Sketches by Boz

A collection of early writings of Charles Dickens under his early pseudonym, "Boz." . Divided into four sections, "Our Parish," "Scenes," "Characters," and "Tales." The first three sections are descriptions of various people and places, and the final section contains fictional short stories.

By : Charles Dickens (1812 - 1870)

01 - Preface - Our Parish Chapter I—the Beadle. The Parish Engine. The Schoolmaster 02 - Our Parish Chapter Ii—the Curate. The Old Lady. The Half-pay Captain 03 - Our Parish Chapter Iii—the Four Sisters 04 - Our Parish Chapter Iv—the Election For Beadle 05 - Our Parish Chapter V—the Broker’s Man 06 - Our Parish Chapter Vi—the Ladies’ Societies 07 - Our Parish Chapter Vii—our Next-door Neighbour 08 - Scenes Chapter I—the Streets—morning 09 - Scenes Chapter Ii—the Streets—night 10 - Scenes Chapter Iii—shops And Their Tenants 11 - Scenes Chapter Iv—scotland-yard 12 - Scenes Chapter V—seven Dials 13 - Scenes Chapter Vi—meditations In Monmouth-street 14 - Scenes Chapter Vii—hackney-coach Stands 15 - Scenes Chapter Viii—doctors’ Commons 16 - Scenes Chapter Ix—london Recreations 17 - Scenes Chapter X—the River 18 - Scenes Chapter Xi—astley’s 19 - Scenes Chapter Xii—greenwich Fair 20 - Scenes Chapter Xiii—private Theatres 21 - Scenes Chapter Xiv—vauxhall-gardens By Day 22 - Scenes Chapter Xv—early Coaches 23 - Scenes Chapter Xvi—omnibuses 24 - Scenes Chapter Xvii—the Last Cab-driver, And The First Omnibus Cad 25 - Scenes Chapter Xviii—a Parliamentary Sketch 26 - Scenes Chapter Xix—public Dinners 27 - Scenes Chapter Xx—the First Of May 28 - Scenes Chapter Xxi—brokers’ And Marine-store Shops 29 - Scenes Chapter Xxii—gin-shops 30 - Scenes Chapter Xxiii—the Pawnbroker’s Shop 31 - Scenes Chapter Xxiv—criminal Courts 32 - Scenes Chapter Xxv—a Visit To Newgate 33 - Characters Chapter I—thoughts About People 34 - Characters Chapter Ii—a Christmas Dinner 35 - Characters Chapter Iii—the New Year 36 - Characters Chapter Iv—miss Evans And The Eagle 37 - Characters Chapter V—the Parlour Orator 38 - Characters Chapter Vi—the Hospital Patient 39 - Characters Chapter Vii—the Misplaced Attachment Of Mr. John Dounce 40 - Characters Chapter Viii—the Mistaken Milliner. A Tale Of Ambition 41 - Characters Chapter Ix—the Dancing Academy 42 - Characters Chapter X—shabby-genteel People 43 - Characters Chapter Xi—making A Night Of It 44 - Characters Chapter Xii—the Prisoners’ Van 45 - Tales Chapter I—the Boarding-house - Chapter I 46 - Tales Chapter I—the Boarding-house - Chapter The Second 47 - Tales Chapter Ii—mr. Minns And His Cousin 48 - Tales Chapter Iii—sentiment 49 - Tales Chapter Iv—the Tuggses At Ramsgate 50 - Tales Chapter V—horatio Sparkins 51 - Tales Chapter Vi—the Black Veil 52 - Tales Chapter Vii—the Steam Excursion 53 - Tales Chapter Viii—the Great Winglebury Duel 54 - Tales Chapter Ix—mrs. Joseph Porter 55 - Tales Chapter X—a Passage In The Life Of Mr. Watkins Tottle - Chapter The First 56 - Tales Chapter X—a Passage In The Life Of Mr. Watkins Tottle - Chapter The Second 57 - Tales Chapter Xi—the Bloomsbury Christening 58 - Tales Chapter Xii—the Drunkard’s Death

The whole of these Sketches were written and published, one by one, when I was a very young man.  They were collected and republished while I was still a very young man; and sent into the world with all their imperfections (a good many) on their heads.

They comprise my first attempts at authorship—with the exception of certain tragedies achieved at the mature age of eight or ten, and represented with great applause to overflowing nurseries.  I am conscious of their often being extremely crude and ill-considered, and bearing obvious marks of haste and inexperience; particularly in that section of the present volume which is comprised under the general head of Tales.

But as this collection is not originated now, and was very leniently and favourably received when it was first made, I have not felt it right either to remodel or expunge, beyond a few words and phrases here and there.