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Beginning this third century of Charles Dickens's life, we will look at the beginnings of several of his novels, and then study the one that he supposedly didn't finish.
We will read carefully and discuss the opening chapters of Oliver Twist (1837), Nicholas Nickleby (1839), Martin Chuzzlewit (1843), David Copperfield (1849), Bleak House (1851), Hard Times (1854), A Tale of Two Cities (1859), Great Expectations (1869), and Our Mutual Friend (1864). Then we will read The Mystery of Edwin Drood, and discuss it.
Most great novels begin by telling us how to read them. With that in mind, we will examine how he introduces nine of his fourteen novels, and then-using what we have learned-read all of Edwin Drood.
We will use the Wordsworth edition of The Mystery of Edwin Drood. We all need to use that edition. Wordsworth editions are cheap, so I will suggest that you buy all ten of our novels in Wordsworth editions-for about €20 total. That will be not much more expensive than copying nine first chapters and buying one novel-and you will have half a shelf of books for your own libraries!
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