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My detailed review of the text of Nicholas Nickleby is LINK HERE.

For my latest close reading of Nicholas Nickleby I have examined six different print editions, and these notes may be of use to anyone trying to choose the best for their needs.

This edition is part of the “Heron Centennial Edition�� of Complete Works by Charles Dickens. At 36 volumes, this is as complete a library edition as I have found, including all his novels, novellas, short stories, plays and travelogues as well as quite a lot of his journalism. Heron Books published ‘Collectors Editions�� of famous authors throughout the 1960s, 70s and early 80s, the Dickens collection being published to coincide with the hundredth anniversary of his death. All their books were beautifully made, hand sewn and bound in the imitation grained leather “Skivertex�� and with a silken bookmark sewn into the spine. They used the original editions for the text, and in the case of Dickens, included all the original illustrations too (in this case, by Hablot Knight Browne, or “Phiz��).

Nicholas Nickleby was published (like several other novels in the collection, as well as “Miscellaneous Pieces�� and “Reprinted Pieces��) over 2 volumes. The title on the spine is simply Nicholas Nickleby, as we now refer to the book, although on the title page it is as given as “The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby�� followed by either I or II. This is in keeping with the first book edition in 1839, although when originally published as a serial in monthly parts, in 1838-9, it had an even longer title: “The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, Containing a Faithful Account of the Fortunes, Misfortunes, Uprisings, Downfallings, and Complete Career of the Nickleby Family��. Volume I contains chapters 1-32 and volume II chapters 33-65.

The Heron book Press prided themselves on authenticity and producing substantial quality books in a library or uniform edition. I have to say that even so many years later, the pages have not foxed at all. In fact I have only had to replace one of these books, because the covering had split at the seam of the binding. I purchased a few as they were issued, but could only afford odd ones from the proceeds of my paper round! The rest I have sought out over the years in antiquarian bookshops. Initially booksellers did not consider them to be “proper books�� and there is no SBN printed in the books themselves (this was before ISBNs) as - in common with the beautiful “Folio�� books - they were not available through bookshops but only by subscription. They are therefore not expensive, as they do not really feature in the book market, but are increasingly difficult to find.

Heron never set out to publish annotated editions, but I was pleased to find that Dickens’s Preface from 1848 is included, as well as all the running titles he later made for the page headings. Also - a real treat - the 10 page “Introduction�� by Dame Sybil Thorndike, the great Shakespearean actress. This is both insightful and a joy to read; a personal response. The distinguished actress Sybil Thorndike was an obvious choice to write an introduction for Dickens’s most theatrical novel, since her knowledge of the theatre world and its history was profound. The essay is not dated, but I assume it is the same as the one which had been used as an introduction to the “Oxford Illustrated Dickens�� edition which was first published on 31st December 1950. (That edition also includes all the illustrations by Hablot Knight Browne.)

The text of Heron Books is not the easiest to read, even for those with normal eyesight, being a standard small sized font but rather spidery. However, for handleability and quick reference purposes (which the enlarged font of my kindle edition makes impractical), it is invaluable. I would not be without my copy of this edition. And if you want a beautiful edition to keep at hand, this may be the one for you.