Toll from dictator's a little Dickensian (4)
I believe the answer is:
nell
'a little dickensian' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.
'toll from dictator's' is the wordplay.
'toll' becomes 'knell' (I've seen this before).
'from dictator' indicates a 'sounds like' (homophone) clue (what it might sound like from someone dictating it).
'knell' is a homophone of 'NELL'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for nell that I've seen before include "-- Gwyn, royal favourite" , "Orphan girl" , "Little -, (Dickens char.)" , "-- Gwyn, mistress of Charles II" , "little Miss Trent?" .)