Charles Dickens at 200

A good Charles Dickens novel is marked by a surplus of imagination, characterization and eccentric style. In a small but well-organized exhibition of original Dickens materials, the Morgan Library makes implicit argument that the man's life ought be judged by those same virtues. The expectedly reverent tone paints Dickens as "literary superstar" while also providing enough historical and personal color to reduce him to mere mortal. Organized into themes, some sections - like Philanthropy and Mesmerism - reveal his lesser-known pursuits through correspondence and first editions of less canonized stories on those subjects. Interesting enough, to be sure, but the real treasure lies in the Manuscripts and Collaborations. The several original manuscripts trace the evolution of both his revision process (it got harsher) and his handwriting (it got smaller!). And displays of his collaborations with the illustrators of Oliver Twist and The Pickwick Papers provide insight into his signature characterization, which at its best humorously caricatures without sacrificing peculiarity. There's even a section on Christmas, with original pages from A Christmas Carol. Dickens was born two centuries ago, but the Morgan makes a good case that he's graduated into timelessness.