but spirited publisher adds that the expense has been enormous—“greater than was originally contemplated,” but he comforts himself with the compliment that “if any publication would repay the cost of its production, it would be the far-famed Pickwick Papers.” On the whole, it is a very interesting edition to have, and I have never seen a copy save the one I possess. I have also an American edition, printed in Philadelphia, which has a great interest. It was bought there by Mrs. Charles Dickens, and presented by her to her faithful maid, Anne. I possess also a copy of the Christmas Carol given by his son, the author, to his father John. Few recall that “Boz” wrote a sequel to his Pickwick—a rather dismal failure—quite devoid of humour. He revived Sam and old Weller, and Mr. Pickwick, but they are unrecognizable figures. He judiciously suppressed this attempt, after making it a sort of introduction to Humphrey’s Clock. Of course, we have it here.
Translations: Of these there are some twenty in all, but I have only the French, German, Russian, Dutch, Norwegian, Swedish, Hungarian.
Then come Selections: “Readings” from “Pickwick”; “Dialogues” from ditto; “Wellerisms,” by Charles Kent and Mr. Rideal.
Dramatic Versions: “The Pickwickians,” “Perambulations,” “Sam Weller,” etc. The “Pickwick” opera, by Burnand; “The Trial in ‘Pickwick’”; “Bardell v. Pickwick.” There are “Play Bills”—various. Connected with this department is the literature of the “Readings”—“Charles Dickens as a Reader,” by Kent, and “Pen Photographs,” by Kate Field. Also Dolby’s account of the Reading Tours, and the little prepared versions for sale in the rooms in green covers; also bills, tickets, and programmes galore.
In Music we have “The Ivy Green” and “A Christmas Carol.”
Imitations: “Pickwick Abroad,” by G. W. Reynolds; “Pickwick in America,” the “Penny Pickwick,” the “Queerfish Chronicles,” the “Cadger Club,” and many more.
In the way of Commentaries: The “History of Pickwick,” “Origin of Sam Weller”: Sir F. Lockwood’s “The Law and Lawyers of Pickwick”; Kent’s “Humour and Pathos of Charles Dickens”; accounts from “Forster’s Life” and from the “Letters,” “Controversy with Seymour” (Mrs. Seymour’s rare pamphlet is not procurable), “Dickensiana,” by F. Kitton; “Bibliographies” by Herne Shepherd, Cook and also by Kitton.
Criticisms: The Quarterly Review, the Westminster Review, Fraser’s Magazine, Taine’s estimate, “L’inimitable Boz” by Comte de Heussey, with many more.
Topographical: Hughes’ “Tramp in Dickens-Land,” “In Kent with Charles Dickens,” by Frost; “Bozland,” by Percy Fitzgerald; “The Childhood and Youth of
C. Dickens,” by Langton; “Dickens’s London,” by Allbutt; “About England with Dickens,” by Rimmer; Papers in American and English Magazines; “A Pickwickian Pilgrimage,” by Hassard; “Old Rochester,” and others.