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Zusatztext we are faced with a figure who challenges us in a different way from the probing, sparkling, illuminating actor and observer of the 1840s and 1850s. This appears more clearly because of the Pilgrim's editing, its continued reliability and restraint and balanced judgement, and its attention to the general scene. As conceived and carried through, this is a superlative work on a grand scale. The editing is challenging in its restraint. It gives the evidence, and leaves conclusions to be drawn by readers ... there is a great deal in the ongoing Letters which is illuminating, that may prevent oversights about Dickens and his writing, and that is even essential to a full understanding. Klappentext This volume presents 918 letters, 435 previously unpublished. Our Mutual Friend, Dickens's main work in this period, comes out monthly from 30 April 1864 to 31 October 1865. The three highly successful All the Year Round Christmas numbers, "Somebody's Luggage", "Mrs. Lirriper's Lodgings" and "Mrs. Lirriper's Legacy", take up much of his energies. Public readings continue, though less frequently; and Gad's Hill, where he entertains many of hisfriends, plays an increasingly major part in his life. But there is no other period in which he visits France so often, generally alone. The deliberately mystifying language he uses about these visits suggests he was seeing Ellen Ternan there, but there is no evidence to prove it. Zusammenfassung This volume presents 918 letters, 435 previously unpublished, for the years 1862 to 1864. Our Mutual Friend, Dickens's main work in the period, comes out monthly from 30 April 1864 to 31 October 1865, illustrated by Marcus Stone, son of Dickens's old friend, the painter Frank Stone; a series of new letters to him shows the immense care Dickens took over his illustrations. The three All the Year Round Christmas numbers, "Somebody's Luggage", "Mrs. Lirriper's Lodgings" and "Mrs. irriper's Legacy", take up much of his energies and are highly successful. Public readings do not occupy so much of his time as in the last volume; but he completes his second provincial tour in January 1862; gives two series weekly in London; and reads for charity in both Rochester and Paris. He declines an offer of £10,000 for an eight months' reading tour in Australia. Gad's Hill plays an increasingly major part in his life: he entertains many of his friends there and makes constant improvements to it. But there is no other period in which he pays so many visits to France, generally alone. The deliberately mystifying language he uses about these visits suggests he was seeing Ellen Ternan either in Paris or Boulogne or both, but there is no evidence to prove it. Long letters to his Swiss friend, W. W. F. de Cerjat, testify to his concern with public issues; several show how much he hated the American Civil War....
