Charles Dickens, Household Words

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When Dickens began publishing

Household Words

in March 1850 he was already a very experienced editor. His first editorship had been for

Bentley's Miscellany

, a new venture for Richard Bentley who in August 1836 had bought the copyright of Dickens' next two novels (which would become

Oliver Twist

,1837-39, and

Barnaby Rudge

, 1841). Dickens agreed terms with Bentley on 4 November 1836, resigned from his reporter position with the

Morning Chronicle

, and began work for Bentley at £20 per week with an additional 20 guineas for writing 16 pages every month. He had total editorial control, but Bentley could veto articles. Dickens was to edit the

Miscellany

from its first issue in January 1837 until February 1839, feeling more and more galled by a contract which ceased to reflect his rising…

1496 words

Citation: Clark, Robert. "Household Words". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 04 March 2008 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=4700, accessed 19 March 2024.]

4700 Household Words 3 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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