The Problem of 'Edwin Drood': A Study in the Methods of Dickens

"The Problem of 'Edwin Drood': A Study in the Methods of Dickens" by W. Robertson Nicoll is a close examination of Charles Dickens's last, incomplete novel, "The Mystery of Edwin Drood," that digs into the enigmas and unresolved storylines resulting from Dickens's death. The story inspects main characters and the main dilemmas about what happened to Edwin Drood, who Mr. Datchery really is, and what Dickens's writing techniques suggest about the story. Nicoll starts by setting the scene for a thorough investigation of the questions surrounding Dickens's last piece. He brings up earlier reviews and ideas about the unfinished novel, noting that many secrets are still unsolved. Nicoll talks about the main mysteries noted by Cuming Walters, focusing on whether Edwin Drood was killed and what other characters like Jasper and Datchery meant. Furthermore, it talks about the writing differences in the released book, mostly because of John Forster's changes, implying that the reader may not see Dickens's original intentions because of these edits.