Death and Mr Pickwick
Published on 12. May 2016
Book
Paperback/Softback
816 pages
978-0-09-959348-5 (ISBN)
Description
Shortlisted for the HWA Goldsboro Debut Crown
It is 31 March 1836. A new monthly periodical is launched entitled The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club. Conceived and created by the artist Robert Seymour, it contains four of his illustrations. The words to accompany them are written by a young journalist, under the pen-name Boz. The journalist's real name is Charles Dickens.
The Pickwick Papers soon becomes a phenomenal, unprecedented sensation, read and discussed by the entire British Isles. Before long, its success is worldwide.
Stephen Jarvis's novel tells of the dawning of the age of global celebrity. It is a story of colossal triumph and of the depths of tragedy, based on real events - and an expose of how an ambitious young writer stole another man's ideas.
It is 31 March 1836. A new monthly periodical is launched entitled The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club. Conceived and created by the artist Robert Seymour, it contains four of his illustrations. The words to accompany them are written by a young journalist, under the pen-name Boz. The journalist's real name is Charles Dickens.
The Pickwick Papers soon becomes a phenomenal, unprecedented sensation, read and discussed by the entire British Isles. Before long, its success is worldwide.
Stephen Jarvis's novel tells of the dawning of the age of global celebrity. It is a story of colossal triumph and of the depths of tragedy, based on real events - and an expose of how an ambitious young writer stole another man's ideas.
Reviews / Votes
An outstanding debut novel. -- Peter Kemp * Sunday Times * This is a masterpiece of imagination supported by a mountain of research. -- Christian House, 4 stars * Sunday Telegraph * This is a masterpiece of imagination supported by a mountain of research. -- Christian House, 4 stars * Sunday Telegraph * A novel as crowded, rude and brilliantly inventive as the great pre-Dickensian caricatures it celebrates. -- Lucy Hughes-Hallett * Observer * Some may view this book as a remarkable piece of literary detection, others a dazzlingly written and superbly imagined exposition on how art and writing are gestated and born. Or both. * Daily Mail * Astpnishing -- David Sexton * Evening Standard * It offers a readers experience as immersive as Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall, and as visionary in its capacity to connect us with past lives. -- Lucasta Miller * Independent * A huge and hugely impressive first novel for both fans of immersive reads and of Dickens' London. -- Joanne Wilkinson * Booklist * An impressive debut. -- Frances Wilson * New Statesman * In this astounding first novel, Jarvis re-creates, in loving and exhaustive detail, the writing and publication of Charles Dickens's first novel, The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club...it is a staggering accomplishment, a panoramic perspective of nineteenth-century London and its creative class. -- Publishers Weekly starred reviewMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Vintage Publishing
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 129 mm
Thickness: 34 mm
Weight
562 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-09-959348-5 (9780099593485)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Stephen Jarvis
Death and Mr Pickwick
E-Book
05/2015
1st Edition
Vintage Digital
€8.99
Available for download
Person
Stephen Jarvis was born in Essex. Death and Mr Pickwick is his first novel.