The National Art Library at the V&A holds the original manuscripts for most of Charles Dickens' novels, from The Old Curiosity Shop (1840 – 41) to A Tale of Two Cities (1859), from Bleak House (1853) to The Mystery of Edwin Drood (1870).
The manuscripts came to the V&A (formerly the South Kensington Museum) in 1876 as part of the library of John Forster, one of Dickens' closest friends and the author of his first biography, published in two volumes in 1872 – 74. This library, in addition to the literary manuscripts, contains a wealth of letters from Dickens to Forster, some corrected proofs, the publications in which the novels first appeared, as well as first and subsequent 19th-century editions of the great novelist's works, often signed by the author to Forster.
The below is a list of surviving manuscripts for all major works by Charles Dickens in the National Art Library and other collections around the world. Where material is held in the National Art Library, we have provided a link to its catalogue record.
The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club (1836 – 37)
Manuscript: New York, New York Public Library (fragments)
Proofs (partial): MSL/1876/Forster/170 (Forster Collection Mss, vols I and XXX)
The Adventures of Oliver Twist or The Parish Boy's Progress (1837 – 38)
Manuscript: MSL/1876/Forster/151/1-8 (Incomplete, 22 chapters. Leaves in other collections including the Charles Dickens Museum, London)
The Lamplighter [not handwritten by Dickens] (1838)
Manuscript: MSL/1876/Forster/152
The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (1838 – 39)
Manuscript: London, British Library
Proofs (partial): MSL/1876/Forster/170 (Forster Collection Mss, vol. I)
The Old Curiosity Shop (1840 – 41)
Manuscript: MSL/1876/Forster/153/1-8
Proofs (partial): MSL/1876/Forster/170 (Forster Collection Mss, vol. XXXIII)
Sketches of Young Couples (1840)
Manuscript: MSL/1876/Forster/154
Barnaby Rudge: A Tale of the Riots of Eighty (1841)
Manuscript: MSL/1876/Forster/155/1-8
Proofs (partial): MSL/1876/Forster/170 (Forster Collection Mss, vol. XXXIII)
American Notes (1842)
Manuscript: MSL/1876/Forster/156/1-4
A Christmas Carol (1843)
Manuscript: New York, Morgan Library and Museum
The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit (1843 – 44)
Manuscript: MSL/1876/Forster/157/1-8
Proofs (partial): MSL/1876/Forster/170 (Forster Collection Mss, vol. XXX)
The Chimes (1844)
Manuscript: MSL/1876/Forster/158
Proofs (full): MSL/1876/Forster/170
The Cricket on the Hearth (1845)
Manuscript: New York, Morgan Library and Museum
The Battle of Life (1846)
Manuscript: New York, Morgan Library and Museum
Some Dealings with the Firm of Dombey and Son (1846 – 48)
Manuscript: MSL/1876/Forster/160/1-8
Proofs (full): Forster 2423 vols 1 and 2
The Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain (1848)
Manuscript: New York Public Library
Personal History and Experience of David Copperfield (1849 – 50)
Manuscript: MSL/1876/Forster/161/1-8
Proofs (full): Forster 2421 vols 1 and 2
Bleak House and the East Wind (1852 – 53)
Manuscript: MSL/1876/Forster/162/1-8
Proofs (full): Forster 2412 vols 1 and 2
A Child's History of England (1851 – 53)
Manuscript: MSL/1876/Forster/164
Hard Times: For These Times (1854)
Manuscript: MSL/1876/Forster/163/1-2
Proofs (partial): MSL/1876/Forster/170 (Forster Collection Mss, vol. XXXIII)
Little Dorrit (1855 – 57)
Manuscript: MSL/1876/Forster/165/1-8
A Tale of Two Cities (1859)
Manuscript: MSL/1876/Forster/166/1-4
Great Expectations (1860 – 61)
Manuscript: Wisbech, Wisbech Museum
Proofs (partial): MSL/1876/Forster/170 (Forster Collection Mss, vol. XXX)
Our Mutual Friend (1864 – 65)
Manuscript: New York, Morgan Library and Museum
The Mystery of Edwin Drood (1870)
Manuscript: MSL/1876/Forster/167/1-2
Proofs (partial): MSL/1876/Forster/170 (Forster Collection Mss, vol. XXX)
