PICTURES FROM ITALY

In 1844, Charles Dickens embarked on a year-long visit to Italy, where he turned his perceptive views of the human condition toward a thoughtful appraisal of the country's soul and character. Combining travelogue with social commentary, he formed a kaleidoscopic portrait of nineteenth-century Italian life as seen by an outsider. Rather than serving as a guidebook, his "pictures" from Italy entertain rather than instruct. Dickens' eye for detail and his abundant humor accent his comments on a country rich in art, character, and scenery. Most of the book focuses on Italy's northern regions — Tuscany, Milan, and Venice — in addition to sojourns in Rome and Naples. Although appalled by scenes of abject poverty, much of which he attributed to oppression by the Catholic Church, Dickens was captivated by his encounters with lively street carnivals, curious customs, and vivacious individuals. His reflections offer not only the social observations characteristic of his novels, but also keen insights into the author's mind and personality.