Why does Charles Dickens use more detail than other writers?
We like to think that authors make their writing decisions solely on the basis of artistic considerations, but that is not necessarily the case. Financial considerations often come into play and can dictate how art is produced.
In Dickens's day, a novelist—and his publisher—could make money in two ways. The first was by serializing a novel in parts in a magazine. A good serial—like a good TV miniseries today—would hook an audience.
