As the sub-title tells is, this is not a straightforward biography of Dickens but an account of the places and objects that were important to him. I found this approach both interesting and informative, and it worked very well. The many photos and illustrations are well-chosen, and add to the reader’s enjoyment. The life is sketched in through the places and objects, making this a excellent guide book to Dicken’s oeuvre. Essential reading for all Dickens fans.

Charles Dickens: Places and Objects of Interest is a must read for any Dickens lover. In what seems a fairly exhaustive listing of places, objects, news articles and reviews, Kendall draws a line from Dickens’s birth, through the events of his early life (and his father’s time at Marshalsea prison), his education and early work life. Of course, it moves on through his life as a writer, a family man and father, then as a speaker/performer doing lauded readings from his novels.

There are both historic and contemporary photos of places throughout, photos of characters illustrated in Dickens’ novels, quotes from contemporary critics, etc. Putting more background behind the novels is always interesting and, for me, also fun.

I recommend this book to any dedicated reader of Dickens’ works. Some information may be familiar but I am quite certain most of it will be new or fleshed out more fully unless you majored in Dickens and Victorian England.

My rating is 4.5* rounded to 5. My primary caveat is that too many plot points are revealed during the synopses of Dickens’ novels that accompany the discussions of the places and objects. This caveat is for those of us who still haven’t read all of the books and want to read these classics unspoiled, if possible.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

My thanks to Pen &Sword and NetGalley for a review copy of the book.

Charles Dickens: Places and Objects of Interest acquaints us with different places and objects associated with Charles Dickens at different points in his life (childhood to his death) from homes he lived in to hotels he stayed at or places where delivered his readings, and objects like his desk or walking stick or even annotated manuscripts of his work, all of which were not only relevant in Dickens’ life but also influenced his works providing him settings and models for often more than one of his stories. In taking us on this journey of the different places, Kendall also gives us a sort of biography of Dickens—his life and work (which has continued to entertain and enthral readers over 150 years after the author’s death). The book comprises 110 short chapters, each focused on a place, object or characters, and each with photographs or sketches as the case may be of the place or thing as it is or (if it no longer exists) as it was.

Nearly everything that Dickens saw or experienced gave him material for his stories—the hardships he faced during his childhood (which saw one of the darkest periods of his life), when his father John Dickens, the inspiration for Wilkins Micawber, was financially hard up and had to face a stint in Marshalsea debtors prison, or Dickens himself having to work in a blacking factory at age 11—the houses he lived in at different points or even stayed at during visits, the people he observed, his views of the law formed during his days as a clerk to a lawyer and as a parliamentary reporter, even inns he stayed at or dined in, nearly everything is reflected in his work. Dickens’ characters (there are over 1500 of them) are what I most love in his books; each is well defined and (barring perhaps the heroes and heroines who might be a little bland) colourful, many with various shades. Many, perhaps most were inspired in some way or other by people he knew or knew of, and the book introduces us to many of these inspirations—some were familiar to me but I enjoyed learning of others like Miss Mary Pearson Strong who became aunt Betsey Trotwood.

Dickens approached his work with great intensity and we get glimpses of the level of effort he put into all he did from observations of his daughter Mamie (Mary) and others; for instance, trying out expressions of characters in front of a mirror before writing them up. His public readings which he became very well known for and for which tickets were often sold out also involved not only intense preparation but the actual process which saw him acting out the different parts required such complete immersion that it would take a toll on his health. Besides the readings which showed his acting skills, he was also involved in amateur theatre, and it was interesting to find out that he, with his family and friends put up amateur performances even touring different places.

For his writing, he also undertook trips for research, visiting for instance, the notorious slum, Jacob’s island for which he needed police protection, and even joining the Liverpool police for a day, something I didn’t think was so common during Dickens’ time. Another aspect I didn’t associate with his time was what we call ‘bookish merchandise’, but ‘Pickwick’ hats, gaiters and other merchandise were popular in their day and the characters’ names became popular names for pets. In fact, it was interesting to discover Claude Debussy wrote a composition dedicated to Pickwick too, while Jules Verne was a dedicated reader.

This is a book which fans of Dickens and those who’ve read a lot of his works would really enjoy as I did; but if you haven’t read a lot of his books, you might want to bear in mind that there are some spoilers in the author’s discussion of the books and characters. While I have read most of his full length works, I had only so far read one bio of him by Chesterton, so there were plenty of facts and information that were new to me; but, I can’t really comment on the novelty of the aspects discussed for those who know more than I do.

This was a well written and very enjoyable book, in which I learnt many new things about Dickens’ life and work, and also enjoyed all the different photographs and sketches included with each of the chapters. (Amongst the pictures, there are also Players cigarette cards of various characters—I’d always heard of cigarette cards but never seen any, so this was especial fun).

4.5 stars—highly recommended for anyone who enjoys Dickens.

I loved learning more about Dickens and where he wrote, his family, society and class. The illustrations and photographs are fascinating and incredibly useful. The sketches of characters from his books bring them to life! The author includes letters and tickets to his readings as well.

Another excellent book that can be used as travel guide if you want to travel following Charles Dickens.
Plenty of information, great pictures. Informative and entertaining.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Charles Dickens
Places and Objects of Interest
by Paul Kendall
Pub Date 30 Nov 2021 |
Pen & Sword, Frontline Books
Biographies & Memoirs | History | Nonfiction (Adult)


I am reviewing a copy of Charles Dickens; Places and Objects of Interest through Pen & Sword and Netgalley:


There have been few authors who have had a great impact on British Society than Charles Dickens., his stories in particular have played a role in the way one looked at society. His many memorable characters highlighted the life of the forgotten poor and disadvantaged within society at a time when Britain was the leading economic and political power in the world.




Dickens Portrayal of the poor such as Oliver Twist, who dared to ask for more food at the work house, and Bob Cratchit struggling to provide for his family at Christmas, roused much sympathy and an understanding of the poor and the conditions in which they lived. This led to many people founding orphanages, establishing schools to educate the underprivileged, or to set up hospitals for those who could not afford medical treatment – one such was Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital where one of its wards was named after the great writer.



It is little wonder that Charles Dickens Legacy can be found throughout the United Kingdom, everywhere from the buildings he lived to the inns and hotels he frequented, the streets and towns which formed the backdrop to his novels and short stories, to the places where he gave readings or performed his own amateur dramatic productions to raise funds for his philanthropic causes. Dickensian memorabilia also abound, including his original manuscripts to his famous works and letters to his wife.


If you are looking for a book that highlights the legacies Charles Dickens left behind not only to the United Kingdom but to the world at large, I highly recommend Charles Dickens; Places and Objects of interests.


Five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

Okay, my love for Dickens is not a secret. I have a complete set of late 19th Century copies of his books that I cannot bring myself to actually read, as they’re too precious to me. I know this sounds silly and pointless, but to make up for it, I’ve bought several newer copies to read. I also have a small collection (8-9) of copies of A Christmas Carol - my favourite book - and long to own a first edition. I adore him as a person and a writer, and aim to read as much literature on him as I can, so I jumped at the chance to read this new one by Paul. I thought about writing a book on Dickens myself, but thought there was nothing new to say, but it is clear there will always be Dickens devotees wanting their next Charles chapter - including me.

This book sits as a literary museum of Dickens for those unable to visit the real museum (which is still on my to-visit list) and gives you an insight into the man behind the moniker.

The formatting was a bit off in this digital version which meant certain things like his life timeline, photos and captions didn’t visually work, so I’d love to see that in the finished product.

I thought I knew a fair amount about Dickens outside of his books, but Paul has uncovered such niche and fascinating insights to him as a boy and a man, as well as a writer, which makes me further appreciate what he created. Paul has presented such heartfelt insight into his background, as well as the thought and passion that went into each of Dickens’ characters.

This is a must-read for any Dickens obsessive.

Charles Dickens was and continues to be one of the most iconic literary figures in British history, so it is no surprise that “Dickensia” has built up over the years — memorabilia and relics, places associated with his life and his fiction. This book uses telling the stories of this memorabilia as an entry point to celebrating the man’s life and work. An entertaining and enjoyable read that we highly recommend to lovers of Dickens and of the literary life.

To the publisher: I'm afraid I didn't notice the early archive date and hadn't yet downloaded the book to my Kindle. I'm sorry I won't be able read and review this book because of that.

I love Charles Dickens and this is an excellent book for Dickens fans. This reads as if you’re taking a personal tour of Charles dickens life through London. The book includes photographs of objects, places and buildings which helps the visualization of the tour. It’s truly intriguing. We get to see where he grew up, his family history and what inspired his books.

Literally most of his life events in one way or another influenced his writing and made up a lot of memorable scenes. All the places he lived at, visited and so on when on to inspire his novels. It was interesting to learned how Dickens works led people to establish many schools, orphanages and hospitals.

This is a thorough biography timeline. The writing is easy to follow which makes the tour even more enjoyable.

A book for fans of Charles Dickens. It covers places Dickens lived in, visited, or used as locations in his books; his books and characters, and objects including his desk, walking stick and his pet raven Grip (now stuffed and on display in the Free Library of Philadelphia). Following in chronological order, with plenty of photographs this is a really enjoyable way of reading about Dickens’ life and work. So many buildings with plaques on them! ( Dickens lived here, Dickens wrote something there etc) A thorough timeline at the start, this is a simplified biography but still detailed. I loved it!

Thank you net Galley for providing a copy of this book to read and provide a review.
I have to admit the beginning of a list and dates concerned me. I stayed on and it finally got better.
I did not know how much he seriously felt for the underprivileged and poor.. He even took the characters of his book to bring the condition of people thru his story. Like Bob Cratchet, in a Christmas Carol where he wanted to provide for his family during Christmas. Then Oliver Twist begging for food.

I was surprised at how he spent his time acting and doing readings in England and France. He was well know and had a lot of support where ever he showed.. He even had plaques put on bldgs where he visited and stayed.

I was pleased with the book because it gives a view into the man who put so much effort and time into everything he wrote. I have an old collection of his books.

I recommend this story. The author put a lot of research into this book so it is fairly documented. Some of it is dry but stick with it to get a good description of Dickens.

My love of Dickens started when I was a child, my father bought my older brother a collection of his books but luckily my brother wasn’t interested so I claimed them. I read and reread them over and over again, I never tired of them. My favourite was Great Expectations, I have lost count how many times I’ve read it in total. When I saw this book, I knew I had to read it, after all he is the reason I love to read.

It is clear the author did an incredible amount of research, this book is filled with a wealth of information from birth to death and everything in between. I discovered many new things I never knew about Dickens and his life from reading this book. The photo’s were such a good addition to the book. The writing made it easy to read and I never felt bored or bogged down with information.

Overall a fantastic book for everyone, whether you like Dickens or not. I would highly recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Paul Kendall, Charles Dickens Places and Objects of Interest, Frontline Books, Pen & Sword Books Ltd, 2021.

Thank you NetGalley and Pen & Sword Publishers for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review.

Paul Kendall has produced a well written and insightful story of Charles Dickens’ life which is packed with informative and engaging material. Photographs and illustrations abound, stories from a wide range of sources enthrall, and Dicken’s many faceted life is placed before the reader in an accessible and detailed manner. This is a marvelous way to fully engage with Dickens’ novels, theatrical life, the readings that audiences vied to hear and see, his personal life and many lodgings and the locations associated with these and his novels.

On the practical side, the bibliography is wide ranging and the index thorough. To return to the photographs and illustrations, it is unlikely that an important event, novel, home, or location associated with a Dickens novel, reading or theatrical activity has gone unrecorded in this manner. Many belong to the author, but the diligence in procuring the abundance from other varied sources is a credit to the thoroughness with which this work has been approached. When a writer demonstrates such appreciation for his or her reader it portends well for the whole of the book. This supposition is fully justified in Charles Dickens, Places and Objects of Interest.

The Introduction is excellent, not only introducing Charles Dickens and his range of activities, ideas, and attributes, but linking some of his strongest ideas to current social concerns. Kendall references the ‘me too’ movement when referring to the sexual harassment that occurs in novels such as Nicholas Nickleby, for example. The relevance of the novels remains intact, as issues raised in them such as child poverty, drug addiction, disease, greed and the balance of wealth and lack of opportunity still exist. I was interested that in linking past and present in the introduction Kendall did not mention the enduring aspects of the production of items associated with the Dickens novels that are so much part of the modern drive to exact every possible financial gain from films, novels, and television series. Nevertheless, I found this an interesting feature noted in the main part of the book.

Much of the book is arranged around Dickens’ novels and associated locations: those that feature in the novels, and those in which Dickens wrote. Cogently written story lines and descriptions of the characters are included. There is enough detail to entice readers into rereading, or even begin a novel afresh, but nothing that will limit the enjoyment of doing so. I am not an advocate of condemning so called spoilers in discussions of novels, so have happily read about the plots, salient episodes, and characters in this book with great enthusiasm. My belief is that the material thus garnered can only enhance the reading of the complete novel. I encourage readers who might otherwise feel that they prefer to go into a novel with no indications of what might occur to abandon this constraint. Do read this book, do become aware of the characterisation and what led to it – Dickens’ experiences? People he met? Social dilemmas he wanted to highlight? For every time that a reader might feel that the element of surprise has been thwarted, there is the reciprocal thrill of recognising the author’s motivation.

A secondary theme is Dickens’ appearances on stage, in plays and reading parts of his novels. This is an appealing part of his repertoire, and well described, again with numerous illustrations and photographs. Here there is more detail about Dickens’ American and European tours, his attitude towards reading from his works and acting.

The latter brought him into contact with the much younger woman with whom he was in love in the later years, finishing his twenty-two-year marriage, but remaining a steadfast father to his many children. This part of the book is dealt with sympathetically for all the people involved, together with some references to the reality of Dickens’ public persona and its impact on the relationships.

If you do not know Dickens’ work, and would like to know more about the man, his world, and his motivation, this is a wonderful resource. For those who have read him, but not yet become opinionated about Dickens’ work, this is a worthy introduction to new ideas and information. For me, it has been a transforming read. Despite my own reflections upon, and Dickens’ commitment to social commentary, its relevance even today and his thoroughgoing fight for decent behaviour which compels so much of the positive characters’ actions, I must admit that I have not been a great admirer of Dickens’ work. However, I am now tempted to revise my opinion. I am looking forward to the Dickens novels I have not yet read. Paul Kendall’s Charles Dickens Places and Objects of Interest is the source of such a reassessment. Thank you, Paul Kendall, this is a fine book.

I received an advance copy of, Charles Dickens, by Paul Kendal. I really enjoyed this book. I liked learning and seeing the places where Charles live, so long ago. The pictures are great too. I learned so much about Charles Dickens.

"Apostle of the poor", Charles Dickens wrote about gender inequality and the London poor with such conviction which comes from personal experience. He lived in London for much of his life and many buildings and locations have associations with this incomparable writer. Not only did he write books, he was a magazine editor and journalist. He also held public readings and enjoyed acting them out. Of course his most known writing about poverty and the workhouse are Oliver Twist and Little Dorrit. He wrote with such passion and highlighted the vast chasm between the classes that it has endured from the 1800s to the present...and there is no signs of it disappearing, either. Dickens was partially responsible for improving conditions and orphanages as his writing brought issues to the forefront.

Dickens' father was imprisoned for debt so he was responsible for his family. He worked at Warren's Blacking Factor as a boy and the resulting shame affected him for years after. He walked past a sign of a dog's head in a pot on his way to work. There is a replica in place of the original. He also worked as a law clerk at Gray's Inn which was dismal and bleak. He assumed the pseudonym of Boz at first. There is bust and plaque at Furnival's Inn where he wrote Pickwick Papers (one of my personal favourite works of his). Various signs, statues and busts are distributed all over London and abroad. I've seen many but would dearly love to re-visit London for a tour of all things Dickens.

No. 48 Doughty Street in London is a very important address as it evinces his success, a much larger house and is now the Charles Dickens Museum. For his research in the docklands, the police escorted him as the area was rife with danger. A Jacob's Island plaque commemorates this. Yet another plaque was erected at the Albion Hotel where he wrote part of Nicholas Nickleby, my very favourite. Statues and busts stand outside England, too. He stayed in Paris, Switzerland and Italy. Elizabeth Gaskell, George Meredith and Wilkie Collins contributed to the magazine Dickens edited. What an era for writing! How I would love to hear these greats interact with one another, preferably in Gad's Hill Place.

I loved learning more about Dickens and where he wrote, his family, society and class. The illustrations and photographs are fascinating and incredibly useful. The sketches of characters from his books bring them to life! The author includes letters and tickets to his readings as well. His traveling cutlery kit and walking stick...wow! Details like this elevate a book from great to sublime. Paul Kendall's meticulous research is really appreciated.

Anyone with one iota of interest in Charles Dickens, do read this unique and remarkably thorough book. You will surely fall in love with Dickens' writing all over again.

My sincere thank you to Pen & Sword and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this important book!