A mixed bag

I've read all of Dickens' novels and take a back seat to no one in my appreciation of them, but I found this Cambridge Companion less than completely satisfying. Several of the authors did a very good job of covering their assigned topics, but several others narrowed their focus too much and seemed to be straining too hard to say something original (e.g., uncovering obscure parallels between this Dickens novel and that Shakespearean play). In academia, being original is highly prized, so I guess I shouldn't have been surprised that this collection of essays turned out the way it did.

With roughly ten thousand pages available to draw upon, it seems like there's plenty to be said about Dickens' novels--commentary that would enrich the Dickens reader's experience--without becoming overly cute.

I don't mean to be unreasonably harsh. This book deserves all four stars I gave it. Still, I was hoping for something a little bit different. ( )