At this time a hundred years ago the Dublin University Magazine, which has been founded in 1833, was enjoying high popularity by its publication in serial numbers of Charles James Lever's "Charles O'Malley" and the circulation soared to about 4,000.
Some magazines of last century were better know by a catchword than, perhaps, by their actual title. Blackwood's was "Mag," Fraser's was "Regina," and the Dublin University Magazine became known as "Dea."
Lever, who was born in Dublin, practised medicine for a few years in various parts of Ireland, but he returned to Dublin when literature had claimed his whole time and became editor of "Dea."
"Charles O'Malley" was severely criticised by Edgar Allen Poe, but it remained popular and went through many editions.
Previously "Harry Lorrequer" had appeared in the Dublin Magazine, and a statement by one reviewer that he would rather be the author of that book than of all the Pickwicks and Nicklebys in the world is said to have greatly annoyed Charles Dickens.
The Irish Times, March 18th, 1940.