“Part of these essays probably are rooted in genuine recollections, but how, in the circumstances, can we trust anything that he [John Forster] says in them?”

But how much can we trust the new conclusions drawn by this author, writing 150 years after Dickens died? That’s the question readers need to consider. Newly digitized information is now available, and the author has a Ph.D. in English literature from Oxford University. I enjoyed this book, knowing that Kelly’s speculations are, after all, just speculations. I’ll enjoy a heated debate about Charles Dickens any day of the week. Some of this scholar’s claims have angered fans who believe that great authors are beyond reproach. Not me! I remain curious and interested in learning more about this complex, enigmatic author.

Kelly, Helena. The Life and Lies of Charles Dickens. Pegasus Books, 2023, p. xiii.