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Excerpt ​

Excerpt from A Child's History of England, by Charles Dickens

LONDON: CHAPMAN & HALL, ld.
NEW YORK: CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS
1905

Contents

CHAPTER I ANCIENT ENGLAND AND THE ROMANS
CHAPTER II ANCIENT ENGLAND UNDER THE EARLY SAXONS
CHAPTER III ENGLAND UNDER THE GOOD SAXON, ALFRED
CHAPTER IV ENGLAND UNDER ATHELSTAN AND THE SIX BOY-KINGS
CHAPTER V ENGLAND UNDER CANUTE THE DANE
CHAPTER VI ENGLAND UNDER HAROLD HAREFOOT, HARDICANUTE, AND EDWARD THE CONFESSOR
CHAPTER VII ENGLAND UNDER HAROLD THE SECOND, AND CONQUERED BY THE NORMANS
CHAPTER VIII ENGLAND UNDER WILLIAM THE FIRST, THE NORMAN CONQUEROR
CHAPTER IX ENGLAND UNDER WILLIAM THE SECOND, CALLED RUFUS
CHAPTER X ENGLAND UNDER HENRY THE FIRST, CALLED FINE-SCHOLAR
CHAPTER XI ENGLAND UNDER MATILDA AND STEPHEN
CHAPTER XII ENGLAND UNDER HENRY THE SECOND
CHAPTER XIII ENGLAND UNDER RICHARD THE FIRST, CALLED THE LION-HEART
CHAPTER XIV ENGLAND UNDER KING JOHN, CALLED LACKLAND
CHAPTER XV ENGLAND UNDER HENRY THE THIRD, CALLED, OF WINCHESTER
CHAPTER XVI ENGLAND UNDER EDWARD THE FIRST, CALLED LONGSHANKS
CHAPTER XVII ENGLAND UNDER EDWARD THE SECOND
CHAPTER XVIII ENGLAND UNDER EDWARD THE THIRD
CHAPTER XIX ENGLAND UNDER RICHARD THE SECOND
CHAPTER XX ENGLAND UNDER HENRY THE FOURTH, CALLED BOLINGBROKE
CHAPTER XXI ENGLAND UNDER HENRY THE FIFTH
CHAPTER XXII ENGLAND UNDER HENRY THE SIXTH
CHAPTER XXIII ENGLAND UNDER EDWARD THE FOURTH
CHAPTER XXIV ENGLAND UNDER EDWARD THE FIFTH
CHAPTER XXV ENGLAND UNDER RICHARD THE THIRD
CHAPTER XXVI ENGLAND UNDER HENRY THE SEVENTH
CHAPTER XXVII ENGLAND UNDER HENRY THE EIGHTH, CALLED BLUFF KING HAL AND BURLY KING HARRY
CHAPTER XXVIII ENGLAND UNDER HENRY THE EIGHTH
CHAPTER XXIX ENGLAND UNDER EDWARD THE SIXTH
CHAPTER XXX ENGLAND UNDER MARY
CHAPTER XXXI ENGLAND UNDER ELIZABETH
CHAPTER XXXII ENGLAND UNDER JAMES THE FIRST
CHAPTER XXXIII ENGLAND UNDER CHARLES THE FIRST
CHAPTER XXXIV ENGLAND UNDER OLIVER CROMWELL
CHAPTER XXXV ENGLAND UNDER CHARLES THE SECOND, CALLED THE MERRY MONARCH
CHAPTER XXXVI ENGLAND UNDER JAMES THE SECOND
CHAPTER XXXVII

Explanation ​

The excerpt you’ve provided is not a passage from A Child’s History of England itself but rather its table of contents (from the 1905 edition). While this may seem like a simple list of chapter titles, it is worth analyzing in depth—both as a reflection of Charles Dickens’s approach to history and as a literary artifact in its own right. Below is a detailed breakdown of its context, themes, literary devices, and significance, with a focus on what the text itself reveals.

1. Context: Dickens as a Historian for Children ​

  • Purpose and Audience: Written between 1851–1853, A Child’s History of England was Dickens’s attempt to make English history accessible and engaging for young readers. Unlike dry academic texts, Dickens infused his narrative with storytelling flair, moral judgments, and vivid characterizations—traits evident even in the chapter titles.

  • Dickens’s Historical Perspective: Dickens was not a professional historian but a novelist with strong social and political views. His history reflects:

    • A Whiggish (progressive) interpretation of history, where England’s past is framed as a march toward liberty and enlightenment (e.g., Alfred the Great as "the good Saxon," Cromwell as a pivotal figure).
    • A moralistic tone, often judging rulers as "good" or "bad" (e.g., "Henry the Eighth, called Bluff King Hal" vs. "Richard the Third," whose chapter title omits any flattering epithet).
    • A nationalistic pride, emphasizing England’s struggles and triumphs (e.g., the Norman Conquest as a defining moment).

  • Publication History: The 1905 edition (by Chapman & Hall and Scribner’s) was a later reprint, indicating the work’s enduring popularity. The table of contents serves as a roadmap for Dickens’s selective and dramatic retelling of history.

2. Themes in the Table of Contents ​

Even in this skeletal form, key themes emerge:

A. The Struggle for Power and Legacy ​

  • The titles emphasize dynasties, conquests, and succession crises:
    • "Conquered by the Normans" (Ch. VII) highlights the traumatic 1066 invasion.
    • "The Six Boy-Kings" (Ch. IV) and "Matilda and Stephen" (Ch. XI) underscore periods of instability.
    • The repetition of names (e.g., eight Henrys, five Edwards) reflects the cyclical nature of monarchy—power passed through bloodlines, often contentiously.
  • Nicknames as Moral Shorthand: Many rulers are defined by epithets that hint at their reputations:
    • "Rufus" (William II) – "Red," possibly referencing his temper or hair, but also his violent death.
    • "Lackland" (John) – A mocking nickname for losing territory, foreshadowing his villainous role in Dickens’s narrative (and later in Robin Hood lore).
    • "The Merry Monarch" (Charles II) – A contrast to the austere Cromwell era, suggesting frivolity.

B. National Identity and Foreign Influence ​

  • The early chapters trace England’s formation through invasions and cultural clashes:
    • "Ancient England and the Romans" (Ch. I) → "Under the Early Saxons" (Ch. II) → "Under the Normans" (Ch. VII).
    • The Danes ("Canute the Dane", Ch. V) and later conflicts (e.g., the Hundred Years’ War under Edward III) are framed as tests of English resilience.
  • Implied Progress: The shift from "Ancient England" to the Tudors/Stuarts suggests a teleological view—England moving toward modernity (culminating in Elizabeth I and the Glorious Revolution).

C. Morality and Leadership ​

  • Dickens’s judgmental tone is embedded in the titles:
    • "The Good Saxon, Alfred" (Ch. III) – Alfred is idealized as a just, literate king (Dickens admired his legal reforms).
    • "Richard the Third" (Ch. XXV) – No epithet; his chapter is ominously bare, reflecting his infamous reputation (Dickens portrays him as a tyrant).
    • "Oliver Cromwell" (Ch. XXXIV) – A neutral title, but Dickens’s text is ambivalent, praising his discipline while criticizing his severity.
  • Gender and Power: Only two women rulers are listed—Matilda (Ch. XI) and Mary (Ch. XXX)—both in contexts of conflict (Matilda’s civil war, Mary’s persecution of Protestants). Elizabeth (Ch. XXXI) stands alone as a triumphant figure.

D. Violence and Upheaval ​

  • The titles foreshadow turbulent eras:
    • "Conquered by the Normans" – A brutal turning point.
    • "Under Henry the Sixth" – The Wars of the Roses (though not named here, the chapter covers this bloody conflict).
    • "Under Charles the First" – The English Civil War and regicide.

3. Literary Devices in the Table of Contents ​

While sparse, the titles employ subtle rhetorical techniques:

A. Parallelism and Repetition ​

  • The anaphoric structure ("England Under...") creates a rhythmic, almost incantatory effect, reinforcing the idea of history as a series of reigns.
  • The repetition of names (e.g., Henry, Edward) highlights the monotony of hereditary power—yet each iteration carries new drama.

B. Epithets as Characterization ​

  • The nicknames serve as literary shorthand, inviting readers to pre-judge the rulers:
    • "Longshanks" (Edward I) – Evokes his height and military prowess (also a nod to his oppression of Scotland, which Dickens critiques).
    • "Bluff King Hal" (Henry VIII) – "Bluff" suggests heartiness but also deceit (fitting for a king whose reign was marked by betrayals).
    • "The Lion-Heart" (Richard I) – Romanticizes his crusading legend, though Dickens’s text tempers this with criticism of his neglect of England.

C. Omissions and Silences ​

  • What’s missing is as telling as what’s included:
    • No mention of peasants, commoners, or social movements—history is framed as the story of kings and queens.
    • Scotland, Wales, and Ireland are largely absent, reflecting Dickens’s Anglo-centric focus.
    • Economic or cultural developments (e.g., the Magna Carta is subsumed under Henry III and John) are secondary to political drama.

D. Chronological Pacing ​

  • The uneven distribution of chapters reflects Dickens’s priorities:
    • Early medieval England (Ch. I–VI) is covered quickly, while the Tudors and Stuarts (Ch. XXVII–XXXVI) get more attention—likely because these eras were more familiar and dramatic to Victorian readers.
    • The Norman Conquest (Ch. VII–VIII) is a fulcrum, marking the shift from "Ancient" to "medieval" England in Dickens’s narrative.

4. Significance of the Table of Contents ​

A. As a Reflection of Victorian Values ​

  • Moral Didacticism: Dickens’s history was meant to teach lessons—good kings (Alfred, Elizabeth) are held up as models; bad ones (John, Richard III) as warnings.
  • National Mythmaking: The titles reinforce the idea of England as a unified, progressive nation, despite its violent past. This aligned with Victorian imperial confidence.
  • Class and Hierarchy: The focus on monarchy reflects the Victorian social order—history is the story of elites, not the masses.

B. As a Literary Precursor ​

  • Dickens’s narrative approach influenced later historical writing for children (e.g., Our Island Story by H.E. Marshall).
  • The dramatic epithets prefigure modern pop-history (e.g., biographies titled The Virgin Queen or The Sun King).

C. As a Window into Dickens’s Style ​

  • Even in a table of contents, Dickens’s voice emerges:
    • Irony: E.g., calling Henry VIII "Bluff" and "Burly" hints at the darker satire in the text.
    • Selective Emphasis: The titles foreshadow his biases—e.g., Cromwell’s chapter is neutral, but the text is morally complex.

5. Close Reading of Select Titles ​

To illustrate how the titles function as micro-narratives, let’s analyze a few:

Chapter TitleImplicationsDickens’s Likely Treatment
England Under Alfred the Good Saxon"Good" is a moral judgment; "Saxon" contrasts with later Norman/French rulers.Alfred is idealized as a wise, just king who defends England against Vikings.
England Under Richard the ThirdNo epithet—ominous. The lack of a nickname suggests infamy.Dickens portrays Richard as a murderous usurper (following Shakespeare’s Richard III).
England Under Henry the Eighth, called Bluff King Hal and Burly King Harry"Bluff" and "Burly" sound jovial but hint at deceit and excess. "Called" distances Dickens from the nicknames.A mix of admiration for his charisma and condemnation of his tyranny (e.g., executions, marital scandals).
England Under Oliver CromwellNeutral title, but Cromwell’s chapter follows Charles I’s execution—dramatic tension.Ambivalent: praises his discipline but criticizes his puritanical severity.
England Under Charles the Second, called the Merry Monarch"Merry" contrasts with the austere Cromwell era but also suggests frivolity.Dickens highlights the Restoration’s excesses (e.g., court corruption) while acknowledging relief after civil war.

6. Why This Matters: The Table of Contents as a Historical Lens ​

The titles reveal how Dickens framed English history for his audience:

  • As a Story: History is a drama with heroes (Alfred, Elizabeth) and villains (John, Richard III).
  • As a Moral Lesson: Rulers are judged by their virtues or vices, not just their policies.
  • As a National Epic: England’s past is a struggle for identity, from Roman occupation to the Glorious Revolution.

For modern readers, this table of contents is a time capsule of Victorian historiography—revealing how the past was simplified, moralized, and mythologized for a 19th-century audience.

Conclusion: The Power of a List ​

Though just a series of chapter titles, this excerpt encapsulates Dickens’s narrative strategy:

  • It hooks the reader with dramatic names and epithets.
  • It frames history as a story, not a dry chronicle.
  • It betrays the author’s biases, inviting critical reading.

In essence, the table of contents is the skeleton of Dickens’s history—one that promises tales of conquest, betrayal, and nation-building, all told with the flair of a master storyteller. To fully appreciate it, one would need to read the chapters themselves, but even in this form, it’s a fascinating artifact of how history was packaged and sold to the Victorian public.