Where would David Copperfield be if Dickens had gone to writing classes? Probably about seventy minor characters short, is where. {Did you know that Dickens is estimated to have invented thirteen thousand characters? Thirteen thousand! The population of a small town!}
In his book "The Polysyllabic Spree," Nick Hornby reflects on the unique creativity of Charles Dickens, suggesting that had Dickens pursued formal writing classes, his iconic character David Copperfield might have lacked depth and variety. Hornby humorously implies that Dickens's unconventional approach to storytelling is the reason for the plethora of characters that populate his works. Hornby highlights the astonishing number of characters Dickens created, estimating around thirteen thousand, which is comparable to the population of a small town. This emphasizes the extraordinary imagination and skill Dickens possessed, as he populated his narratives with a rich cast that brought his stories to life in unforgettable ways. Such creativity contributes to Dickens's lasting legacy in literature.
In his book "The Polysyllabic Spree," Nick Hornby reflects on the unique creativity of Charles Dickens, suggesting that had Dickens pursued formal writing classes, his iconic character David Copperfield might have lacked depth and variety. Hornby humorously implies that Dickens's unconventional approach to storytelling is the reason for the plethora of characters that populate his works.
Hornby highlights the astonishing number of characters Dickens created, estimating around thirteen thousand, which is comparable to the population of a small town. This emphasizes the extraordinary imagination and skill Dickens possessed, as he populated his narratives with a rich cast that brought his stories to life in unforgettable ways. Such creativity contributes to Dickens's lasting legacy in literature.
