Middle Temple Library's Past Exhibitions: Dickens' Legal World
Painting of Charles Dickens by William Powell Frith (1859). The original is held at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
In 2021, Middle Temple Library hosted an exhibition on one of the Inn's most famous past members: Charles Dickens’ Legal World.
Originally intended to coincide with the 150th anniversary of Charles Dickens’ death in 2020, the exhibition was rescheduled for 2021 due to the library’s closure during the Coronavirus pandemic.
The exhibition focuses on Dickens’ employment and engagements in the legal world, including his admission to The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple in 1839 as a student.
Charles Dickens worked as a clerk and court reporter during a period of legal reform in the early Victorian era. His experience shaped some of his most famous works including The Pickwick Papers, Bleak House and Nicholas Nickleby. The Inns of Court are featured locations and the legal professionals he encountered inspired characters throughout his novels.
Illustration from Bleak House by Charles Dickens (1852-1854). Illustration by H. K. Browne
If you were unable to see the exhibition in person you can also enjoy this online presentation. These short films were created to demonstrate Dickens’ connections to the legal world and highlight some of his writings.
