| 100% | OLD | 3 | "The ___ Curiosity Shop" (Charles Dickens novel) |
| 94% | CURIOSITY | 9 | Charles Dickens novel, The Old __ Shop |
| 73% | PICKWICK | 8 | Charles Dickens' first novel, The __ Papers |
| 69% | OLD | 3 | "The ___ Curiosity Shop" (Dickens novel) |
| 64% | WELLER | 6 | Sam —, servant of Mr Pickwick in 1836 Charles Dickens novel The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club |
| 63% | BLEAKHOUSE | 10 | Charles Dickens novel |
| 63% | GAMP | 4 | Sarah —, character in 1844 Charles Dickens novel The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit noted for her large umbrella |
| 61% | SMIKE | 5 | Crippled character in the Charles Dickens novel Nicholas Nickleby |
| 58% | ATALE | 5 | Charles Dickens novel "___ of Two Cities" (2 wds.) |
| 56% | GRIP | 4 | Raven in 1841 Charles Dickens novel Barnaby Rudge |
| 56% | DODGER | 6 | Charles Dickens wrote of the Artful __ |
| 55% | SMIKE | 5 | Disabled character in 1839 Charles Dickens novel Nicholas Nickleby |
| 55% | SMIKE | 5 | Unwell character in 1839 Charles Dickens novel Nicholas Nickleby |
| 55% | SMIKE | 5 | Crippled character in 1839 Charles Dickens novel Nicholas Nickleby |
| 54% | SNAGSBY | 7 | Mr —, law-stationer in 1853 Charles Dickens novel Bleak House |
| 54% | SHOP | 4 | "The Old Curiosity ___" (novel by Charles Dickens) |
| 53% | MISSHAVISHAM | 12 | Spinster occupying Satis House in 1861 Charles Dickens novel Great Expectations |
| 53% | MICAWBER | 8 | Wilkins —, kind-hearted character in 1850 Charles Dickens novel David Copperfield |
| 53% | ATALEOFTWOCITIES | 16 | Dickens novel with the 56-Across as its backdrop |
| 52% | SYDNEYCARTON | 12 | London barrister in 1859 Charles Dickens novel A Tale of Two Cities |
| 52% | FAGIN | 5 | Head of a gang of thieves in Charles Dickens novel Oliver Twist |
| 52% | SQUEERS | 7 | Wackford —, headmaster of Dotheboys Hall in 1839 Charles Dickens novel Nicholas Nickleby |
| 52% | TOBYVECK | 8 | Protagonist of 1844 Charles Dickens novella The Chimes |
| 51% | COKETOWN | 8 | Fictional mill town in which 1854 Charles Dickens novel Hard Times is set |