Sketches of Young Gentlemen

Sketches of Young Gentlemen, like its counterpart, Sketches by Boz, is a series of miniature portraits of mid-nineteenth century England from the pen of perhaps its most famous writer. Sketches of a number of types of young gentlemen (the Bashful, the Very Friendly, the Political) are joined by sketches of young couples (the Contradictory, the Cool, the Egotistical) and a variety of other short narratives such as the 'Mudfrog Papers', of which Oliver Twist is a continuation, and 'Some Particulars Concerning a Lion.' Playing on the contemporary public fascination with moral rules and codes of behaviour, they are satirical caricatures, but also demonstrate Dickens' warmth towards humanity. Apparently written as serious advice for women about Victorian men, Dickens displays the ironic sense of humour that characterises much of his work.