Sample of Charles Dickens's shorthand

What it is

This is a handwritten letter by Charles Dickens, written on pale blue paper headed "Tavistock House, Tavistock Square, London WC". Instead of ordinary words, Dickens wrote it in shorthand using the Gurney system, with a long flourish at the bottom.

Why it matters

Dickens worked as a shorthand writer and journalist before becoming a famous novelist, and he kept using shorthand throughout his life, including in correspondence connected to the actor Macready, a friend of his. This document shows a side of Dickens's working habits that most readers never see — his fast, practical writing skill behind the scenes of his literary career.

Look closer

• Why might Dickens have chosen to write a personal letter in shorthand rather than in ordinary handwriting?
• What does his early career as a shorthand writer suggest about how he approached writing quickly and precisely?
• What is lost for historians today who cannot read shorthand when they look at a document like this?