Charles Dickens's American Audience

Robert McParland is associate professor of English and chair of the English Department at Felician College.

Robert McParland's insightful book provides a fascinating account of Dickens's role in shaping America's social and cultural identity in the nineteenth century. The author interestingly outlines the many ways in which American readers engaged with Dickens's works, and the ways in which Dickens's books influenced American ideologies. McParland supplies a wealth of material to substantiate his arguments in this well-written book.

• Chapter 1 – Introduction: Seeking Charles Dickens's American AudienceChapter 2 – Charles Dickens and the American CommunityChapter 3 – Dickens and American PublishersChapter 4 – Charles Dickens's First Visit to America, American Notes and Martin ChuzzlewitChapter 5 – Dickens and Library ReadingChapter 6 – Learning from Fiction and RealityChapter 7 – Dickens in a House DividedChapter 8 – Civil War ReadingChapter 9 – TheatricalityChapter 10 – The Public Readings and the American Reconstruction of Charles DickensChapter 11 – The Afterlife of Charles Dickens