Charles Dickens and the House of Fallen Women vividly portrays the lot of the poor in mid-nineteenth century London and some of the people who were moved to help. Whatever his motives Charles Dickens was one of them.
In this short book, the author explores the key themes running through Dickens' body of work, and considers how his writing reflects his attitudes towards the harsh realities of the ninteenth-century society and its institutions.
Jenny Hartley introduces Charles Dickens's life and works, looking at the vitality of his characters and the energy which surges through his writing. Examining the themes running through his books, she considers the institutions which influenced his work (such as the workhouse) and looks at his critique of nineteenth century society.