The Life and Lies of Charles Dickens

A literary bio that deftly untangles truth from untruth. Diligent research and incisive close readings of Dickens' writings ground Kelly's investigation into the gaps, contradictions, and inconsistencies in the manipulated, self-serving story that many subsequent biographers have repeated. -- Kirkus Reviews Speaking of his fiction, when it comes to literary analysis, Kelly isn't just unimpeachable - she's energizing * The New York Times * As this fascinating book reveals, we don't actually know the truth at all ... for the real story, check out Helena Kelly * Daily Express * Praise for Jane Austen, the Secret Radical: ""Bracing. Plausible and vivid.""-- ""The Atlantic"" ""Jane Austen, The Secret Radical is wonderful; a revelation. It's difficult to stand out from the crowd when writing about such an influential figure, but Helena Kelly has certainly achieved that with this smart, knowing, perceptive book.""--Amanda Foreman, author of A World on Fire ""A fresh take on the life and work of the beloved writer Jane Austen. Reveals the subversive rebel soul behind such towering classics as Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, and Mansfield Park.""-- ""Elle"" ""A thoroughly engaging read."" - The Times Literary Supplement ""An important revisionary work. Helena Kelly provokes.""-- ""The New York Times"" ""Amply shows her deep research. She exposes a depth beyond what at first may seem to be silly characters. A fine-grained study that shows us how to read between the lines to discover the remarkable woman who helped transform the novel from trash to an absolute art form."" - Kirkus Reviews ""Ambitious. Illuminating, provocative. Kelly offers a salutary argument for reading Austen's novels with the serious attentiveness they invite and deserve.""-- ""The Spectator"" ""Do we read Jane Austen's novels as she intended? In this riveting literary-biographical study, the answer is a resounding no. An interpretive coup that is dazzling and dizzying . . . You won't read Austen the same way again.""-- ""The New Yorker"" ""Essential. What this radical re-reading of the novels does so brilliantly is to exhort us all to chuck out the chintz, and the teacups, and all the traditional romantic notions about Austen's work that have been fed to us for so long.""-- ""The Bookseller (London)"" ""Helena Kelly makes the case for Austen as an author steeped in the fear of war and revolution. Meticulously researched. Kelly shows us that the novels were about nothing more or less than the burning political questions of the day. A sublime piece of literary detective work that shows us once and for all how to be precisely the sort of reader that Austen deserves.""-- ""The Guardian (London)"" ""Kelly argues passionately and engagingly. Her critical method is . . . generating meaning from the smallest details of the novels.""-- ""The Washington Post"" * Praise for Jane Austen, A Secret Radical * Helena Kelly's book presents a fresh view of Dickens, just as her previous book, Jane Austen the Secret Radical, did for Austen * The Sunday Times *