Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens

The third of Dickens' novels, Nickleby was the fourth of his that I've had the pleasure of reading in recent months.  Although not living up to my favorite novel (so far) in David Copperfield, Nickleby was thoroughly enjoyable for all of the usual, Dickensian reasons.

The characters, of course, are prodigiously rich.  Even minor characters such as the Kenwigses, Lord Verisopht (has there ever been such a slyly descriptive name?) and the insurmountable infant "Phenomenon" are simply as good as they come.  They make the novel worth reading, even if it were to lack a story, which of course, it doesn't.

I have an interesting perspective on Dickens' novels, having started with Copperfield, written much later in his career, before starting with his earliest novels in sequential order.  It allows me to experience his development as an author with an eye towards the final outcome.  Clearly these early novels show glimpses of characters to come:  There is no doubt that the meek Smike in Nickleby, is a forerunner of the equally lovable Dick in Copperfield.  Similar examples of Dickens' early character development abound in Nickleby.

The story meanders through a multitude of plots, dozens more than in a modern novel, and that's fine by me. I LOVED the episode of Nicholas' foray into the theater and his time spent with the Crummles and their troupe.  It's deliciously absurd in a manner only Dickens could achieve with credibility.  There is enough material here for an entire series of novels, had he chosen to pursue them further.  I was disturbed to see Nicholas leave the theater and this burgeoning group of friends behind.

The world which Dickens created astounds me.  I can't wait to explore it further.