Written by a distinguished team of over 60 scholars, and edited by Paul Schlicke, former president of The Dickens Society, The Companion offers:
-- A detailed exploration of the private man and the public figure. Over 500 alphabetical entries chart the age in which Dickens lived and worked, the places which were significant to him, and the ideas and social theories of his time.
-- Comprehensive coverage. Entries cover all Dickens's work, including his journalism.
-- Up-to-date literary scholarship. Contributors draw upon recent work in areas such as publishing history, book illustration, periodical reviewing, women's studies, and cultural studies to offer a synthesis of the current state of Dickens scholarship.
-- Essential tables. Contains a complete chronology of Dickens's life, a list of characters and of abbreviations, a thematic overview, and an extensive bibliography.
-- Over 50 beautiful black-and-white illustrations and four maps.

Most importantly, The Companion illuminates the intricate connections between Dickens's life, his writings, and his time. Anyone wishing to more fully enjoy the crowded world of Dickens's imagination will be superbly aided by the information gathered here.