THE TRIAL OF WILLIAM TINKLING - an illustrated children's book by Charles Dickens

By Charles Dickens

“The Trial of William Tinkling” Written by Himself at the Age of 8 Years is a popular book by Charles Dickens written in the 1860’s.
Young William Tinkling is the editor of a magazine. He and Nettie Ashford were married in the right-hand closet in the corner of the dancing-school where first we met, with a ring (a green one) purchased from Wilkingwater's toy-shop.
His cousin, “Lieutenant-Colonel” Robin Redforth was united, with similar ceremonies, to Alice Rainbird.
They find out that Alice and Nettie are “being held captive” in the dungeon (basement) of Miss Grimmer's establishment. He and Bob make a vow to free the girls from their captivity. The Colonel is to lead the “attack” and signal William when he is to commence his, but the Colonel is “captured” and the signal never comes.
William is accused of cowardice in the face of the enemy and a court-martial is convened, which takes place with much pomp and ceremony on the grass, under a tree by the pond.
What was the result of the court-martial and what happened to William you ask? Well, you’ll have to download and read this little book to find out.
 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Abela Publishing
• Release date: Jul 6, 2017
• ISBN: 9788826478999

Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens was born in 1812 and grew up in poverty. This experience influenced ‘Oliver Twist’, the second of his fourteen major novels, which first appeared in 1837. When he died in 1870, he was buried in Poets’ Corner in Westminster Abbey as an indication of his huge popularity as a novelist, which endures to this day.

Book preview

FOREWORD

The story contained herein was written by Charles Dickens in 1867. It is the first of four stories entitled Holiday Romance and was published originally in a children's magazine in America. It purports to be written by a child aged eight. It was republished in England in All the Year Round in 1868. For this and four other Christmas pieces Dickens received £1,000.

Holiday Romance was published in book form by Messrs Chapman & Hall in 1874, with Edwin Drood and other stories.

For this reprint the text of the story as it appeared in All the Year Round has been followed.

THE TRIAL OF WILLIAM TINKLING

This beginning-part is not made out of anybody's head, you know. It's real. You must believe this beginning-part more than what comes after, else you won't understand how what comes after came to be written. You must believe it all, but you must believe this most, please. I am the Editor of it. Bob Redforth (he's my cousin, and shaking the table on purpose) wanted to be the Editor of it, but I said he shouldn't because he couldn't. He has no idea of