Paul Schlicke je medzinárodne uznávaný odborník na dielo Charlesa Dickensa. Vo svojej práci sa zameriava na život a dielo jedného z najväčších britských spisovateľov, pričom čerpá z mimoriadne rozmanitých informácií. Schlicke vrhá nové a často nečakané svetlo na najznámejšie Dickensove diela a skúma zážitky, udalosti a literatúru, ktoré ho formovali. Jeho prístup ponúka hlbšie pochopenie majstra románu.
In the persons of Gradgrind and Bounderby, Dickens stigmatized the prevalent philosophy of utilitarianism which, whether in school or factory, allowed human beings to be caged in a dreary scenery of brick terraces and foul chimneys, to be enslaved to machines and reduced to numbers.
Following the success of Pickwick Papers and Oliver Twist, Nicholas Nickleby was hailed as a comic triumph and firmly established Dickens as a 'literary gentleman'. It has a full supporting cast of delectable characters that range from the iniquitous Wackford Squeers and his family, to the delightful Mrs Nickleby, taking in the eccentric Crummles and his travelling players, the Mantalinis, the Kenwigs and many more.