New-York tribune., 1870-08-12
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

CHARLES DICKENS The story Of bis Life By tie Author Of
Camden Ho,ten. New oTk Scrbner Wexford Co.
Books like the one before us hardly belong
20 the domain Of literature, but they have their place in
The economy Of the universe. and respectable if not
very honorable place It IS They differ little from the
ordinary newspaper obituary. except that they are
longer aud that rule they have less merit of style
than would be expected in paper like The London
Tines OF The London Daily Ne,cs. But for curious
and impatient persons who want an outline Of
fhe public side Of a mans life and cannot wait
for the appearance Of true biography, they are donn
less moro less satisfactory The author-we shouiu
rather say the compieT-of this book on Charles Doh
appears TO have had no acquaintance with inc SUI"
ject of sketch tell little or nothing Oh ms
private life and character even relate any hioi,
incident Of his career which has not already apPeo"
in print He has been industrious collector Ho"c'o
of published anecdotes letters, and speeches, anu no
has traced pretty thoroughly the history OF %" DcScnS
writings so that, despite perfectly bald sly he mas
made rather interesting book. He confirms the state
ment said TO have been made by Dr. Mackenzie,
that the povelst's full name Charles John Houghan
Dickens The following account Of the first fortunes of
the Pickwck Papers is given on the authority OF MI
James Grant:
"In connection with the rapidty OF Mr. Dckens's RISE
and nights to which he scared in the regions OF liter
AZURE may mention few facts which have not before
tIuded an arTSEgemeni With Messrs Chapman & Han
for the publication Of tie Pickwick Papers, were Is
sheets q pages. That was rather smaller sum than
that at which he offered, inst at the same time To CON
tribute 10 The aOHhty Mdgd@e then under my editor
ship.
For the first five months of its existence Mr. Dicsenss
tIst serial the PickWiCk Papers, signal failure,
and notwit. standing the fact that Mr.. Charles Tilt, az
that time publisher of considerable eminence, made
extraordinary eXertions out Of friendship for Messrs
Chapman & Hall. TO insure its success. He
sent out what is called sale or return,
10 all parts of the provinces, no fewer than
15OO copies Of each Of the first five numbers. This
yet MT Tits only result average sale of about 80
copies Of each of the five parts certain number OF
COPIES sOld Of course through other channels nut com
merCaily the publication decided failure. Two
denly, but left sketches for two parts more, and the
question was then debated by the publishers whether
they ought not To discontinue the publication OF the
serial But Just while the matter under their con-
sdcratIo, sam Weller who had been introduced in the
previous number began to attract great attention. ana
TO cal forth much admiration. The press all but
unanimous IN prasng 'Sauiycl entirely original
character. whom none but great genius could nave
created ana all of sudden, in consequence OF Sami
yel's popularity the lickwch Papers rose to un-
hcardOt popularity. The back numbers OF the work
ordered to large extent, and Of course all idea
or OltlIUug 70 was abandoned.
The book is Illustrated With photograph from Lesle's
painting OF Charles Dickens in the character Of capt.
BObddH wood en- .ravings from other portraits, and
views of his successive places of residence.
Messrs. Fields, 0sgOOd & Co. arc publishing a
Household Edition Of Dickens's Novels, with Mr..
Eytince's welznOwn illustrations. "Dombey and Son -
"Bleak House." =" Our Mutual Friend" and nicholas
Kickcby ready. The edition is cheap and con
Nenlent ana many oil the illustrations are truly huOr-