Dickens, Journalism, Music: 'Household Words' and 'All The Year Round'

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Dickens, Journalism, Music presents the first full analysis of the articles on music published in the two journals conducted by Charles Dickens, Household Words and its successor, All the Year Round. Robert Bledsoe examines the editorial influence of Dickens on articles written by a range of writers and what it reveals about his own developing attitude to music and its social role in parks, community singing groups, music halls and on the streets. The book also looks at the difference between the two journals and how the greater coverage of classical music and opera in All the Year Round reflects the increasing importance of music to Dickens in his later life.

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In Dickens, Journalism, Music Robert Bledsoeoffers a meticulously thorough and informative exploration of musical topics treated in Household Words and All the Year Round, and further examines Dickens's personal relations with musicians and music critics. Alert to contradictions and developments between articles which Dickens published over nearly twenty years, Bledsoe provides judicious assessment of Dickens's musical tastes. He thoughtfully discusses music in relation to Dickens's wider concerns and convincingly demonstrates its importance for an understanding of both his life and works. -- Dr Paul Schlicke, Honorary Senior Lecturer at the School of Language & Literature, University of Aberdeen, UK.
A hugely welcome addition to the new wave of scholarly work on Dickens's weekly journals ... Professor Bledsoe is an insightful and careful analyst of a considerable body of neglected material. He illuminates out the importance of music to Dickens's art and social thinking. -- Professor John M. L. Drew, University of Buckingham
A volume in the Continuum Literary Studies series, this works title could not be more appropriate, for it is, if nothing else, compendious the interrelationship of Dickens and Journalism and Music in all its aspect. It is surely a definitive study of its subject. -- Duane Devries * The Dickensian *

Author Bio

Robert Terrell Bledsoe is Professor Emeritus at the University of Texas at El Paso, USA. He is the author of Henry Fothergill Chorley: Victorian Journalist and has contributed articles to leading Victorian Studies journals and major reference works.