Charles Dickens and Georgina Hogarth by Christine Skelton, Hardcover, 9781526166081 | Buy online at The Nile
Departments
 Free Returns*

Charles Dickens and Georgina Hogarth

A Curious and Enduring Relationship

Author: Christine Skelton  

Hardcover

Tells the remarkable story of Charles Dickens' relationship with his sister-in-law, his 'best and truest friend' Georgina Hogarth, who came to live with the Dickenses aged fifteen, and continued to live with Charles after they divorced.

Read more
New
$42.74
Or pay later with
Check delivery options
Hardcover

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Summary

Tells the remarkable story of Charles Dickens' relationship with his sister-in-law, his 'best and truest friend' Georgina Hogarth, who came to live with the Dickenses aged fifteen, and continued to live with Charles after they divorced.

Read more

Description

Charles Dickens called his sister-in-law Georgina Hogarth his 'best and truest friend'. Georgina saw Dickens as much more than a friend. They lived together for twenty-eight years, during which time their relationship constantly changed. The sister of his wife Catherine, the sharp and witty Georgina moved into the Dickens home aged fifteen. What began as a fatherdaughter relationship blossomed into a genuine rapport, but their easy relations were fractured when Dickens had a mid-life crisis and determined to rid himself of Catherine. Georgina's refusal to leave Dickens and his desire for her to remain in his household led to rumours of an affair and even illegitimate children. He left her the equivalent of almost 1 million and all his personal papers in his will. Georgina's commitment to Dickens was unwavering but it is far from clear what he did to deserve such loyalty. There were several occasions when he misused her in order to protect his public reputation.

Why did Georgina betray her once much-loved sister? Why did she fall out with her family and risk her reputation in order to stay with Dickens? And why did the Dickenses' daughter Katey say it was 'the greatest mistake ever' to invite a sister-in-law to live with a family?

Read more

Critic Reviews

'Essential for anyone interested in Charles Dickens’s personal life. Christine Skelton’s thoroughly researched and brilliantly written book fills in a missing piece of the jigsaw. It makes for enthralling reading.'
Jenny Hartley, author of Charles Dickens and the house of fallen women and Charles Dickens: A very short introduction

'Georgina Hogarth has been given a voice at last! Christine Skelton has done an admirable job of bringing ‘aunty Georgy” out of the shadow of her celebrity brother-in-law. This is an engaging biography that takes the reader into the heart of one of Victorian Britain’s most famous homes.'
Lucinda Hawksley, author, biographer, and great-great-great-granddaughter of Charles Dickens

'A major, and much-needed, contribution to our knowledge and understanding of both the private and the professional life of our greatest novelist.'
Professor Michael Slater, author of The Great Charles Dickens Scandal and Dickens and Women

-- .

Read more

About the Author

Christine Skelton is Emeritus Professor of Education at the University of Birmingham

Read more

More on this Book

Charles Dickens called his sister-in-law Georgina Hogarth his 'best and truest friend'. Georgina saw Dickens as much more than a friend. They lived together for twenty-eight years, during which time their relationship constantly changed. The sister of his wife Catherine, the sharp and witty Georgina moved into the Dickens home aged fifteen. What began as a father-daughter relationship blossomed into a genuine rapport, but their easy relations were fractured when Dickens had a mid-life crisis and determined to rid himself of Catherine. Georgina's refusal to leave Dickens and his desire for her to remain in his household led to rumours of an affair and even illegitimate children. He left her the equivalent of almost

Read more

Product Details

Publisher
Manchester University Press
Published
18th April 2023
Pages
312
ISBN
9781526166081

Returns

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.

New
$42.74
Or pay later with
Check delivery options