Charles Dickens in Richmond

English author Charles Dickens (1812-1870) was one of the most celebrated writers of the 19^th century.  His works were originally published in a weekly serial format, which created an avid following throughout the English-speaking world and beyond.

This Harper’s Weekly illustration enhanced by hand in pencil to illustrate the stage and railroad lines of Dickens’s 1842 journey from Aquia, north of Fredericksburg, into the city of Richmond.   From his notes and from the letters he sent to friends and family, Charles Dickens wrote American Notes. This travelogue offended his Richmond followers due to his outspoken criticism of the institution of slavery and the use of tobacco in the America.

Hibbs Print Collection, 1948