Nonfiction Monday

Nonfiction Monday is hosted today by L. L. Owens.

My selection is "Best of Times: the story of Charles Dickens" by Peggy Caravantes.

Caravantes provides a thoughtful look at the life of this nineteenth-century author. Dickens' writings are well-known, but how many of his readers understand the depth of personal experience that Dickens drew on for his work?

"Best of Times" examines Dickens' life and relates how both his personal experience and Victorian society influenced his writing. Living with and overcoming poverty is a recurring theme in many of Dickens' works and takes on a greater significance when one considers the author's childhood. At the age of 12, Dickens' father was sent to debtor's prison and Dickens supported his family by working in a factory. Beginning with his troubled childhood, the book chronicles Dickens' life and literary career. A good introduction to Dickens for middle school or high school students.

Quotations, photographs, engravings, a timeline, and additional resources complete the book.