Hard to say if this highly readable book is more a study of Dickens or of the philosophy of G K. He portrays Dickens as an anarchic radical - claims Walter Scott as a Tory radical which is harder to swallow - and ignores his sometimes decideedly reactionary views.

He praises the broad comic novels of the early period which, to be personal, I find his Dickens' weakest. But he can be relied for some unexpected insights. Dickens the world-famous and wealthy middle-aged man stilll tended to see life through the eyes of the impoverished pre-adolescent who spent his lonely evenings wandering through the wondrous but frightful london streets.

G.K Chesterton is sui generis. When Chesterton is thru with you you may not be better looking, but you will be wiser. ( )