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Charles Dickens: A Life |
Claire Tomalin's biography of Charles Dickens is a joy to read. An illuminating journey through the remarkable life of a great writer. Of demonic energy he shot like a meteor across the firmament of English literature. To read the book impels one to reread his works.
(David Graham - bwl 63 Winter 2012) |
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Mrs Jordan's Profession |
The gripping biography of a renowned 18th century actress of poor Irish origins who had to learn to fend for herself and her family in an age when women who worked professionally were disdained. Although she achieved fame and bore no less than ten (!) children as the mistress of the Duke of Clarence (later King William IV), Dora Jordan's life ended in bitter disappointment. Her sense of duty, her struggles and her courage are unforgettable.
(Pamela Jaunin - bwl 13 April 2002) |
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Samuel Pepys - The Unequalled Self |
Covering the whole of Pepys's life, not only the period of his diaries, this admirably readable biography is a delight. In addition to Tomalin's 'warts and all' study of Pepys himself, she paints fascinating pictures of leading figures of his time from Charles II down. The story is also a mini-social as well as political and administrative history in which she draws amusing parallels between situations in our and her subject's time.
(Jeremy Swann - bwl 18 April 2003) |
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Samuel Pepys - The Unequalled Self |
A fascinating insight into the social and political life of the l7th century diarist. Well written and a 'must' for anyone interested in history.
(Veronica Edwards - bwl 30 June 2005) |
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Samuel Pepys - The Unequalled Self |
A lively, well researched biography. Many who know the Diary, full or abridged, forget that it only starts in January 1660, by which time Pepys, like most others in Whitehall, was prudently turning his coat Royalist. Claire Tomalin pieces together the largely undocumented pre-Diary years both of Pepys' life and the nation's politics, including his approving presence at the king's execution, and his post-Diary years dogged by accusations of crypto-Catholicism. Recommended.
(Michael Fitzgerald-Lombard - bwl 34 April 2006) |
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The Invisible Woman: The Story of Nelly Ternan and Charles Dickens |
At 44, Dickens began a liaison with a young actress. To safeguard his reputation, he publicly announced that it was his wife's fault that their marriage had failed, removed her from their house and forbade their children to see her. He then pretended a bachelor existence, hiding Nelly completely away. When he died his sister-in-law and Nelly herself continued the deception. All records, letters and diaries were destroyed. Or were they? Read and find out.
(Jenny Baker - bwl 58 Autumn 2010) |
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Thomas Hardy |
"Too fragrant was life's early bloom/Too tart the fruit it brought!" - can sum up, in his own words, Hardy's life. This mild, amazingly intelligent man straddles the horrific social divide he was born into with strength, insight and bravery. Wonderfully researched (as always) by Tomalin. We are left thankful for a rich, strong and original mind who produced a peerless addition to our Island novelists.
(Joan Jackson - bwl 44 February 2008) |
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