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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 |
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