Sally
The River
Originally published in the Evening Chronicle - June 6, 1835
Water sports and excursions on the Thames.
Astley's
Originally published in the Evening Chronicle - May 9, 1835
Joining the circus.
Greenwich Fair
Originally published in the Evening Chronicle - April 16, 1835
Food, fun, and curiosities abound!
Private Theatres
Originally published in the Evening Chronicle - August 11, 1835
Step into the limelight, no talent required.
Characters:
Beverly, Mr (aka Loggins)
Nathan, Mr
Palmer, Mr
Scarton, Charley
St Julien, Horatio (aka Jem Larkins)
Vauxhall Gardens by Day
Originally published in the Morning Chronicle - October 26, 1836
Disappointment in the stark light of day...but then, up, up, and away!
Early Coaches
Originally published in the Evening Chronicle - February 19, 1835
How many months of incessant traveling by coach would it take to kill a man?
Omnibuses
Originally published in the Morning Chronicle - September 26, 1824
People watching on the bus.
The Last Cab-driver, and the First Omnibus Cad
Originally published in Bell's Life in London - November 29, 1835
Drive like hell and you'll get there.
Characters:
Barker, William (aka Bill Boorker, Aggerawatin Bill)
A Parliamentary Sketch
Originally published in the Evening Chronicle - March 7, 1835
The Houses of Parliament, and their coffee house.
Characters:
Jane
Nicholas
Smith, Mr
Thompson, Sir John
Public Dinners
Originally published in the Evening Chronicle - April 7, 1835
Charity dinner for the benefit of the Indigent Orphans' Friends Benevolent Institution.
Characters:
Fitz Binkle, Lord and Lady
The First of May
Originally published in the Library of Fiction - 1836
Disappearing celebrations of the beginning of spring.
Characters:
Sluffen, Mr
Brokers' and Marine-store Shops
Originally published in the Morning Chronicle - October 10, 1834
Second hand furniture and cast off sailor's gear on offer.
Gin-shops
Originally published in the Evening Chronicle - February 19, 1835
Forget all your troubles and your cares.
The Pawnbroker's Shop
Originally published in the Evening Standard - June 30, 1835
Selling off the family's wares, a subject Dickens knew well.
Characters:
Henry, Mr
Jinkins
Mackin, Mrs
Tatham, Mrs
Criminal Courts
Originally published in the Morning Chronicle - October 23, 1834
Law and order.
A Visit to Newgate
Originally published in Sketches by Boz - 1836
How dreadful its rough heavy walls, and low massive doors...the latter looking as if they were made for the express purpose of letting people in, and never letting them out again.
Characters
Thoughts about People
Originally published in the Evening Chronicle - April 23, 1835
It takes every kind of people.
Characters:
Smith, Mr
A Christmas Dinner
Originally published in Bell's Life in London - December 27, 1835
Reflect upon your present blessings – of which every man has many – not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.
Characters:
George, Uncle and Aunt
Jane, Aunt
Margaret, Aunt
Robert, Uncle
The New Year
Originally published in Bell's Life in London - January 3, 1836
Toasts, speeches, and good will prevail at the Dobble's New Year's Eve party.
Characters:
Dobble Family
Tupple, Mr
Miss Evans and the Eagle
Originally published in Bell's Life in London - October 4, 1835
Overdoing it at the popular Eagle Tavern.
Characters:
Evans, Jemima
Evans, Tilly
Wilkins, Samuel
The Parlour Orator
Originally published in Bell's Life in London - December, 1835
What is an Englishman? Is he to be trampled upon by every oppressor?
Characters:
Ellis, Mr
Rogers, Mr
Snobee, Mr
Tommy
Wilson, Mr
The Hospital Patient
Originally published in The Carlton Chronicle - August 6, 1836
Beaten wife refuses to give up brutal husband.
Characters:
Jack
The Misplaced Attachment of Mr John Dounce
Originally published in Bell's Life in London - October 4, 1835
Poor John goes for a young gal and ends up henpecked by his cook.
Characters:
Dounce, John
The Mistaken Milliner (A Tale of Ambition)
Originally published in Bell's Life in London - November 22, 1835
No talent? No problem!
Characters:
Martin, Amelia
Montague, Julia
Rodolph, Jennings Mr and Mrs
Taplan, Mr H
The Dancing Academy
Originally published in Bell's Life in London - October 11, 1835
Dancing lessons are more expensive than it first appeared.
Characters:
Billsmethi, Signor
Cooper, Augustus
White, Young
Shabby-genteel People
Originally published in the Morning Chronicle - November 5, 1834
Keeping up appearances.
Making a Night of It
Originally published in Bell's Life in London - October 18, 1835
Too much of a good thing.
Characters:
Potter, Thomas
Smithers, Robert
The Prisoners' Van
Originally published in Bell's Life in London - December 13, 1835
Two sisters. One brazen, the other ashamed.
Tales
The Boarding-house
Originally published in Monthly Magazine - May, August, 1834
Matrimonial intrigue in Mrs Tiggs' boarding house.
Characters:
Agnes
Bloss, Mrs
Carlton, Mr
Evenson, John
Gobler, Mr
Hicks, Septimus
James
Maplesone Family
O'Bleary
Robinson
Simpson, Mr
Tibbs, Mr and Mrs
Tompkins, Alfred
Wisbottle, Mr
Wosky, Dr
Mr Minns and His Cousin
Originally published in Monthly Magazine - December, 1833
Dickens' first published work.
Characters:
Brogson
Budden Family
Jones
Minns, Augustus
Sentiment
Originally published in Bell's Weekly Magazine - June 7, 1834
Young love will find a way.
Characters:
Brook Dingwall, Cornelius
Brook Dingwall, Frederick
Brook Dingwall, Lavinia
Brook Dingwall, Mrs
Butler, Theodosius
Crumpton, Amelia and Maria
Dadson, Mr and Mrs
Hilton, Mr
James
Lobskini, Signor
Muggs, Sir Alfred
Parsons, Laetitia
Smithers, Emily
Wilson, Caroline
The Tuggs's at Ramsgate
Originally published in the Library of Fiction - March 31, 1836
Romance and con artists at the seaside.
Characters:
Amelia
Cower, Mr
Golding, Mary
Jane
Slaughter, Lieutenant
Thompson, Harry
Tippin Family
Tuggs, Charlotte
Tuggs, Joseph
Tuggs, Mrs
Tuggs, Simon
Waters, Belinda
Waters, Captain Walter
Horatio Sparkins
Originally published in the Monthly Magazine - February, 1834
Lowly draper transformed into a gentleman...and back again.
Characters:
Flamwell, Mr
John
Malderton, Frederick
Malderton, Marianne
Malderton, Mr
Malderton, Mrs
Malderton, Teresa
Malderton, Thomas
Sparkins, Horatio
The Black Veil
Originally published in Sketches by Boz - 1836
A hanged son, a grieving mother, and a young doctor.
Characters:
Rose
The Steam Excursion
Originally published in Monthly Magazine - October 1834
Pleasure cruise gone awry.
Characters:
Briggs Family
Edkins, Mr
Fleetwood Family
Hardy, Mr
Helves, Captain
Noakes, Percy
Stubbs, Mrs
Taunton Family
Wakefield Family
The Great Winglebury Duel
Originally published in Sketches by Boz - 1836
Threats of violence end in happiness, except for poor Lord Peter.
Characters:
Brown, Emily
Flair, Augustus
Hunter, Horace
Manners, Julia
Overton, Joseph
Peter, Lord
Thomas
Trott, Alexander
Williamson, Mrs
Mrs Joseph Porter
Originally published in Monthly Magazine - January 1834
The Gattletons are putting on a private theatrical, but there's a fly in the ointment.
Characters:
Balderstone, Thomas
Brown, Mr
Cape, Mr
Dixon Family
Evans, Mr
Gattleton, Mr
Gattleton, Mrs
Gattleton, Sempronius
Gattleton Sisters
Glumper, Thomas
Gubbins Family
Harleigh, Mr
Hickson Family
Jenkins, Miss
Nixon Family
Porter, Emma
Porter, Mrs Joseph
Smith Family
Thomas
Tom
Wilson, Mr
A Passage in the Life of Mr Watkins Tottle
Originally published in Monthly Magazine - January, February, 1835
Quest to find a bride goes very badly.
Characters:
Harry
Ikey
Jacobs, Solomon
Jem
John
Kate
Lillerton, Miss
Martha
Parsons, Fanny
Parsons, Gabriel
Ross, Frank
Timson, Rev Charles
Tom
Tottle, Watkins
Walker, Mr
Willis, Mr
The Bloomsbury Christening
Originally published in Monthly Magazine - April 1834
With a name like Nicodemus Dumps they should have known better.
Characters:
Danton, Mr
Dumps, Nicodemus
Jane
Kitterbell, Frederick Charles William
Kitterbell, Jemima
Kitterbell, Charles
Maxwell, Mrs
Wilson, Mr and Mrs
The Drunkard's Death
Originally published in Sketches by Boz - 1836
Drink, destruction, and death, a cautionary tale.
Characters:
Warden
Warden, Henry
Warden, John
Warden, Mary
Warden, William
Sketches by Boz Links:
Wikipedia
- Sketches by Boz |
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- Oliver Twist |
- Nickleby |
- Old Curiosity Shop |
- Barnaby Rudge |
- Chuzzlewit |
- Christmas Carol |
- Christmas Books |
- American Notes |
- Pictures from Italy |
- Dombey and Son |
- Copperfield |
- Bleak House |
- Hard Times |
- Little Dorrit |
- Tale of Two Cities |
- Great Expectations |
- Our Mutual Friend |
- Edwin Drood |
- Minor Works |
- The Uncommercial Traveller |
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