The museum has a rich and eclectic collection of Dickens’ artefacts, ranging from portraits of the author and his family to original furnishings and personal effects. The presence of the desk at which he wrote ‘Great Expectations’ and ‘Our Mutual Friend’ rather set me back on my heels, and I found the case containing Dickens’ shaving razors and other day-to-day items to be strangely compelling, although not as much as the samples of his original, handwritten manuscripts.

On a trip to London recently to visit the Charles Dickens Museum, a friend advised me to call into Daunt Books on Marylebone High Street. Good advice it was too: it is a glorious space, boasting impressive oak galleries, elegant skylights, and a thoughtfully curated range of books.