"'In A Child's History we see Dickens near the height of his powers: combining a mastery of plain language, sharp if sometimes heavy irony, and the keenest eye for evocative detail... Dickens had no interest in serving up the bland fare that others may have felt more suitable for a child's palate - and less threatening to the status quo. His is sectarian history: radical, opinionated, and, to most readers, all the better for it.' David Starkey"

Charles Dickens' memorable characters and strong narrative style mean that his work has been loved for the last 150 years - and none of his books has ever gone out of print. Kate Agnew reviews for Guardian Education, has judged the Smarties Award and the Whitbread Prize, and has contributed to the Cambridge Guide to Children's Books.