Ms. Margolyes doesn't just give delicious readings of some of Charles Dickens' female characters. Her commentary is amusing. I didn't know what to expect, but I definitely enjoyed what I got. Before I returned it, I slipped a note thanking my library for buying this audio drama into its case. ( )

Where I got the book: I went to see Miriam Margolyes (who is a co-author) perform the one-woman stage play of the same name at the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre. Afterwards she flogged the book for $20 and did a signing. You may know by now that I'm a sucker for a signed book.

The middle of this slim volume is taken up by the script of the stage play. Topping and tailing it are two, well, I suppose you'd call them essays, one talking about Dickens and women generally, and the other covering some material left out of the play. Copious quotes from Dickens' work take up, I would estimate, 40% of the book.

As a memento of watching the very excellent Margolyes perform, this has some value to me. She's a superb character actor, and indeed it was quite a shock to hear her talking in her normal (Oxbridge-educated-actress) voice. As a book about Dickens' attitude toward women, I'm sure there are better tomes out there. The material's not bad but not much attention has been given to arrangement, and a little more editing would have helped. I understand there's an audio CD with Margolyes reading; if you're looking for entertainment, read that instead. If you're looking for a scholarly work, keep looking ( )