Dickens: The Funny Bits

A brilliant anthology of the funniest extracts from Dickens' novels featuring his famous comic characters, including the Artful Dodger, Mr Pickwick, Mr Micawber, Dick Swiveller, Mr Wopsle and the Aged P.

Organised by novel, the extracts have been chosen as standalone vignettes or set pieces which can be enjoyed without needing further explanation. They are illustrated with the much-loved line drawings from the early editions, including work by George Cruikshank, Phiz, John Leech and Marcus Stone. Here you will find passages from the great novels Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, Bleak House, Great Expectations and A Christmas Carol, as well as the unfinished Mystery of Edwin Drood.

Joyous and satirical, this is the ideal gift not only for Dickens enthusiasts but for anyone with an appreciation of the power of humour.

'[These] well-chosen excerpts reveal Dickens’s superlative gift for humour and the sheer delight he took in poking fun at his comic creations, such as Mr Micawber, Betsey Trotwood and Mr Pickwick. They seem so real, so flawed and human that we often forget they are actually fictional.'

This charming collection of extracts from Charles Dickens’ novels featuring his most beloved comic characters
will leave the great writer’s many fans chortling. As author Nick Hornby says
in his introduction to the book, “It is not hard to write comedy. It is hard, however, to write comedy that will
stay funny for generation after generation.” It is safe to say that Dickens does this with great aplomb.

Dickens: The Funny Bits is a delightful and dippable anthology. It would act as a wonderful introduction to the author if you’ve not read him before, and if you’re an old hand it’s still going to be an enjoyable read by concentrating his humorous bits into one place. Whether presenting slapstick or satire, Dickens really is one of the funniest writers this country has produced, and if you have a sense of humour you’ll love this book. 

NICK HORNBY is the bestselling author of eight novels, including Just Like You, Funny Girl, High Fidelity and About a Boy, and several works of non-fiction including Fever Pitch. He has also written numerous award-winning screenplays for film and television including An Education, Brooklyn, Wild and, most recently, State of the Union.

R. J. CRUIKSHANK (1898-1956) was the editor of the News Chronicle (founded by Charles Dickens as the Daily News in 1846) and the author of, among other books, Charles Dickens and Early Victorian England.

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