Hogarth to Cruikshank: Social Change in Graphic Satire

Book Description

A chronicle of the "life," times, and travels of the famous puppets, this survey examines Punch and Judy's moral and cultural significance as well as the people who played them behind the curtain. Scholarly yet entertaining, it includes 30 illustrations by Victorian artist George Cruikshank, Dickens' illustrator of choice.

Customer Reviews:

Puppet and Theater Historians Take Note.......2007-10-16

This short history of the Punch and Judy puppet play is a fascinating entry into the world of historical and traditional theater. I have no background in theater or puppetry, yet I found this book to be immensely interesting and read it straight through.

After reading it, I immediately wished I could see a Punch and Judy show, and, if that was not possible, to put together a puppet theater and perform the show myself for my friends and neighbors.

Anyone interested in theater history, puppet history, puppet plays, or the origin of Punch and Judy will find this book well worth reading.

Graphic Works of George Cruikshank (Dover Pictorial Archive Series)

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Graphic Works of George Cruikshank (Dover Pictorial Archive Series)

Manufacturer: Dover Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 048623438X

Book Description

269 copyright-free illustrations (8 in full-color) reproduced directly from original impressions of etchings, woodcuts now in private collection. Full scope of Cruikshank’s varied career—best retrospective of foremost illustrator. Introduction, notes.

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SKETCHES BY 'BOZ'
Charles Dickens
Manufacturer: T. B. Peterson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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The Battle of Fort George
Ernest Cruikshank , and E. A. Cruikshank
Manufacturer: Old Fort Niagara Association
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Still a Masterpiece
Suffer The Child
Gripping Classic Literature.
Oliver Twist is a classic novel from Dickens prolific pen.
Oliver Twist-

Oliver Twist (Modern Library Classics)
Charles Dickens
Manufacturer: Modern Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0375757848
Release Date: 2001-10-09

Book Description

Dickens's classic morality tale of a starving orphan caught between opposing forces of good and evil is a powerful indictment of Victorian England's Poor Laws. Filled with dark humor and an unforgettable cast of characters Oliver Twist, Fagin, Nancy, Bill Sykes, and the Artful Dodger, to name a few Dickens's second novel is a compelling social satire that has remained popular since it was first serialized in 1837-39.

The text for this Modern Library Paperback Classic is taken from the 1846 New Edition, revised and corrected by the author. It includes new explanatory notes and an appendix, A Brief History of the English Poor Laws.

Download Description

An adaptation of Dickens's story of the orphan forced to practice thievery and live a life of crime in nineteenth-century London.

Customer Reviews:

Still a Masterpiece.......2007-07-28

I bought the Penguin Classic version and recommend that purchase highly. This is among Dickens's best and almost on par with other great novels such as Anna Karenina, Pride and Prejudice, Madame Bovary, etc. In short, it is a masterpiece that brings together all of Dickens's writing skills with a great story. It has some literary flaws, and I would rate it slightly behind David Copperfield but it remains one of the most original and interesting of Dickens's novels.

As background information, I am in the process of reading most of Dickens's 22 novels and longer short stories, and set up a Listmania list. I bought the Penguin Classics version of the novel. As a suggestion, avoid the Penguin Popular Classics with the plain green covers (I bought two). They fall apart and do not stand up to a read, especially books over 500 pages in length. The Regular Penguin Classics with the photo or painting on the front are excellent and some have maps and illustrations (drawings). The Wordsworth Classics are not as good, and some are illustrated.

Charles Dickens, who lived from 1812 to 1870, is the best know male English writer of the 19th century. He authored 22 novels plus numerous short pieces. Most of his writing was first written in serialized form, later published as single novels.

A young Dickens at the age of 12 had the unenviable job of attaching labels 10 hours a day at the Warren's boot blacking factory. That experience shaped much of his writing career. Still in his teens he became a law clerk, then later in his twenties a journalist. The last job as a reporter led to the serialized writing of his novels. His works were social commentaries with larger than life characters, or colorful caricatures, living in the slums of London. He was a critic of poverty, social injustice, and the slow moving court system.

All of Dickens's experiences come together in his novels. The Pickwick Papers is mostly humorous, but Oliver twist is a dark novel set in the crime plagued streets of early 19th century London. There are very few nice characters here. Mostly, they seem very unfriendly, and most a lot worse: criminals, and abusing social workers. The pull between the good and the bad or negative, is personified by the difference of opinion between Oliver's benefactor, Mr. Brownlow, and the criminal Fagin. As is generally well known, the tale contains a cast of very odd characters with even odder names, such as The Artful Dodger, Fagin, and magistrate Fang. The only flaw in the story is that there are too many coincidences; otherwise it is a stunning tale and an innovative book.

Having read many of Dickens's novels I still rate David Copperfield as best as a work of literature and rate Oliver Twist as close behind and a must read. The book was read by Queen Victoria and Karl Marx, and both enjoyed the read. The novel had a far reaching social impact. It is hard to fathom that this is one of Dickens's first novels and written in his mid-twenties.

Suffer The Child.......2007-06-23

Does anyone enjoy "Oliver Twist" nearly so much when things are going well for the novel's young protagonist as when they are going badly? Do you notice how quickly you scan the pages when names like "Mr. Brownlow" "Rose" and "Mr. Losberne" are in the text, only slowing down when it's "Fagin" "Sikes" and "Mr. Bumble"?

Cruelty can be a positive quality when writing fiction. Dickens' torture test for his young hero saves the book from mawkish excess and, along with an uncompromising social conscience, gives it readability and drive.

Oliver Twist is a miserable orphan, his birth a mistake and his life a matter of no consequence to anyone but himself. Yet time and again, a guiding hand of mysterious providence suggests something of deeper importance connected to the business of his life. This is so even when he finds himself in the London underworld, under the guileful care of the master thief Fagin, who bestows praise upon Oliver's eager ears while coaching him down a criminal path where only a scaffold awaits.

A bit overlong, yes. "It is a tale told of grief and trial, and sorrow, young man, and such tales usually are; if it were one of unmixed joy and happiness, it would be very brief."

Though it is ironic how that formula works in reverse in "Oliver Twist", one understands what Mr. Brownlow means by that statement. The narrative of "Oliver Twist" covers a lot of ground, and presents a strong case for the reasonless cruelty of life even as it argues for humanistic compassion. If there is any release from life's savagery, it may only be found in death or dreams.

In his introduction to my Signet Classic edition, Edward Le Comte notes the "fairy tale" quality of "Oliver Twist" as a license for its sentimentality. That may be a hard sell for the casual reader. People come out of nowhere to sacrifice themselves on Oliver's behalf for vague reasons, often involving freakish coincidences. One fair maiden languishes under a life-threatening condition that can only be described as "acute Victorianism". Oliver himself soon becomes a helpless bystander in his own story, albeit one with perfect manners and diction despite his dirt-poor upbringing. Reading through this only works as a window to Dickens' time.

But the novel excels in the negative, in its conception of bad guys such as the homicidal Sikes, the engaging Artful Dodger, and especially smooth Fagin, the real center of menace in the story despite Sikes' bluster. You feel the soot and desperation of these people's sad lives in every bitter page.

With Fagin, Dickens plays with his audience's anti-Semitism mercilessly, always calling him "the Jew" and making Fagin's motives around Oliver obscure early on to recall the insidious "blood libel" of the time that supposed Jews guilty of slaughtering innocents.

Was Dickens anti-Semitic? No. He did write an anti-Semitic book, albeit not by design. It's hard to imagine Dickens' audience in 1838 making a distinction between the criminal and his ethnicity. Nor did Dickens think they would. He didn't care. He was on a mission.

And there's the rub. Dickens is not holding back anything grabbing his readers by the throat, which is why "Oliver Twist" worked then and still does today. It's not his best book, but it's a good one all the same, uniquely committed, maybe his most powerful. Seeing a debased world through the prism of middle-class morality has its flaws, but the focus is painfully keen and Dickens makes it hard to look away.

Gripping Classic Literature........2007-01-22

I always wanted to read this book--and any other Dickens--after being subjected to the musical featuring child stars Mark Lester and the late Jack Wild. It is with great sarcasm that, though I love the musical, to find that the novel differs greatly is such a surprise. I will also admit that this is the first Dickens novel I have ever read, and find it interesting to note that children have never had easy lives since the beginning of man's origins up until now. We just hear more about it these days.

The amazing cruelty with which orphans have been treated through history is depicted here with a verbal imagery which the reader will not soon forget, and the cast of supporting characters keeps one fascinated due to the human characteristics Dickens gives them. How a largely bland, yet sympathetic little boy stays true to the purest of righteous virtues seems far fetched at times given his treatment at the workhouse and being constantly surrounded by thieves and murderers like Fagin, Sikes, the Artful Dodger, and Master (All he does is laugh) Bates (I won't even elaborate on that name, but snickered quite a bit at it). Most children would have succumbed to their surroundings long before 12, but Dickens seems to be going for nature verses nurture here, pointing out that people can rise above their environment, and I cannot argue. Most people know someone who came from awful circumstances, only to become the opposite of all the negativity they've been surrounded with. So then, maybe there are street walkers like Nancy--the true hero of this story--who have hearts of gold as well, and there are wealthy people who are the antithesis of everything you have ever heard like the man who comes to adopt Oliver.

Dickens makes one thing very clear in Oliver Twist: right makes might, and if you hold on long enough goodness can indeed win the day, no matter how hard life gets sometimes. He also stresses that, among the many paths in life one chooses, the virtues of goodness and honesty are the best roads to take in the end. A classic worth reading more than once.

Oliver Twist is a classic novel from Dickens prolific pen........2007-01-04

The young genius Charles Dickens (1812-1870) was still publishing monthly installments of "The Pickwick Papers" when he began writing Oliver Twist.
What a tale! Young Oliver is born in the workhouse to a mother who dies giving him birth. He is apprenticed to the undertaker Sowerby; fights with one of the undertakers idiotic apprentices Noah Claypool; flees to London and comes into the clutches of the evil Fagin arch pickpocket. In this den of thieves we meet such unforgettable characters as the Artful Dodger; the despicable Bill Sikes and his mistress Nancy.
There are also many good people who populate the many pages of this novel. The Maylie family especially young Rose who rescue Oliver after he is injured in a foiled robbery escapade are helpful to the young waif. Mr. Brownlow is also a rescuer who eventually adopts Oliver. This novel is a fine bildungsroman as we follow child Oliver on his tempestuous journey through the London streets.
Oliver Twist contains many scenes which are film worthy. These scenes include the flight of Bill Sikes from the London mob following his murder of Nancy; Fagin's last hours in Newgate Prison prior to his being hanged;
the vivid descriptions of nineteenth century London and pastoral scenes
of beauty. The portrait of Oliver's half-brother Monks is well drawn.
The novel is not perfect. It relies too much on coincidence to be realistic. It is if you will a fairy tale but a great one!

Oliver Twist- .......2006-11-08

The story of Oliver Twist, written by Charles Dickens, is a classic bildungsroman, about the difficulties a child had to endure to survive in the 1800's. Dickens satirizes the atrocious trait of human selfishness by illustrating how it comprises ones humanity as the helpless and vulnerable are victimized for personal gain. Oliver Twist is an orphan from a small village not far from London, who is forced into social conventions by a city council. He escapes his horrible captor, a woman who steals food money for her personal use, but unfortunately lands in the hands of a criminal mastermind, who forces him to pickpocket in the London streets. He luckily is taken under the loving care of a family who gains the information of Oliver's previous captor. Many scenes are dedicated to the fallout of this criminal family which proves that with a positive environment, people are able to succeed in life. Oliver Twist has been around for nearly 200 years and I found it a very good novel, not only for its content but also for its moral truths. It is interesting because it allows children and young adults to imagine what life was like back then and to contrast their lives to Oliver's. This realization allows the reader to see that some people have more difficult lives then others and to not take advantage of them.

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If you love Shakespeare...
Book Lover's Dream
THE BEST BOOK OF SHAKESPEARE'S WORKS YOU CAN BUY!

The Library Shakspeare
William Shakespeare , John Gilbert , George Cruikshank , and Robert Dudley
Manufacturer: Trident Reference Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Book Description

Known as the greatest playwright of all time Wiiliam Shakespeare has been immortalized in this deluxe 1448 edition of his works. This reproduction, from an original 3 volume 19th Century Manuscript,is beautifully illustrated by Irish artist George Cruikshank, joined by Sir John Gilbert, and R. Dudley.

This Complete Library of Shakspeare is divided into three sections: Tragedies, Comedies, & Histories with Sonnets.

Customer Reviews:

If you love Shakespeare..........2002-03-30

Do you want to know what "To be or not to be..." is really about? The script for Hamlet is here. On the other hand, "Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war" is from Julius Caesar, which also gave us "the ides of March." This book is a joy, and it contains the complete works written by the Bard of Avon.

It appears, at first glance, that this book only contains the comedies written by Shakespeare, but that is because there are three Tables of Contents within the book. These lists are placed at the beginning of each section, and the following page numbers begin at one again. However, not in the case of the Poems and Sonnets, which are in the Historical Plays list.

There is an additional list for the exquisite plates, which add another dimension to the historical significance of this library. The artwork, such as the three witches who enter to thunder and lightning in Macbeth, is extraordinary. You will find the work of:
* Sir John Gilbert (1817-1897) who created almost 750 pictures just for Shakespeare's works.
* George Cruikshank, who was the son of Isaac Cruikshank, a Scottish painter, and the primary illustrator for Charles Dickens.
* Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester (1532-1588). Dudley knew Shakespeare, and was once courtier in the court of Queen Elizabeth I.

For any student or lover of literature and art, or as a writer's reference, this is a requisite.

Victoria Tarrani

Book Lover's Dream.......2001-11-27

This book is an excellent buy. If you like to read and always find yourself wishing you had more of a great writers work then this is the way to go. It contains almost if not everything he ever wrote. The book cover is flawless. If you know some one who collects books or do yourself than you got to get this one. I would however not recommend this for young kids because of its size.

THE BEST BOOK OF SHAKESPEARE'S WORKS YOU CAN BUY!.......2000-06-14

THE LIBRARY SHAKESPEARE IS EXCELLANT. IT CONTAINS ALL OF SHAKESPERARE'S PLAYS, POEMS, AND SONNETS. IT HAS A BEAUTIFUL HARDCOVER, YET IT IS STILL THE EXACT SAME WORDS THAT SHAKESPEARE WROTE. I HIGHLY RECCOMEND THIS BOOK TO EVERYONE!

George Cruikshank's Life, Times, and Art: 1792-1835 (George Cruikshank's Life, Times & Art)

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Excellent for social history of Regency/Victorian England

George Cruikshank's Life, Times, and Art: 1792-1835 (George Cruikshank's Life, Times & Art)
Robert L. Patten
Manufacturer: Rutgers University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 081351813X

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Excellent for social history of Regency/Victorian England.......1999-09-25

Excellent decades-long study of the illustrator and caricaturist George Cruikshank, best known as an early illustrator of Charles Dickens' works. Not merely about Cruikshank but a very full account of the social and material contexts of England at the time. The book even describes in great detail the methods of engraving at the time. Highly recommended

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Shakespeare: The Illustrated Library
William Shakespeare
Manufacturer: Book Sales
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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AUDIO CD REVIEW
BEAUTIFUL BOOK BUT NOT BABY -PRESCHOOL
Illustrations are not the same style as on the cover
A quality children's book
Beutiful stories terribly translated

Grimms' Fairy Tales (Puffin Classics)
Jacob Grimm , and Brothers Grimm
Manufacturer: Puffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0140366962

Book Description

Dwarves, giants, princesses, kings, fairies, and magicians ... all can be found in the enchanting fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm. Twenty-two of the Grimms' best stories are brought to life in this deluxe edition, from well-known favorites like "Rapunzel," "Red Riding Hood," "Rumpelstiltskin," and "Hansel and Grethel," to lesser-known treasures such as "The Valiant Tailor" and "The Frog Prince." Arthur Rackham's extraordinary interpretations are beautifully reproduced here in 21 full-color plates and 28 black-and-white drawings that lavishly embellish the pages.

Customer Reviews:

AUDIO CD REVIEW.......2006-12-31

Tha actress reading the stories does a very good job. Unfortunatly this CD version of the stories is very abriged, just the bare bones. The choice of predominatly russian music for German folk tales is a bit odd. Still this is the only version I have experianced so it's the best I know of.

BEAUTIFUL BOOK BUT NOT BABY -PRESCHOOL.......2006-06-07

THIS IS A LOVELY BOOK WITH CREAM COLORED PAGES, A RIBBON AND WONDERFUL ILLUSTRATIONS. IT IS NOT HOWEVER "BABY PRESCHOOL"
It is for older readers. Nice translation from the German.

Illustrations are not the same style as on the cover.......2005-05-07

I bought this edition specifically because I wanted to have some illustrations like the ones on the cover (I'm designing some costumes for a production of "Into the Woods" and wanted to use this book as inspiration). However, the illustrations inside the book are not AT ALL like the ones on the cover. I've returned the book and forgot to check, but I would guess that they are not even by the same artist. I love how Amazon now has images within books, however, this one didn't have any of the inside illustrations and so I didn't realize until I recieved the book. I'm still on the search for a book of fairy tales with medieval period illustrations.

A quality children's book.......2004-08-30

This beautifully illustrated book is a delight for Brothers Grimm and Arthur Rackham fans. High quality paper is used throughout so the color plates are presented where they occur in each story, instead of being jammed together in the center. The font is easy to read with ample margins, so the stories can be savored without feeling rushed or the aid of a good light. Well done!

Beutiful stories terribly translated.......2003-12-28

I remember reading and hearing many stories from this book when I was a child and they made quite an impression. This particular translation however leaves a lot to be desired. It seems that some parts were translated word for word and much of the text makes no sense at all.

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