Dickens Charles-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.