Mrs Dickens by Emily Howes — Coleman’s Notes Reader’s Companion | CN-075

Discover the woman behind one of the most famous names in English literature with this comprehensive independent Reader’s Companion to Emily Howes’s Mrs Dickens.

A BBC Radio 2 Book Club Pick

London, 1835. Nineteen-year-old Kate Hogarth falls in love with the ambitious young journalist Charles Dickens. Their early marriage is filled with affection and excitement, but as Dickens becomes one of the most celebrated writers of his age, the balance within their marriage begins to change.

Alongside Kate’s story, Emily Howes introduces Anne Brown, an orphan whose chance encounter with the Dickens family takes her into the heart of their household. As servant, confidante and observer, Anne offers another perspective on the marriage as fame, repeated pregnancy, family life and growing tensions begin to take their toll. The novel ultimately follows a marriage through its tenderness, grief and eventual public breakdown.

This 30+ page Coleman’s Notes Reader’s Companion takes readers beyond the story to examine the fascinating intersection between historical fact and imaginative reconstruction.

Inside the guide:

• Extended Plot Summary
• Detailed Reading Guide
• In-depth Character Studies
• Victorian Marriage and Gender Roles
• Major Themes and Motifs
• Narrative Technique, Language and Structure
• Eight Extended Close Readings
• Historical, Social and Literary Context
• Critical Debates and Comparative Study
• Analysis of Kate, Charles and Anne
• 50 Reading & Discussion Questions
• Reader’s Essay and Study Focus
• Ten Key Episodes
• Twenty Key Concepts
• Quick Reference section

The companion also explores one of the novel's most intriguing questions: who gets to tell the story of a marriage?

Howes reverses the familiar perspective by placing Catherine Dickens at the centre of a story traditionally dominated by her famous husband. The result is particularly rewarding for readers interested in Charles Dickens, Victorian society, women’s history and contemporary historical fiction. The publisher describes Mrs Dickens as illuminating a complex woman whose voice was often unheard, and the novel was selected for the BBC Radio 2 Book Club.

Ideal for book clubs, reading groups and individual readers wanting to explore the novel more deeply after reading it.

READ • REFLECT • EXPLORE • UNDERSTAND

Coleman’s Notes® • Great Books • Brighter Minds

Format: Digital PDF download
Product code: CN-075
Price: £6.95