Publisher's Synopsis
In this highly entertaining biography, actor and writer Simon Callow captures the essence of Charles Dickens in a narrative that explores the importance of the theatre to Dickens' life. From his early years a child entertainer to his reluctant retirement from "these garish lights" just before his death. Not only was he a dazzling mimic who wrote, acted in and stage-managed plays, but as a writer he was a performer, his very imagination was theatrical, both in terms of plot devices and construction of character. He was the original "celebrity" author, attracting thousands of fans to his readings, in which he gave voice to his unforgettable cast of characters.
