一八四二年一月到六月，只有三十岁的狄更斯接受美国著名作家华盛顿·欧文等朋友的邀请赴美游历，长篇游记兼特写《游美札记》就是狄更斯此次访问美国的主要成果。这次游历，他曾访问东海岸的波士顿、纽约和费城等大城市，向南到过里奇芒德，向西一直到圣路易，向北一直到加拿大的蒙特利尔。在历时半载的游历当中，年轻的作家通过参观、访问、公众集会和私人会晤，广泛接触了上至总统下至车夫的美国各阶层人士，逐一记录了作家的经历、见闻和观感。对于这个生机勃勃的年轻共和国，狄更斯既有叹赏又有抨击，尤其是对于美国式的粗糙、庸俗风气，过度浓重的唯利是图氛围以及野蛮的蓄奴制度、对印第安人的残酷征服，狄更斯处处给予了显微镜式观照和批判，这和那位致力于描绘镀金时代、同样尖酸刻薄的美国作家马克·吐温如出一辙。北美之行也成为长篇小说《马丁·瞿述伟》的重要灵感来源。(From Jan to June 1842, Dickens, only thirty year old, accepted the invitation from famous American writer Washington Owen and other friends to visit the United States. The long travel and feature American Notes was Dickens's main achievement to visit the United states. During this journey, he visited Boston, New York and Philadelphia in the east coast, went south to Rich Maunder, west to St. Louis, north to Montreal of Canada. In the half past year tour, the young writer extensively contacted all levels of American people from the president to drivers through visits, public meetings and private meetings, gradually recorded his experience, knowledge and perception. Dickens both admired and criticized this young republic full of vigor, especially for American rough and vulgar style, excessive heavy mercenary atmosphere, the brutal slavery system and the cruelty to the Indians. Dickens gave them a microscope observation and criticism, just like the American sarcastic ridicule writer Mark Twin, focusing on description of the gilded age. North American tour also becomes an important inspiration source of the novel Martin Chuzzlewit.)