The Battle of Life: A love story
by Charles Dickens

‘Time confuses facts occasionally, I hardly know what weight to give to his authority.’

This short novel, first published in 1846, is set in a small English village that was the site of an ancient battle. The battle is used as a metaphor for the struggles of life by the characters in the book.

Two sisters, Grace and Marion, live happily with their good-natured widower father, Dr. Jeddler, together with two servants, Clemency Newcome and Ben Britain. 

Dr. Jeddler is a philosopher, and ‘the heart and mystery of his philosophy was, to look upon the world as a gigantic practical joke’. Marion, the youngest daughter, is betrothed to Alfred Heathfield, Jeddler’s ward who left the village to complete his studies. Alfred promises to return and to marry Marion. 

Michael Warden, a libertine, is suspected of planning to seduce Marion and elope with her. Clemency spies Marion one night in a clandestine meeting with Warden. On the day that Alfred is set to return, it is discovered that Marion has run off. Her disappearance causes much grief to both her father and her sister Grace. 

As is the way with Dickens’ Christmas stories, the situation eventually resolves itself and all parties are happy in being reunited.

This new edition features all of the illustrations from the original publication.