In Charles Dickens and the Great Theater of the World, Simon Callow explores Charles Dickens's life not just as a novelist but as a storyteller in a much larger sense of the word. From reading tours and theatrical productions to his innate talent for mimicry, Dickens led a life full of performance. The primary focus of Callow's biography is on the symbiotic relationship between novelist and performer, beautifully underscoring the myriad of ways in which Dickens's writing was informed by his instinctive sense of drama and delivery. Excerpts from the novels (and from personal correspondence) appear frequently, giving us brilliant flashes of truly Dickensian wit.
Callow--an actor and director who has also written biographies of Charles Laughton and Orson Welles, as well as the memoir My Life in Pieces--is unusually qualified to tackle this topic, having played the role of Dickens on several occasions. He also brings to bear an obvious appreciation for the complexity and extravagance of his subject, both as a person and as an artist. While Callow is well equipped with enthusiasm, however, he cannot be called overly scholarly in his execution. There are no footnotes and very little citation, and only cursory introductions given to quotations. Yet this intimate, informal style, coupled with Callow's obvious familiarity with and affection for Dickens, infects the reader. --Judie Evans, librarian