description American Notes Overview
American Notes for General Circulation is an 1842 travelogue by Charles Dickens describing his first visit to the United States and parts of Canada. Based on a lecture tour, the work records observations on American institutions, cities such as Boston and New York, and social issues, including slavery and the press. Dickens's critical passages generated controversy in the United States. It is aimed at readers interested in Victorian travel writing and social commentary.
help American Notes FAQ
Why was Charles Dickens critical of the United States in American Notes?
Dickens criticized slavery, aggressive newspaper culture, unsanitary cities, and some American prisons and public institutions. His discussion of slavery is especially prominent near the end of the 1842 book.
Which places did Dickens visit during the journey?
His itinerary included Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, Richmond, Cincinnati, St. Louis, and Canadian cities including Montreal and Toronto. He crossed the Atlantic aboard the steamship Britannia.
How is American Notes connected to Martin Chuzzlewit?
Dickens reused impressions from his American tour in the American episodes of Martin Chuzzlewit. The novel's satire of speculation, journalism, and public boasting is sharper and more fictionalized than the travelogue.
What did Dickens write about Eastern State Penitentiary?
After visiting Philadelphia's Eastern State Penitentiary, Dickens condemned its system of prolonged solitary confinement. He argued that the psychological suffering it caused was worse than its supporters acknowledged.
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