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The Last Dickens A Novel Matthew Pearl 9781400066568 Books

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The Last Dickens A Novel Matthew Pearl 9781400066568 Books

An interesting, very well researched book. The historical information is accurate, clear and well-presented. The setting spans India, England, Boston and New York City and keeps the reader wondering how everything will tie together. The characters are reasonably well-developed though not always consistent or believable. The narration breaks down for a bit about three-fourths of the way through--Pearl seemed to want to wrap up several things quickly instead of intensifying the suspense. The ending, however, is quite well done and overcomes the slight let-down a bit earlier in the novel. The very end is, in part, expected but also desired. This book is a big improvement over The Dante Club--the narration is more sophisticated and the premise is better conceived, the historical information more interesting. It would definitely add to your enjoyment of the book if you had read Dickens' The Mystery of Edwin Drood first, but this does stand alone. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good mystery, who likes historical fiction, and who likes (or even tolerates) Dickens. I recommend it highly to those who have read Drood and who wish they knew the ending or have conceived it for themselves.


Tags : The Last Dickens: A Novel [Matthew Pearl] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. In his most enthralling novel yet, the critically acclaimed author Matthew Pearl reopens one of literary history’s greatest mysteries. The Last Dickens </i>is a tale filled with the dazzling twists and turns,Matthew Pearl,The Last Dickens: A Novel,Random House,1400066565,Mystery & Detective - Historical,Historical fiction.,London (England);Fiction.,Publishers and publishing;Fiction.,(James Ripley),,1812-1870,1836-1892,American Historical Fiction,American Mystery & Suspense Fiction,Dickens, Charles,,Fiction,Fiction - General,Fiction General,Fiction Mystery & Detective Historical,General,Manuscripts,MysterySuspense,Osgood, James R.,Publishers and publishing

The Last Dickens A Novel Matthew Pearl 9781400066568 Books Reviews

Before you read this, read the mystery of Edwin Drood by Dickins which I think will make the plot easier to follow as it is complicated. The part I found interesting was the turn of the century publishing industry. In the age of electronic self publication, any one can write and publish a book. Maybe not make money, but get out there anyway. At the turn of the century it was very cut throat. I may try some of the authors books, if I can get them for the price of this one. What can I say, full price is not for me!
After a solid first novel with The Dante Club and a rather blah follow-up with The Poe Shadow, Matthew Pearl is back to form with The Last Dickens. Obviously always an expert in mid-nineteenth century American literary culture, Pearl spreads his wings a bit here and explores the mystery surrounding Charles Dickens' last novel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood. What was its inspiration? What were his intentions for the novel?

Of course, he doesn't go too far afield. Only part of the novel is set in England. Much of it is set in America, during the course of Dickens' last great reading tour a few years before his death. The primary character is James Osgood of Fields & Osgood, his American publisher, supported by Rebecca Sand, one of the company bookkeepers. They take it upon themselves to investigate Dickens and Drood when Rebecca's brother, Daniel, ends up dead after trying to obtain the most recent galleys of the novel for Osgood.

Pearl has a good time creating a myriad of interesting characters here. His recreation of the cutthroat business of American publishing in the days before settled copyright law makes for fun and fascinating reading. His recreation of the strange events of Dickens on tour is wonderful. And the encounters of personages in England, from the weirdness of the opium den to the friends and family of Dickens is well-done. Particularly memorable are the arrogant Forster and the fictional Tom Branagan.

And, unlike The Poe Shadow, here the plot doesn't get subsumed by historical detail but, rather, adds color to a well-made story. Needless to say, I won't give away the many twists and turns that Pearl has in store, nor will I say anything about the satisfying conclusion of the story which fulfils literary fantasies while ending up true to the history. I will just say that Pearl has created a fine literary thriller in The Last Dickens. Any fan of Dickens or literary thrillers will not want to miss this one.
I read The Dante Club some five or six years ago and still remember it as a great book. The mystery, the characters, the history, all came together in a fantastic novel.
So I took this one up with Great Expectations (pun intended)... Well, maybe that was my mistake. It took me over two months to finish this book because I just couldn't get myself to pick it up again.
Truth be told, the second half is much more interesting and easier to swallow than the first half. Still, I wouldn't go as far as saying that it's worth the mental effort it caused me to finish it.
The topic is undoubtedly interesting, the way the mystery unfolded not so much. The pace is slow and pieces take too long to come together.
I felt the characters to be too shallow and those who had more potential lay in the background only called into action to fill the gaps in the story.

I'm in half a mind to read Poe's Shadow in order to decide wether the book is faulty or if the problem is the author... Maybe next year...
An interesting, very well researched book. The historical information is accurate, clear and well-presented. The setting spans India, England, Boston and New York City and keeps the reader wondering how everything will tie together. The characters are reasonably well-developed though not always consistent or believable. The narration breaks down for a bit about three-fourths of the way through--Pearl seemed to want to wrap up several things quickly instead of intensifying the suspense. The ending, however, is quite well done and overcomes the slight let-down a bit earlier in the novel. The very end is, in part, expected but also desired. This book is a big improvement over The Dante Club--the narration is more sophisticated and the premise is better conceived, the historical information more interesting. It would definitely add to your enjoyment of the book if you had read Dickens' The Mystery of Edwin Drood first, but this does stand alone. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good mystery, who likes historical fiction, and who likes (or even tolerates) Dickens. I recommend it highly to those who have read Drood and who wish they knew the ending or have conceived it for themselves.