In addition to being one of the greatest authors of all time, Charles Dickens was a great speaker, giving readings on both sides of the Atlantic. He often acted out the parts that he was reading. His first visit to the city of Chester was on Friday, August 13, 1858, the year in which he began professional readings from him. The reading was from A Christmas Carol. On December 19, 1861 he was engaged to once more delight the Chester crowd. This visit was canceled until after Christmas due to the death of the Prince Consort.

The reading took place on Thursday, January 30, 1862. Dickens delighted the Chester public with readings from The Trial by Pickwick and Nicholas Nickleby at Mr Squeer’s School. Prices for this event were four shillings (20p) for numbered and reserved seats. Unreserved seats in the lower galleries were two shillings (10 pence) and rear seats one shilling (5 pence). These were quite high prices at the time. The reading began at 8 p.m. and lasted two hours.

On January 22, 1887, Dickens made his last appearance at the Music Hall, but not by choice. The highly respected author of such classics as Oliver Twist and David Copperfield gave readings to Chester’s enthusiastic audience on Dr. Marigold and Bardell Vs Pickwick. The Chester Chronicle newspaper dated 26 January 1887 says: The Music Hall on Tuesday night was generally well filled, though some seats set aside as “reserved” were empty; and this is the most gratifying, as the high prices charged and the exceptional severity of the weather must have been a great deterrent to all but the most eager to see and hear it.

Shortly after eight, Mr. Dickens appeared on the platform. He took a seat at the small crimson table provided and began without a word of preface: “I’m cheap Jack,” the opening words of Dr. Marigold. Dickens concluded with the old Weller’s assertions about the value of an alibi, to loud applause.

Some sources say that he gave a reading at the Music Hall shortly before his death in 1870. This is incorrect. He was summoned to give a reading on Thursday, April 29, 1869, but had to be canceled for health reasons. Dickens had suffered a slight stroke. Mr. F. Carr Beard, a physician and friend of Dickens, made a statement to the Chester Chronicle dated April 24, 1869. He said that he was satisfied that Dickens would not finish reading from him, if he appeared. The Chester Chronicle of April 17, 1869 advertised the visit as a farewell reading (the last Mr. Dickens would give in Chester). He would have read The Boots at the Holly Tree In, Sikes and Nancy and Pickwick’s Mr. Bob Sawyer’s Party. Unfortunately his fourth visit was not going to be.

Charles Dickens died on June 9, 1870 at the age of fifty-eight.