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Sketches by Boz – 1836 – a collection of articles
![]() Frontispiece of the first series (Feb 1836) This was subtitled, Illustrative of Every-day Life and Every-day People. It collected together Dickens articles published between 1833 and 1836 in a variety of newspapers and periodicals – Bell’s Life in London, The Carlton Chronicle, The Evening Chronicle, The Monthly Magazine and The Morning Chronicle. ![]() Title page of the second series (Aug 1836) This was first published in book form in Feb 1836 and again in Aug 1836. The fifty-six sketches were punctuated with illustrations by the caricaturist, turned book illustrator, George Cruikshank, who was hailed by some as a modern Hogarth. Dickens as yet had no grand reputation, and Cruickshank’s illustrations gave his pieces more gravitas, more reader appeal. ![]() The sketches were all about London scenes and people. These articles were categorised into four segments – Our Parish – Scenes – Characters – Tales The first three were ‘pen-portraits’, the last category was fictional. Dickens’ Preface of the 1850 edition of Sketches by Boz, states: ‘The whole of these sketches were written and published, one by one, when I was a very young man. They were collected and republished while I was still a very young man; and sent into the world with all their imperfections (a good many) on their heads.’ Elsewhere he suggests they were ‘crude and ill-considered, and bearing obvious marks of haste and inexperience’. |
OUR PARISH – Pen Portraits The Beadle. The Parish Engine. The Schoolmaster The Evening Chronicle, 28 Feb 1835 Comical commentary on local government. · Brown, Mrs · Browns, Three Miss · Simmons · Tompkins, Mr The Curate. The Old Lady. The Half-pay Captain The Evening Chronicle, 19 May 1835 The young curate is eclipsed by a new church official. An old lady and the captain seem to be at odds with each other. · Gubbins, Mr · Purday, Captain · Sarah The Four Sisters – ‘Sketches of London 14’ The Evening Chronicle, 18 Jun 1835 The four Willis sisters are inseparable, but one had just married. · Dawson, Mr · Robinson, Mr · Willis Sisters The Election for Beadle – ‘Sketches of London 16’ The Evening Chronicle, 14 Jul 1835 It’s a Bung v Spruggins tilt at the role. · Bung, Mr · Hopkins · Simmons · Spruggins, Thomas · Spruggins, Mrs · Timkins The Broker’s Man – ‘Sketches of London 18’ The Evening Chronicle, 28 Jul 1835 A new beadle and his former employer. · Bung, Mr · Fixem, Mr · John The Ladies’ Societies – ‘Sketches of London 20’ The Evening Chronicle, 28 Jul 1835 The ladies and their charitable efforts. · Browns, Three Miss · Bung, Mr · Brown, Henry · Parker, Mrs Johnson Our Next-Door Neighbour The Morning Chronicle, 18 Mar 1836 An account of the people in the house next door. · Wiiliam SCENES – Pen Portraits The Streets – Morning Evening Chronicle – 21 Jul 1835 Account of London waking up and getting busy. · Clark, Betsy · Todd, Mr The Streets – Night Evening Chronicle – 17 Jan 1836 Beer, muffins, music and off to bed. · Macklin, Mrs · Peplow, Mrs · Smuggins, Mr · Thompson, Bill · Walker, Mrs Shops and Their Tenants Morning Chronicle – 10 Oct 1834 A look at the tenants in a commercial building, a draper, a dairy… Scotland Yard Morning Chronicle – 4 Oct 1836 A description of how the area was transformed to becomes the offices of the police commissioners. Seven Dials -Bell’s Life of London – 27 Sep 1835 A description of this slum area and its residents. · Mary · Sulliwin, Sarah Meditations in Monmouth-Street Morning Chronicle – 24 Sep 1836 A look at clothing. Hackney-Coach Stands Evening Chronicle – 31 Jan 1835 A review of Hackney coaches from their glory days until today’s degradation. · Tom Doctors’ Commons Morning Chronicle – 11 Oct 1836 A look at records for marriages, divorces, wills… · Bumple, Michael · Sludberry, Thomas London Recreations Evening Chronicle – 17 Mar 1835 A look at gardening. · Bill, Uncle · Sally The River Evening Chronicle – 6 Jun 1835 A look at water sports and excursions on the Thames. · Brown · O’Brien Astley’s Evening Chronicle – 9 May 1835 Account of joining the circus. · George · William Greenwich Fair Evening Chronicle – 16 Apr 1835 An account of the fair, the fun, the food, the curiosities… Private Theatres Evening Chronicle – 11 Aug 1835 A look at private theatres, encouraging those with little talent. · Beverly, Mr (aka Loggins) · Nathan, Mr · Palmer, Mr · Scarton, Charley · St Julien, Horatio (aka Jem Larkins) Vauxhall Gardens by Day Morning Chronicle – 26 Oct 1836 A disappointing review and then a balloon ride. Early Coaches – Evening Chronicle – 19 Feb 1835 Travelling by coach. · Bob · Harry Omnibuses Morning Chronicle – 26 Sep 1824 Journeys on the omnibus, people-watching. The Last Cab-Driver, and the First Omnibus Cab Bell’s Life in London, 29 Nov 1835 A look at cab drivers. · Barker, William (aka Bill Boorker, Aggerawatin Bill) A Parliamentary Sketch Evening Chronicle – 7 Mar 1835 A look at the Houses of Parliament and their coffee houses. · Jane · Nicholas · Smith, Mr · Thompson, Sir John Public Dinners Evening Chronicle – 7 Apr 1835 Reporting a charity dinner for the benefit of the Indigent Orphans’ Friends Benevolent Institution. · Fitz Binkle, Lord and Lady The First of May in the Library of Fiction – 1836 Comment on the disappearance of celebrations of the coming of spring. · Sluffen, Mr Brokers’ and Marine-Store Shops Morning Chronicle – 10 Oct 1834 A description of second-hand furniture shops and a look at cast-off sailors’ kit. Gin-Shops Evening Chronicle – 19 Feb 1835 A review of gin shops. The Pawnbroker’s Shop Evening Chronicle – 30 Jun 1835 Selling off the family’s items, something Dickens knew only too well. · Henry, Mr · Jinkins · Mackin, Mrs · Tatham, Mrs Criminal Courts Morning Chronicle – 23 Oct 1834 An account of law and order. A Visit to Newgate – original for Sketches by Boz – 1836 An account of the famous prison. CHARACTERS – Pen Portraits Thoughts about People Evening Chronicle – 23 Apr 1835 A general look at people – all kinds of people. · Smith, Mr A Christmas Dinner Bell’s Life in London – 27 Dec 1835 A look at the subject, dwell on current blessings rather than past misfortunes. · George, Uncle and Aunt · Jane, Aunt · Margaret, Aunt · Robert, Uncle The New Year Bell’s Life in London, 3 Jan 1836 The Dobble’s New Year party with toasts, speeches and goodwill. · Dobble Family · Tupple, Mr Miss Evans and the Eagle originally in Bell’s Life in London, 4 Oct 1835 Events at the Eagle Tavern. · Evans, Jemima · Evans, Tilly · Wilkins, Samuel | CHARACTERS (continued) – Pen Portraits The Parlour Orator Bell’s Life in London – Dec 1835 A speech about Englishness. · Ellis, Mr · Rogers, Mr · Snobee, Mr · Tommy · Wilson, Mr The Hospital Patient originally in The Carlton Chronicle, 6 Aug 1836 A beaten wife refuses to give up her brutal husband. · Jack The Misplaced Attachment of Mr John Dounce Bell’s Life in London, 4 Oct 1835 John goes for a young girl and ends up being henpecked by his cook · Dounce, John The Mistaken Milliner. A Tale of Ambition Bell’s Life in London, 22 Nov 1835 Pursuing a career in hats with no talent. · Martin, Amelia · Montigue, Julia · Rodolph, Jennings Mr and Mrs · Taplan, Mr H The Dancing Academy Bell’s Life in London, 11 Oct 1835 The costs of dancing lessons. · Billsmethi, Signor · Cooper, Augustus · White, Young Shabby-Genteel People Morning Chronicle – 5 Nov 1834 Keeping up appearances. Making a Night of It Bell’s Life in London, 18 Oct 1835 Too much of a good thing? · Potter, Thomas · Smithers, Robert The Prisoners’ Van Bell’s Life in London – 13 Dec 1835 A tale of two sisters. · Bella · Emily TALES – Fiction The Boarding-House The Monthly Magazine, May & August 1834 Matrimonial intrigue in Mrs Tiggs’ boarding house. · 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 The Monthly Magazine – Dec 1833 Dickens first published work! · Brogson · Budden Family · Jones · Minns, Augustus Sentiment – Bell’s Weekly Magazine, 7 Jun 1834 Young love finds a way. · 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 in The Library of Fiction No. 1, 31 Mar 1836 Romance and con artist at the seaside, · 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 in The Monthly Magazine, Feb 1834 A lowly draper is transformed into a gentleman – and back again. · Flamwell, Mr · John · Malderton, Frederick · Malderton, Marianne · Malderton, Mr · Malderton, Mrs · Malderton, Teresa · Malderton, Thomas · Sparkins, Horatio The Black Veil original for Sketches by Boz, 8 Feb 1836 A hanged son, his grieving mother and a young doctor. · Rose The Steam Excursion in The Monthly Magazine, Oct 1834 A pleasure cruise that goes wrong. · Briggs Family · Edkins, Mr · Fleetwood Family · Hardy, Mr · Helves, Captain · Noakes, Percy · Stubbs, Mrs · Taunton Family · Wakefield Family The Great Winglebury Duel original for Sketches by Boz, 8 Feb 1836 Threats of violence end in happiness, but not for Lord Peter. · Brown, Emily · Flair, Augustus · Hunter, Horace · Manners, Julia · Overton, Joseph · Peter, Lord · Thomas · Trott, Alexander · Williamson, Mrs Mrs Joseph Porter in The Monthly Magazine, Jan 1834 The Gattletons stage a private theatrical performance, but there is a problem. · 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 The Monthly Magazine, Jan, Feb 1835 A search for a bride goes wrong. · 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 in The Monthly Magazine, Apr 1834 Naming him Nicodemus Dumps ensured trouble, · Danton, Mr · Dumps, Nicodemus · Jane · Kitterbell, Frederick Charles William · Kitterbell, Jemima · Kitterbell, Charles · Maxwell, Mrs · Wilson, Mr and Mrs The Drunkard’s Death original for Second Series of Sketches by Boz, 17 Dec 1836 A cautionary tales of drink, destruction and death. · Warden · Warden, Henry · Warden, John · Warden, Mary · Warden, William |
Forward to The Pickwick Papers – His Life – His Works – His Characters – Go to Bob Denton.com