Charles Dickens as I Knew Him
The Story of the Reading Tours in Great Britain and America 1866–1870

This fascinating account of Dickens' successful reading tours in Britain and America was published by his manager in 1885.

George Dolby (Author)

9781108039796, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 22 December 2011

486 pages, 14 b/w illus.
21.6 x 14 x 2.8 cm, 0.61 kg

George Dolby (?–1900) was the manager of Charles Dickens' highly successful reading tours in England and America between 1866 and 1870. He published this memoir of Dickens in 1885. Dickens was a keen amateur actor and had many friends involved with the theatre. He had begun public readings from his works in 1853 for charity, but in 1858 his first for-profit tour, lasting three months, covered much of England, Scotland and Ireland, and netted over £10,000. Without props or costumes, he brought his most popular characters to life, and continued to undertake lengthy and exhausting tours until shortly before his death (which some believed had been hastened by his exertions on stage). Dolby's account covers only the period of his own connection with Dickens, but he describes in detail the constant travel which the tours entailed, the people they encountered, and the enthusiastic response with which Dickens was everywhere received.

Preface
Book I. The Two English Tours (1866–7): 1. My first tour with the Chief
2. A glimpse of life at 'Gad's'
3. On tour in Scotland and Ireland
Book II. The American Tour (1867–8): 4. I go to America to 'prospect' for the Chief
5. Preparations for the second American tour
6. The commencement of the second American tour
7. Christmas and the New Year
8. Further American experiences
9. The close of the American tour, and the return home
Book III. The 'Final Farewell' Tour in the United Kingdom (1868–70): 10. Eight thousand pounds for a hundred readings
11. The last tour in Scotland and Ireland
12. The beginning of the end
13. American visitors at 'Gad's' - the last readings and farewell to the public
14. Hyde Park Place - the Chief's last days in town
15. The end.

Subject Areas: Literary studies: c 1800 to c 1900 [DSBF]