Which Dickens next?

[Belle Fast]

I have just read Little Dorritt and thoroughly enjoyed it. I would like to know which Dickens novel I should read next? Which are felt to be the most meaningful?

[maxi29]

Depends what you've already read: Great Expectations is great (his best IMHO), Bleak House isn't far behind and Pickwick Papers is very funny, a book I like re-reading. There's something in all of them. Don't know whether they're meaningful though.

And if you want a change from Dickens, you could always try his mate, Wilkie Collins, or some Thackeray - Vanity Fair is a must-read.

[jno]

I find the later ones heavy going; but David Copperfield, which is vaguely autobiographical, is great; Pickwick Papers, his first, is fun too. Oliver Twist and Christmas Carol you may feel you know already even if you haven't read them; but I enjoyed them.

[sithlord]

Iv'e always loved Tale Of Two Cities.

[Belle Fast]

Thanks people! This advice should keep me occupied for a while...

[spudqueen]

My favourites are A Tale of Two Cities and David Copperfield (there's a brilliant description of him being drunk!) and Great Expectations.

[SaxyJag]

Agree with Maxi on Great Expectations - quite the best book ever written. Hard Times is meaningful - examines the victorian attitude to fact vs fancy. It's not too long, either.

[raysparx]

I would go for Great expectations,then a tale of two cities,then Oliver Twist, some of them are a bit heavy going,but he was a great author hope you enjoy them.

[Belle Fast]

Hmm... I have read Great Expectations, but years ago. I will read it again, but want to read some of the others first. The thing I liked about Little Dorrit, was the characters and the way he shows that how people seem is not always how they are. Also it has priceless passages on bureaucracy that could have been written today. Thanks for the answers!