Dickens and the Bible: 'What Providence Meant'

This book explores Dickens and religion, arguing that biblical allusions reveal the Judeo-Christian grand narrative as key to his development as a writer and ontological ground for appealing to 'the conscience of a Christian people.' It engages the biblical narrative with other contemporary narratives and explores Dickens's narrative theology through the lenses of Bakhtin and Ricoeur.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 216 pages
Publication date: 31 May 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

In the face of mounting challenges to biblical authority from the Higher Criticism and evolutionary science, the interpretation of providence became a fiercely debated topic. This book delves into the contentious realm of Dickens and religion, making a substantial contribution to the interdisciplinary field of religion and literature. Through a meticulous examination of his major novels, the book argues that intricate networks of biblical allusion unveil the Judeo-Christian grand narrative as a pivotal factor in his artistic development and the ontological foundation upon which he constructs his appeals to the conscience of a Christian populace. By engaging the biblical narrative in conversation with other contemporary narratives that explore origins, destinations, and hermeneutic interpretations, Dickens reaffirms the Bible's enduring influence in popular culture. Furthermore, the providential thinking of two twentieth-century theorists, Bakhtin and Ricoeur, sheds valuable light on an exploration of Dickens's narrative theology.

In the face of mounting challenges to biblical authority from the Higher Criticism and evolutionary science, the interpretation of providence became a fiercely debated topic. This book delves into the contentious realm of Dickens and religion, making a substantial contribution to the interdisciplinary field of religion and literature. Through a meticulous examination of his major novels, the book argues that intricate networks of biblical allusion unveil the Judeo-Christian grand narrative as a pivotal factor in his artistic development and the ontological foundation upon which he constructs his appeals to the conscience of a Christian populace. By engaging the biblical narrative in conversation with other contemporary narratives that explore origins, destinations, and hermeneutic interpretations, Dickens reaffirms the Bible's enduring influence in popular culture. Furthermore, the providential thinking of two twentieth-century theorists, Bakhtin and Ricoeur, sheds valuable light on an exploration of Dickens's narrative theology.

Weight: 342g
Dimension: 228 x 153 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367653965