Biblio Library

"Out-and-out young gentlemen may be divided into two classes – those who have something to do, and those who have nothing."
In Sketches of Young Gentlemen Charles Dickens presents this list of types of men that young ladies might encounter in society; a sort of Buzzfeed article of the 19th century. How’s about The Censorious Young Gentlemen, who expresses all opinions "with a dubious sneer, accompanied with a half smile"? No? Maybe The Poetical Young Gentleman, who "is lounging on a sofa with his eyes fixed upon the ceiling" then? or maybe The Domestic Young Gentleman, "who lives at home with his mother"?
Dickens isn’t too impressed with these bachelors and doesn’t think the ladies should be either. Sketches of Young Gentlemen is an excellent and quick read, just as amusing as it is accurate.


Charles Dickens (1812-1870) was an English author, social critic, and philanthropist. Much of his writing first appeared in small instalments in magazines and was widely popular. Among his most famous novels are Oliver Twist (1839), David Copperfield (1850), and Great Expectations (1861).