The Boston Globe

Books

Boston.com

Book Review

‘Becoming Dickens’ by Robert Douglas-Fairhurst

Biographer links novelist’s rise with his times

By Michael Patrick Brady

 |  Globe Correspondent  

  November 12, 2011

In “Becoming Dickens,’’ author Robert Douglas-Fairhurst charts the writer’s rise from debtor’s son to London literary sensation, and shows how the rapid cultural, economic, and technological changes of the time enabled his transformation. He also muses on the uncomfortably large role that chance plays in success, postulating that mere circumstance could have easily doomed Dickens to a life as a clerk or journalist, thus depriving the world of a great artist.

Thank you for reading BostonGlobe.com. You have reached the monthly limit for free articles — to continue reading, get unlimited access to BostonGlobe.com now for just 99¢ for 8 weeks.

Unlimited access to BostonGlobe.com includes:

  • The FULL story all day: Enjoy all of the high-quality, in-depth journalism in the print edition of the Boston Globe — plus breaking news that's updated 24/7.
  • A truly reader-friendly format: It's online news that looks and reads just like the newspaper — uncluttered, uninterrupted.
  • Breakthrough technology: The responsive design automatically adapts content so it always reads perfectly on the digital device of your choice.
GET STARTED TODAY

Free access for home delivery subscribers.

Just need to link your home delivery account; one easy step.

Link my home delivery account

Contact us for help