JOHN FORSTER (1812-1876), an English-born writer, rose from humble beginnings to acclaim as a critic of drama and literature, making his name well-known in London's literary circles. Forster was befriended by intellectuals of the time, Robert Browning and Alfred, Lord Tennyson, but was most intimate with Charles Dickens becoming chief advisor to the author on his works written after The Pickwick Papers (1836).
1. 1850-3. David Copperfield and Bleak House
2. 1853-5. Home incidents and Hard Times
3. 1853. Switzerland and Italy revisited
4. 1853, 1854, and 1856. Three summers at Boulogne
5. 1855, 1856. Residence in Paris
6. 1855-7. Little Dorrit, and a lazy tour
7. 1857-8. What happened at this time
8. 1856-70. Gadshill Place
9. 1858-9. First paid readings
10. 1859-61. All the Year Round and the Uncommercial Traveller
11. 1861-3. Second series of readings
12. 1855-65. Hints for books written and unwritten
13. 1864-7. Third series of readings
14. 1836-70. Dickens as a novelist
15. 1867. America revisited. November and December, 1867
16. 1868. America revisited. January to April, 1868
17. 1868-70. Last readings
18. 1869-70. Last book
19. 1836-70. Personal characteristics
20. 1869-70. The end
Appendix
Index.
