Pickwickian Studies

Discover the fascinating story behind Charles Dickens's first novel, 'The Pickwick Papers', in Percy Fitzgerald's Pickwickian Studies. In this groundbreaking study, Fitzgerald delves into the origins of the novel, tracing its roots back to the comic «cockney sporting plates» of illustrator Robert Seymour. Despite controversy over who truly originated the idea, 'The Pickwick Papers' became a publishing sensation, sparking a new category of «entertainment» and popularizing serialized fiction and cliffhanger endings. Fitzgerald's detailed analysis sheds new light on the cultural impact of this beloved classic, making this book a must-read for Dickens enthusiasts and literary historians alike.