Get the novels of Charles Dickens delivered to your inbox
Have you ever wanted to read a Dickens novel in the way it would have been originally enjoyed? Inspired by Dracula Daily, Dickens Daily is here to do just that.
The serialised magazines that distributed many of Charles Dickens’ works are no longer around, but Dickens Daily is here to help! We send portions of a Dickens novel directly to your inbox at the same rate as the original serialisations.
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How does this work?
Our first book was Great Expectations, which was originally serialised from 1st December 1860 to 3rd August 1861. Therefore, our first Dickens Daily email was sent out on Thursday 1st December 2022 and continued every Thursday until August 2023.
Our second book was Barnaby Rudge, which was serialised between February and November 1841. Thus, Dickens Daily sent out weekly emails between February and November 2025.
For both novels, there would sometimes be two chapters in a week, in which case the second of these would be sent out a few days later. Any and all future schedules will be advertised in advance of the next book starting!
What will our next book be?
Beginning on the 30th of April 2025, our third novel will be A Tale of Two Cities.
What is A Tale of Two Cities about?
Tracing the private lives of a group of people caught up in the cataclysm of the French Revolution and the Terror, A Tale of Two Cities interweaves thrilling historical drama with heartbreaking personal tragedy. It vividly depicts a revolutionary Paris running red with blood, and a London where the poor starve. In the midst of the chaos two men - an exiled French aristocrat and a dissolute English lawyer - are both redeemed and condemned by their love for the same woman, as the shadow of La Guillotine draws closer...
How will things work this time?
Originally written in 1859, A Tale of Two Cities was serialised both in the weekly periodical All the Year Round and in a dedicated monthly collection which included illustrations.
The novel was originally serialised in the weekly periodical All the Year Round from 30th April to 26th November 1859, so these are the dates we will follow in 2025.
There was also a dedicated monthly collection which included illustrations and, although we will follow the weekly serialisation schedule, illustrations from the monthly collections will be included.
As with our previous two novels, chapters will be sent out over multiple days for weeks where more than one chapter was published. The very first week has three chapters, so these will be sent out on the Wednesday, Friday and Sunday of that week. After that, all other weeks will either have only one chapter on a Wednesday, or the Wednesday chapter plus a second chapter on a Sunday.
What about further in the future?
It has also been decided to use the runner up of this year’s poll as our novel for next year. Thus, after we have finished A Tale of Two Cities at the end of 2025, we will read Bleak House! Details of this will be revealed closer to the time but, having lost the poll by a mere two votes, this sprawling epic is a worthy successor and will begin in March 2026.
