Charles Dickens's Performance Notes

"It was not Dickens, but the creation of his genius, that seemed to live and talk before the spectators."

Last week, I discussed Octavia Butler’s tips for writing bestselling fiction. This week, I turn to another bestselling author: Charles Dickens (1812-1870). Not only did he write bestselling novels, he gave wildly popular, sold-out readings of his work.

In December 1867, New York City’s hottest ticket was to see Charles Dickens’s readings. A queue began t…