Dickens Quote by Charles Dickens
““G. K. Chesterton wrote in Charles Dickens, that The Pickwick Papers was neither a good novel nor a bad novel but in fact ‘not a novel at all.’ He believed it was “something nobler than a novel”. Certainly it was never conceived as a novel but merely as the letterpress to accompany the “cockney sporting plates”. Unfortunately Robert Seymour committed suicide after the first two instalments so the third one was undertaken by Robert Buss whose work Dickens did not like and consequently the task fell to Hablot Knight Browne, who took the name “Phiz” and continued an artistic relationship with Dickens, illustrating many of his novels.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: Literary Critique, 1901
Chesterton argued The Pickwick Papers transcends novel form, serving as a cultural artifact; later illustrators shaped its visual identity despite authorial disputes.
In simple terms: The work is more than a novel, illustrated by different artists.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the impact of illustration on literary perception.
Themes
literature
art
collaboration
Mood
analytical
thoughtful
Type
critical
historical
When to use this quote
- book clubs
- art history classes
- publishing discussions
- museum exhibits
Key Concepts
illustration
authorship
genre
legacy
Questions to Reflect On
- How do images affect your reading of a story?
- Can a work be defined by its visuals?
A Different Perspective
Illustrations can bias interpretation of text.
