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Dickens collection

The Dickens Room is situated on the second floor of the Central Library and contains some 1,500 books and 100 reels of microfilm.

The collection consists of:

WORKS BY DICKENS - including some first editions as well as some of the serial parts in which most of the novels first appeared. Sets of the novels by Dickens' main publishers, Chapman and Hall are available. In addition there are sets by other publishers and many individual editions. Also on display are Dickens' main periodicals "Household Words" and "All the Year Round" along with  plays, poems and letters.

WORKS ABOUT DICKENS - about his works, his illustrators, and the places with which he is associated are many and varied. There are also critical works and biographies.

Appointments can be made to view the collection for up to one hour with a member of staff. Anyone contemplating long term research is advised to write to the City Librarian, supplying a reference, asking for written permission to use the collection unsupervised.

We accept enquiries in person (see Central Library page under Internal Links), or by:

• Telephone: 023 9268 8046
• Fax: 023 9283 9855
• Email to reference.library@portsmouthcc.gov.uk