“Dickens's humanity and compassion made an extraordinary impact on Victorian England through his writings, which remain immensely popular. This bicentenary should help renew our commitment to improving the lot of the disadvantaged of our own day." - The Very Reverend Dr John Hall, Dean of Westminster Abbey, on today’s 200th anniversary of Charles Dickens’ birth.”

“We are now ready to tackle Dickens. We are now ready to embrace Dickens. We are now ready to bask in Dickens. In our dealings with Jane Austen we had to make a certain effort in order to join the ladies in the drawing room. In the case of Dickens we remain at table with our tawny port.”

“(On Charles Dickens) It has been the peculiarity and the marvel of this man’s power, that he has invested his puppets with a charm that has enabled him to dispense with human nature.”

“Dickens writes that one of his characters, "listened to everything without seeming to, which showed he understood his business.”

“My indiscretion was a part of my author mystique, just like Charles Dickens and Richard Madeley.”

“All reading is good reading. And all reading of Jane Austen and Charles Dickens is sublime reading.”