Which book is Charles Dickens' best work?

[Rosie Cotton]

Tale of Two Cities is one of my favorites written by any author period. So, I'd have to go with Tale of Two Cities, but I love most all Dickens. I think Great Expectations was the only one I don't much care for.

Hard Times and Oliver Twist probably tie for second best out of those. But, Oliver Twist and Christmas Carol tie for second in general. Hard Times is third when you throw Christmas Carol in there. Don't know how that ranking works, but it does in my mind.

[Swart Fedallah]

I've read quite a few of Dickens' novels, and perhaps it is simply because it was the first one that I read, but A Tale of Two Cities has always stood out to me as his best. The ending is just amazing. I have to re-read that, it's been too long.

[cgrillo]

I've read a lot of Dickens as well, and I must say that Our Mutual Friend and Oliver Twist are my favorites. Honestly, however, I don't really remember much about A Tale of Two Cities, so I should probably read it again.

[Quark]

This is a thread that could use a poll.

[Modest Proposal]

I have only read "Great Expectations", "A Tale of Two Cities," "A Christmas Carol" and "Hard Times". Discerning posters will notice that these are all shorter works by him, which considering I like Dickens in small doses, works best for me.

Another shorter work--shorter for Dickens but long for about anyone else--that I own and plan to read is "Oliver Twist", but of the one's I've read, I liked "Great Expectations" the best.

[johnw1]

[QUOTE=wessexgirl;870984]

Our Mutual Friend is my favorite - so atmospheric and dark, Bradley Headstone for example is one of Dickens' best drawn characters. QUOTE]

I'm currently re-watching the excellent adaptation from a few years ago. It's absolutely brilliant. And as for Bradley Headstone...... The proposal scene in the churchyard is gobsmacking......does he think the girl would accept him after that intense scariness? The actor is wonderful however, (David Morrisey), but then, he always is. I'm assuming the gravestone he hit wasn't really made of stone.....

Yes it is superbly acted by David Morrissey (no surprises there) and generally an excellent adaptation which gets the mood of the novel spot on. It's the best adaptation I've seen - and there are a few great ones (BBC's Bleak House and Martin Chuzzlewit for example).

[TheRoyalist]

I'm at one with Modest proposal on this; I've only read three Dickens. Shocking I know but as usual it's all down to that, not enough hours in the day problem.
Of the three I've read, "Great Expectations" was the one I liked the best.
For the record, the other two were, "A Christmas Carol" and "Barnaby Rudge".
The latter is an under-rated book in my book. The scenes of mayhem in London are brilliantly written.

[eric.bell]

Thank all of you ever so much. In my mind, I had two ways by-which I would tackle Dickens: plan one, to start with Bleak House, then go from there; and plan two, to read the ones that I have in order of publication. I - after oh so many of you have thought it wise to do - have chosen to do the latter of the two and start with Oliver Twist and work my way down from there. Once again thank you all. You were ever so helpful.

[Scheherazade]

Just as a side note, I think Pickwick Papers is one of the funniest books I have read.

[Mariamosis]

"A Tale of Two Cities" is the book that really got me interested in Dickens and I followed it up with "David Copperfield", "A Christmas Carol" and "Oliver Twist". I am sure that you will enjoy them all irregardless of the order you choose.

... and yes, "The Sound and the Fury" is good as well, although not very "dickensian".

[mal4mac]

I have only read "Great Expectations", "A Tale of Two Cities," "A Christmas Carol" and "Hard Times". Discerning posters will notice that these are all shorter works by him, which considering I like Dickens in small doses, works best for me.

Another shorter work--shorter for Dickens but long for about anyone else--that I own and plan to read is "Oliver Twist", but of the one's I've read, I liked "Great Expectations" the best.

If you have only read his shorter, lesser works then how can you know that only short doses work best for you? I think Dickens, like Tostoy, gets better the longer his work gets. Great Expectations is also my favourite out of your list, but I prefer most of his other, longer novels!

[mal4mac]

I've read a lot of Dickens as well, and I must say that Our Mutual Friend and Oliver Twist are my favorites. Honestly, however, I don't really remember much about A Tale of Two Cities, so I should probably read it again.

That's the big problem with "Tale", I think. The characters just aren't very memorable, for Dickens. They get forgotten in the crowd of vastly more interesting characters in his other novels. The plot isn't very distinctive or memorable either, I can't separate in memory from a "general memory" of the French revolution. Some critics say its was too heavily influenced by Carlyle's book & suffers (for once!) from lack of originality. Tolstoy's doesn't produce the mass of memorable characters that Dickens does, BUT he's incredibly good at depicting societies riven by war - so "Tale" also suffers badly in comparison to "War & Peace". Also, for such a vast subject, why did Dickens make it such a short book? It feels perfunctory. Hope I haven't put you off! Even bad Dickens is good.

[blazeofglory]

I like hard times by him, for in this book he perfectly combined all, the way the society or the business class people of his days became corrupt and oppressive. And of course Dickens had made his voice aloud. I laud him. He seemed socialistic a little and was firmly criticized by some critics. I feel he is underrated and must be on the list of the few who sought to alter the destiny of the destitute

[Quark]

There's been quite a bit of talk about Dickens of late on LitNet. Does anyone think we could get a bookclub discussion going on one of the novels? I've been reading some of his earlier novels and would be glad to discuss them on LitNet. I'd be willing to read anything, though, if there's a good discussion.

[OrphanPip]

I've been meaning to reread Great Expectations or David Copperfield. I'd be happy to participate in a Dickens reading group.