The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-09-06
LITERARY BUDGET.
4 Great Trio Of Authors, Dickens, BulEeI
and ThaCkeray.
DISCUSSION or THEIR MERITS.
Their Literary Charactcristics, Their SINH
isrities and Their Differences n They
Appear TO yirginian Critic.

considered in their day the first OF British
novclists. They all died in recent years and
in few years of each other-Ihackeray IN
1863. Dickens in 1870 and Bulwer few years
later Among those who have survived them
we do not think one can be mentioned who
equaled any one of them IN general average
Of those qualities which are necessary to con-
stitute great writer of fiction.
10 is quite common IN certain quarters 20 in
discriminatory condemn noyel-reading. We
do not belong to the class who do. Excessive
woodworking is Objectionable because 1t
takes the necessary time away from and gives
distaste for historical and other solid read
ing Ii is equally true that novels by eminent
writers free from immortality, are beneficial.
They cheer and rest the mind after more e1-
hausting studies. improve the literary taste
and BY holding the mirror up 10 nature
enlarge orr knowledge. Tho manners and
customs of people in former time are more
apt 10 be found in such novels as " henll-
WORTH" by Scott; Henry Esmond," by
Thackeray "RienM," by Bulwer. than IN
many grave and elaborate histories. Most OF
the novels of the triumyirate OF British novel;
lists which we are considering present fine
specimens OF choice English. entertain as
well as instruct and present in their main
features men and women rs they are we
shall treat concisely Of the leading character
istics as nOvests of Dickens. Ihackeray and
Bulwer and compare them.
The former two display in their characters
more originality and variety than Bulwer.
This. no doubt was due in some degree tOthe
fact that those two had observed and moved
more in ali classes of society. The fact that
for some Of his earlier years Dickens was re-
porter for paper III the great city OF London
goes far TO explain why he seized SO thorough
" the salient points Of many classes. Bull
wer's observations were Of the upper classes
his reflections more Of the closet. Never were
all sorts Of people subjected to q keener eye
than that OF Dickens. He has taken more
characters from humble life, even from the
dregs Of society, and made them interesting
than any modern novelist perhaps with the
exception Of Victor Hugo. He more fully I'M
derstood and moro deeply sympathized with
the very poor and humble than any of his
rival novelists This is shown IN his charac-
te-s Of little 10 IN BLEAK House" in Smike
in Nicholas Nickleby." and IN many others
Dickens and Yhackeray both abOunded IN
wit. Bulwer possessed but little The wit
of Thackeray was more apt 20 be Of the bitter
species than that Of Dickens the genial nature
Of the latter more inclined him to the humOr
ous and the comic. That Dickens possessed,
however. satirc powers IN "a high degree;
could be shown by many examples. ! Will
only instance his assaults on the Barnacle
family and the circumlOcutlon Office as
fine specimens of irony. TO the eyes OF
Thackeray nature assumed more sombre
color than to those of Dickens and Bulwer.
In many of his characters he displays irony,
sarcasm and every species of bitter wit. and
brings to mind the author of CULVER s
Travels" aud the Tale of the Tub" iona
than swift. The sarcasm OF Thackeray was
equally fierce and biting as that OF the latter,
but il was more refined and polished IN Its
character and exercised with more discretion.
Thackeray had ever a whip OF scorpions IN
4. Al 4. 4. i 4.Ht.
ionable life II he dashed hard, those he
handled were generally deserving OF a sound
castigatiOn. He shows himself the friend OF
virtue and the advocate of true manlness 10y
making,their opposites odlous and ridiculous.
When he eXcOTIates and rldlcules be by indl-
rectiOn shows TO the reader his ideal OF the
true gentleman which he admired, and OF
which he was good representative. Colonel
Newcome in Thackeray's novel Of The
keweomesn is one Of the noblest characters
in fiction The sentiments which he expresses
are generally such as come from Ihackeray,
and we cannot but think that IN most respects
the novelist has modelled that character after
himself. Few novels contain more genuine
humor than David Copperfield," the Pick
wick Papers" and Our Mutual Friend all
by Dickens Pickwick, The Weller family
aud that of Micawber are as original concep-
tons as that of Shakespeares Jack Falstah.
Thackeray and Dickens had high and
was often publicly expressed They seemed
10 have had mono of that little envy and
jealousy which we often see displayed in
smaller minds We heard Thackeray say in
one OF his lectures in this country that The
Christmas Carols by Dickens was II great
week day charity sermon"
Ii il not easy to compare Dickens. Thacke-
rav and Bulwer. Their greatness differed III
kind rather than degree They moved IN diff
ferent orbits stars of the first magnitude,
but there were points of intersection. There
was moro IN common between Thackeray and
Dickens than Letween either of them and
Bulwer.
The characters in the novels of Dickens are
SO numerous that we can only allude TO a few
of the principal ones. In the world of imagi.
nation which he created are many hundred
of the children Of his brain In their number
and variety to find their parallel we must &c
70 the works Of William Shakespeare and OF
Walter Scott. Little Nell in "Old Curiosity
Shop" and Esther Summerson in BLEAK
House, are two of the most perfect
female characters of Dickens. There
Is not in literature better drawn character
than that Of Mr.. Peggotty in David Copper
field" We see IN him, though of humble
position and rough in manners, great tender
ness, goodness and moral beauty. In the
delineation Of such characters Dickens re-
yeals his own kind heart and the world has
been made better by il. The general ten
dency of his writings is good. They breathe
a spirit of charity and teach the brotherhood
of man,
Dickens shows in :.all ofshis novels that he
saw everything III its minutest details. He
had much about him both of the painter anC
the poet He had q more realizing magma
ton than Bulwer with regard 20 the affairs OF
everyday life David Copperfeld,n "Bleal
House, -" Our Mutual Friend. - oliver Twist.
.Dombey and Son, " and Nicholas Nickleby, >
areusually considered the best of Dickens more
elaborate works. There is more unity anC
variety in David Copperfeld" thanany of his
novels. We consider it his best. 1t is to
considerable extent photographed. When
lie in this country expressed the preference
which we have Just given. abiding to David
Copperfeld, " lie thus wrote: "Ofa my books
j like this best. 1t will be easily believed that
l am fond parent TO every child of my fancy,
and that no one can ever love that family as
love them. But like many fond parents,
have IN my heart OF hearts a favorlte child
and bis name is David Copperfield."
in the novel mentioned, Betsy Trotwood
wilkins Micawber and Unah Heap stand out
from the background and show Dickens
wonderful powers of Characterization. Nc
modern novelist has espoused with more
heartiness the cause of the weak the humble
and the oppressed. His ridicule and expo
sure of the abuses in some public schools and
some charity institutions. 10 be found in
Nicholas Nickleby" and oliver Twist" en-
title him TO the designation of a social reformer
IL charity scholars in England have more and
better soup; if school boys in England are
less tLrashed and better fed, the thanks there.
Cor nye 1ne in mart IN Dickens Wbite in