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At the height of his popularity, Dickens travelled to the United States on a lecture tour. He was genuinely interested in learning about America and its institutions, but he was dismayed by social conditions, the excessive attention that was the product of America's celebrity culture, and the brazen wholesale pirating of his books by American publishers. Upon his return he gave America a less than favorable review in his American Notes. | |
When Charles Dickens made the decision to separate from his wife, it set off a scandal with allegation of an adulterous affair between the Middle Aged Dickens and an 18 year old actress named Ellen Ternan. To add to the scandal, there were whispers that there was also something unusual about Dickens' relationship with his sister in law.
Updated: May 3, 2020
Charles dickens biography.
Charles dickens 1812-1870.
Charles Dickens was an extraordinary man. He is best known as a novelist but he was very much more than that. He was as prominent in his other pursuits but they were not areas of life where we can still see him today. We see him as the author of such classics as Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, Great Expectations, A Tale of Two Cities, Bleak House and many others. All of his novels are English classics.
Dickens had an almost unbelievable level of energy. In addition to writing all those lengthy books in long-hand, he had time to pursue what would have been full-time careers for most people in acting, literary editing social campaigning and philanthropic administration. He was also the father of a large family, as well as being involved in a love affair that lasted many years.
He began as a journalist, writing little pieces about daily life and developed very quickly into a best-selling novelist, avidly read throughout the English speaking world. At the same time he was appearing in plays and touring, reading from his novels. And editing his literary hournals, Household Words and All the Year Round , which featured the serialisation of his novels, with people queuing up to buy them, eager to find out how the previous episode would be concluded.
Charles Dickens photograph
As a child Dickens saw his father imprisoned for debt and that led him to a lifelong interest in prisons and the need for the reform of the system. Many of his novels reveal the cold hard facts of the Victorian prison system and, with so many readers, the novels had a great effect on the consciousness of the public. In addition to that Dickens campaigned and lobbied for reform.
Dickens was a man who seemed to be able to direct his efforts in several directions and give each his full attention. He spent ten years running Urania Cottage, a home for ‘fallen women.’ And organisation aimed at helping the women get back to respectable life, either in England or Australia or America. He spent his own money on the project and gave it his full attention.
It is difficult to imagine English culture without the characters who inhabit Dickens’ novels. Just a mention of the name ‘Miss Havisham,’ brings up the image of someone embittered and socially marginalised, living in an unreal world that has stopped turning. ‘Mr Gradgrind’ creates the image of inflexibility and Mr McCawber the delusional optimist, always relying on his cheerful belief that something will turn up to solve his problems, makes us shake our heads with a mixture of amusement and pity.
Where would English culture be if there had been no Fagin, no Oliver Twist, no Ebenezer Scrooge? What graphic image would we have of a fawning, writhing, hypocritical functionary without Uriah Heep springing into our minds? And what about the pompous Mr Bumble and the cruel, cold-hearted Mr Murdstone and his iron sister, Miss Murdstone? The list of Dickens characters who have embedded themselves firmly in English culture is endless, and we’ve had a go at pulling together their many thoughts and sayings in this list of the most well known Charles Dickens quotes .
Dickens’ novels, which lend themselves to dramatisation for stage, television and film, are delightful to read and several are regarded as the greatest of English novels. Indeed, Bleak House is acclaimed by critics as being among the greatest of world novels, in the same category as Huckleberry Finn , Crime and Punishment , War and Peace , Pride and Prejudice and Moby Dick .
Read biographies of the top 10 English writers >>
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Interested in Charles Dickens? If so you can get some additional free information by visiting our friends over at PoemAnalysis to read their analysis of Dicken’s poetic works .
There pride and prejudice is not written by him there is a mention in the article. It is written by jane austen
Wow. Really awesome article. Can I get his book online?
The humour in Pickwick Papers is wonderful, and his descriptions of that world are just as if Dickens himself was talking to me. It’s as close to space travel as one can get.
how can I get this?
All line understood, really ur writting styles is beauty
He is a wonderful short story writer
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[ Victorian Web Home —> Visual Arts —> Authors —> Charles Dickens —> Biography —> Works ]
In 1829 he became a free-lance reporter at Doctor's Commons Courts, and in 1830 he met and fell in love with Maria Beadnell, the daughter of a banker. By 1832 he had become a very successful shorthand reporter of Parliamentary debates in the House of Commons, and began work as a reporter for a newspaper.
In 1833 his relationship with Maria Beadnell ended, probably because her parents did not think him a good match (a not very flattering version of her would appear years later in Little Dorrit). In the same year his first published story appeared, and was followed, very shortly thereafter, by a number of other stories and sketches. In 1834, still a newspaper reporter, he adopted the soon to be famous pseudonym "Boz." His impecunious father (who was the original of Mr. Micawber in David Copperfield , as Dickens's mother was the original for the querulous Mrs. Nickleby) was once again arrested for debt, and Charles, much to his chagrin, was forced to come to his aid. Later in his life both of his parents (and his brothers) were frequently after him for money. In 1835 he met and became engaged to Catherine Hogarth.
After the success of Pickwick , Dickens embarked on a full-time career as a novelist, producing work of increasing complexity at an incredible rate, although he continued, as well, his journalistic and editorial activities. Oliver Twist was begun in 1837, and continued in monthly parts until April 1839. It was in 1837, too, that Catherine's younger sister Mary, whom Dickens idolized, died. She too would appear, in various guises, in Dickens's later fiction. A son, Charles, the first of ten children, was born in the same year.
Nicholas Nickleby got underway in 1838, and continued through October 1839, in which year Dickens resigned as editor of Bentley's Miscellany . The first number of Master Humphrey's Clock appeared in 1840, and The Old Curiosity Shop , begun in Master Humphrey , continued through February 1841, when Dickens commenced Barnaby Rudge , which continued through November of that year. In 1842 he embarked on a visit to Canada and the United States in which he advocated international copyright (unscrupulous American publishers, in particular, were pirating his works) and the abolition of slavery. His American Notes , which created a furor in America (he commented unfavorably, for one thing, on the apparently universal — and, so far as Dickens was concerned, highly distasteful — American predilection for chewing tobacco and spitting the juice), appeared in October of that year. Martin Chuzzlewit , part of which was set in a not very flatteringly portrayed America, was begun in 1843, and ran through July 1844. A Christmas Carol , the first of Dickens's enormously successful Christmas books — each, though they grew progressively darker, intended as "a whimsical sort of masque intended to awaken loving and forbearing thoughts" — appeared in December 1843.
In that same year, Dickens and his family toured Italy, and were much abroad, in Italy, Switzerland, and France, until 1847. Dickens returned to London in December 1844, when The Chimes was published, and then went back to Italy, not to return to England until July of 1845. 1845 also brought the debut of Dickens's amateur theatrical company, which would occupy a great deal of his time from then on. The Cricket and the Hearth , a third Christmas book, was published in December, and his Pictures From Italy appeared in 1846 in the "Daily News," a paper which Dickens founded and of which, for a short time, he was the editor.
In 1847, in Switzerland, Dickens began Dombey and Son , which ran until April 1848. The Battle of Life appeared in December of that year. In 1848 Dickens also wrote an autobiographical fragment, directed and acted in a number of amateur theatricals, and published what would be his last Christmas book, The Haunted Man , in December. 1849 saw the birth of David Copperfield , which would run through November 1850. In that year, too, Dickens founded and installed himself as editor of the weekly Household Words , which would be succeeded, in 1859, by All the Year Round , which he edited until his death. 1851 found him at work on Bleak House , which appeared monthly from 1852 until September 1853.
In 1853 he toured Italy with Augustus Egg and Wilkie Collins , and gave, upon his return to England, the first of many public readings from his own works. Hard Times began to appear weekly in Household Words in 1854, and continued until August. Dickens's family spent the summer and the fall in Boulogne. In 1855 they arrived in Paris in October, and Dickens began Little Dorrit , which continued in monthly parts until June 1857. In 1856 Dickens and Wilkie Collins collaborated on a play, The Frozen Deep , and Dickens purchased Gad's Hill, an estate he had admired since childhood.
The Dickens family spent the summer of 1857 at a renovated Gad's Hill. Hans Christian Anderson , whose fairy tales Dickens admired greatly, visited them there and quickly wore out his welcome. Dickens's theatrical company performed The Frozen Deep for the Queen, and when a young actress named Ellen Ternan joined the cast in August, Dickens fell in love with her. In 1858, in London, Dickens undertook his first public readings for pay, and quarreled with his old friend and rival, the great novelist Thackeray. More importantly, it was in that year that, after a long period of difficulties, he separated from his wife. They had been for many years "tempermentally unsuited" to each other. Dickens, charming and brilliant though he was, was also fundamentally insecure emotionally, and must have been extraordinarily difficult to live with.
In 1859 his London readings continued, and he began a new weekly, All the Year Round . The first installment of A Tale of Two Cities appeared in the opening number, and the novel continued through November. By 1860, the Dickens family had taken up residence at Gad's Hill. Dickens, during a period of retrospection, burned many personal letters, and re-read his own David Copperfield , the most autobiographical of his novels, before beginning Great Expectations , which appeared weekly until August 1861.
1861 found Dickens embarking upon another series of public readings in London, readings which would continue through the next year. In 1863, he did public readings both in Paris and London, and reconciled with Thackeray just before the latter's death. Our Mutual Friend was begun in 1864, and appeared monthly until November 1865. Dickens was in poor health, due largely to consistent overwork.
In 1865, an incident occurred which disturbed Dickens greatly, both psychologically and physically: Dickens and Ellen Ternan, returning from a Paris holiday, were badly shaken up in a railway accident in which a number of people were injured.
A tribute to Dickens in the Hornet , 15 June 1870. Click on the image to enlarge it and for more details.
1866 brought another series of public readings, this time in various locations in England and Scotland, and still more public readings, in England and Ireland, were undertaken in 1867. Dickens was now really unwell but carried on, compulsively, against his doctor's advice. Late in the year he embarked on an American reading tour, which continued into 1868. Dickens's health was worsening, but he took over still another physically and mentally exhausting task, editorial duties at All the Year Round .
During 1869, his readings continued, in England, Scotland, and Ireland, until at last he collapsed, showing symptoms of mild stroke. Further provincial readings were cancelled, but he began upon The Mystery of Edwin Drood .
Last modified March 2004
To his legions of fans, who gobbled up best-selling serialized novels like The Pickwick Papers , Oliver Twist and A Christmas Carol , Dickens seemed like the ultimate Victorian-era family man. Born poor, he had lifted himself up through hard work and was living out his professed ideals of domesticity and moral rectitude with his wife, Catherine, and their large brood of children.
But the truth, as always, turned out to be more complicated. Within a year, Dickens’ infatuation with the then-18-year-old Ternan — known as Nelly — would lead to the messy breakup of his marriage, and launch a relationship that would last the remainder of his life.
Indulging his lifelong passion for theater and acting, Dickens was appearing in an amateur production of his friend Wilkie Collins’ play The Frozen Deep during that summer of 1857, when he decided to enlist professional actresses to take on the roles previously played by his friends and family. Through a theater friend, he hired Mrs. Fanny Ternan (née Jarman), who had been an acclaimed leading lady in England, Ireland, Scotland, and the United States in her younger days, and two of her three daughters, Maria and Nelly, to appear in the production.
Nelly had acted since was a child, but always in the shadow of her oldest sister, Fanny, who had been considered a prodigy. In her book The Invisible Woman , Claire Tomalin described the blonde, blue-eyed Nelly as she appeared at the time, just a few months before she met Dickens: “Everything about her signaled innocence and vulnerability. In her neat little dresses and ringlets, she could have stepped out of a fairy story.”
READ MORE: Charles Dickens Wrote A Christmas Carol in Only Six Weeks
By the mid-1850s, Dickens seems to have already been unhappy in his marriage, according to letters he wrote at the time . In 1855, he began writing to his first love, Maria Beadnell, whom he had courted unsuccessfully before meeting his wife, Catherine. But when the two met in person, she failed to live up to his romantic memories; he later wrote to an admirer that she had grown “extremely fat.”
After he met Nelly, things deteriorated quickly between Dickens and Catherine. They separated in May 1858, and Catherine moved out of both of the family’s houses. Dickens even used his paternal right to sole custody to cut off contact between her and their younger children. Catherine’s younger sister Georgina Hogarth, who had long lived with the family, took Dickens’ side, claiming that Catherine had neglected her own children.
As rumors flew that Dickens had left his wife for a younger woman (or even an incestuous love affair with Georgina), the novelist attempted some damage control. “Some domestic trouble of mine, of long-standing, on which I will make no further remark than that it claims to be respected, as being of a sacredly private nature, has lately been brought to an arrangement,” Dickens wrote in a statement published in the Times. “By some means...this trouble has been made the occasion of misrepresentations, most grossly false, most monstrous, and most cruel.”
In 2012, a long-lost letter surfaced that confirmed Dickens’ attitude toward Catherine at the end of their marriage, as well as his eagerness to get out of the situation and move on. In it, he instructs his lawyer to provide Catherine with £600 per year, or the equivalent of some £25,000 today. As biographer Michael Slater told the Telegraph at the time, “The tone of [the letter] is a man just desperate to get this separation business finished at almost any price and as fast as possible. It was generating bad publicity for him and he clearly found the marriage intolerable.”
Much of the gossip surrounding his marriage drama soon died down, thanks to Dickens’ determined efforts to hide Nelly’s growing importance in his life. In 1859, she moved into a London townhouse bought in her sisters’ names, presumably by Dickens. Nelly soon retired from acting and would remain largely isolated, aside from her mother and sisters, for the length of her relationship with Dickens. (Her father, also an actor, had died in an insane asylum when Nelly was young, possibly leaving her with a need for a father figure that Dickens, then in his mid-40s, fulfilled.)
As Dickens continued his prolific writing career in the 1860s, including his novels A Tale of Two Cities, Great Expectations and Our Mutual Friend , Nelly disappeared almost completely from view for several years. According to Tomalin, the evidence suggests she lived in France during this period, and may even have given birth to a child around 1862 to 1863, but that child died in infancy.
When she returned to England after 1865, Dickens installed Nelly in Slough, a town outside London, and saw her frequently between work and time at his family home in Gad’s Hill. Historians have pieced together clues to his complicated comings-and-goings from a pocket diary kept by Dickens for much of 1867 that was lost during his tour of the United States later that year.
Dickens’ veiled references to personal unhappiness in his correspondence near the end of his life led Tomalin to speculate that Nelly was unsatisfied with her life as the much-younger, secret mistress of the great man, even as she might have been financially (and otherwise) dependent upon him. Even if this was so, they remained attached until Dickens died in 1870, at the age of 58.
Georgina became the chief protector of her brother-in-law’s legacy and took care to keep his secret. It helped that Nelly launched a new life after Dickens’ death, shaving more than a decade off her age and marrying a much younger man, George Wharton Robinson, with whom she had two children.
Nelly and Dickens apparently destroyed all correspondence between them, and though rumors resurfaced in the 1890s, more definitive evidence of their relationship didn’t come out until long after her death in 1914 . Dickens’ daughter Katey confided the truth about her parents’ separation to a friend, Gladys Storey, who published her book Dickens and Daughter in 1939 after Katey and all of Dickens’ children had died.
Even as more historians and biographers investigated the relationship between Dickens and Nelly Ternan in the 1950s and beyond, others continued to argue that it was platonic, or merely an infatuation on Dickens’ part. But with the publication of Tomalin’s 1990 book and its film adaptation , released in 2013, Nelly Ternan’s story has grabbed the spotlight again, revealing the real woman at the heart of a Victorian icon’s scandalous private life.
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Charles dickens books, ranked and in order.
English novelist Charles Dickens. ... [+]
Charles Dickens was well ahead of his time and is one of the greatest writers of all time . Every character he created had a vivid personality and aura that appealed to readers in one way or another, and that is the primary ingredient that has made him one of the leading artistic prophets of his time. Born in 1812 in Portsmouth, England, Dickens later lived in Chatham and London, places that would become significant in his writing career, which took off in 1833. His writing style, influenced by his career as a journalist, could appeal to a wide range of people and he was known for his vivid descriptions, offering generations of readers a window into the social and economic issues of 19th-century England. This technique blended well with his predominant theme of social realism, highlighting the struggles of the poor and economic disparities. His interest in social justice issues was inspired by his experience as a clerk in a solicitor’s office and as a shorthand reporter in law courts. Some of his best-known works are Great Expectations , A Tale of Two Cities , and Oliver Twist , but Dickens also wrote numerous other novels, novellas, short stories , essays and posthumous anthologies, which I have compiled below.
If you’re looking to dive into Charles Dickens’s literary corpus, this guide will help you explore his novels in the order they were published and understand why each holds a special place in history.
English novelist Charles Dickens (1812 - 1870) at work in his study at his home, Tavistock House, ... [+] Bloomsbury, London, circa 1855. Painting by Edward Matthew Ward.
Today’s nyt mini crossword clues and answers for saturday, august 10, daniel cormier calls out ufc for protecting its ‘golden goose’, order of collections.
English actor Jack Wild in costume as the Artful Dodger in a film production of the musical ... [+] "Oliver!" based on the novel "Oliver Twist" by Charles Dickens, 1967.
Dickens is considered a literary genius and one of the greatest novelists of the Victorian era, which makes whittling down his greatest books list difficult. With 15 novels, five novellas, and numerous short stories published, there are many options to choose from, but these books are ranked for their popularity, memorable characters and the influence of his work on the evolution of literature.
Dickens had a reputation for breathing life into his characters, and he did just that in Dombey and Son . The story follows Paul Dombey, a cold and aloof wealthy businessman who owns Dombey and Son, a shipping company, and yearns for a son to follow in his footsteps. The plot kicks off with the birth of Paul Dombey’s son, who is born with health issues that he lives with until he eventually dies. Meanwhile, Paul’s daughter, Florence, yearns for her father’s love and approval, but he dismisses and ignores her. Dickens shows the importance of family love and the weight of regret for lost time.
Who should read this?: Readers who enjoy reading about complicated family dynamics and themes of regret and redemption.
Where to read this book: Simon & Schuster .
Nicholas Nickleby has been adapted for the stage and screen multiple times due to its engaging plot. The story was serialized from 1838 to 1839 and published as a book in 1839. It follows the naïve and violent protagonist Nicholas Nickleby, whose father suddenly dies after making poor financial choices. This death saddles Nicholas with the responsibility of caring for his family, and he turns to his heartless and morally corrupt uncle Ralph Nickleby for help. Ralph, however, is a cold man who would rather not be bothered with his late brother’s family. Dickens flexes some of his best comic writing in this story, with an undercurrent involving the struggle against injustice and prejudice.
Who should read this?: Nicholas Nickleby is perfect for readers who love a mix of humor and drama.
A scene from a stage adaptation of the novel "A Tale Of Two Cities" by Charles Dickens.
Many of Dickens’ stories centered around money: its lack, use or abundance. In Little Dorrit , Dickens explores themes of debt, family and social mobility through the story of Amy Dorrit, a child born in the Marshalsea debtors' prison and nicknamed “Little Dorrit” for her tiny size. Another protagonist is William Dorrit, Amy’s father, whose unsuccessful business ventures and bad debts landed him and his family in prison. Dickens’ masterful storytelling examines how people change when money is involved and critiques the cruelty of the debt system. This story is personal for Dickens, as his father was once a prisoner at Marshalsea for bad debt.
Who should read this?: This novel is ideal for readers who are fascinated by themes of poverty, debt and social mobility.
Where to read this book: Simon & Schuster.
One of Dickens’ earlier novels, The Pickwick Papers , follows four primary characters: Mr. Pickwick, the friendly founder; Tracy Tupman, a helpless romantic; Augustus Snodgrass, a failed poet; and Nathaniel Winkle, a failing athlete. Through their adventures across Rochester, Chatham, Bristol and Eatanswill, Dickens uses vivid imagery, social satire and comedic storytelling to invite readers into the colorful lives of each character, their amusing shenanigans, legal troubles and love affairs. The Pickwick Papers was serialized between March 1836 and October 1837.
Who should read this?: Readers who enjoy light-hearted, comedic adventures will love The Pickwick Papers . It’s a great literary choice for readers who appreciate social satire and character-driven humor, as well as fans of early Dickensian works.
Where to read this book: Macmillan Publishers .
One of the things that has made Dickens stand out as a literary genius is his core understanding of human suffering, and Hard Times is a prime example. In this story, Dickens takes an incisive look at English society and the socio-economic conditions of the mid-19th century. Set in the fictional industrial town of Coketown, the plot follows a “cause and effect” formula, showing how different characters’ choices are impacted by their circumstances. Dickens offers social commentary on the limitations of unimaginative, fact-based education aimed at increasing profit and how this mindset crippled the educational system of that era.
Who should read this?: Hard Times is perfect for readers interested in thought-provoking, issue-driven socio-economic critiques of industrial society.
In Bleak House , Dickens’ legal knowledge comes to the forefront with the story of the Jarndyce family, embroiled in a long-running lawsuit in the High Court of Chancery. The family hopes to get a settlement payout, but conflicting wills keep them in an extended court battle. Dickens’ Bleak House was so well-received that it contributed to legal reforms in the 1870s, which became part of the Judicature Acts.
Who should read this?: This novel is perfect for readers who enjoy detailed, multi-layered storytelling and the machinations of the legal system and social reform.
Where to read this book: Penguin Random House .
An illustration from "Oliver Twist" by Charles Dickens.
Oliver Twist remains one of the most well-crafted stories in literary history due to its multifaceted characters and emotional appeal. The story follows young orphan Oliver Twist, who escapes an orphanage to London, where he meets a gang of juvenile pickpockets led by the seasoned criminal Fagin. The story takes readers through Oliver’s navigation of London’s criminal underworld and its survival of the fittest implications. Oliver Twist is one of Dickens’ most well-known novels, bringing attention to the struggles of the poor and criticizing the workhouse system, contributing to social reform in Victorian England.
Who should read this?: Oliver Twist is perfecr for readers who enjoy gut-wrenching stories of struggle and survival.
The handwritten opening chapter of Dickens' "Great Expectations," 1861.
Often considered Dickens’ most autobiographical work, David Copperfield chronicles the life of the titular character from childhood to adulthood, exploring his failures, successes and triumphs. The story weaves elements of Dickens’ true life with fiction, offering readers an intimate understanding of Dickens’ ascent. Dickens famously referred to this novel as his favorite among his works. The novel is celebrated for its analysis of Victorian society and themes of social class, poverty, immigration and moral compartmentalization.
Who should read this?: This book is a must-read for readers who enjoy richly detailed character studies and insights into Victorian society.
A scene from chapter 17 of Charles Dickens' "David Copperfield."
A Tale of Two Cities opens with the iconic line, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times," setting the stage for a story full of contrasts. Set in London and Paris during the turmoil of the French Revolution, the novel revolves around characters whose destinies are intertwined by political events. The novel’s focus on resurrection, sacrifice, and the multifaceted nature of humanity has made it a classic . Dickens’ use of symbolism and imagery enhances the novel's themes and emotional appeal.
Who should read this?: This novel is ideal for readers who enjoy historical fiction with a strong narrative drive and strong symbolism.
Great Expectations is arguably Dickens's most critically acclaimed novel. This Bildungsroman follows seven-year-old orphan Philip "Pip" Pirrip, who lives with his older sister. The story is a profound look at Pip’s moral education as he navigates persecution and deception, ultimately finding redemption through his essential goodness. The novel's richly developed characters, including the convict Magwitch, the embittered Miss Havisham and the beautiful, cold Estella, offer a profound exploration of human aspirations and the consequences of personal choices. This is Dickens’s most finely crafted and moving book, harmonizing character and narrative to create a masterpiece.
Who should read this?: Fans of coming-of-age stories with a focus on personal growth and redemption will find this novel moving.
Bottom Line
Every one of Dickens’ novels gives readers a snippet into his world and appeals to a range of readers with many different palettes. Readers interested in social critique will find his works a treasure trove of commentary on the economic and social issues of the 19th century. Whether you are drawn to the emotional depth of David Copperfield , the social critique of Hard Times or the historical drama of A Tale of Two Cities , Dickens’ novels offer something new for everyone, making them important reading material for anyone looking to dig into classic literature.
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Charles Dickens (born February 7, 1812, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England—died June 9, 1870, Gad's Hill, near Chatham, Kent) was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian era. His many volumes include such works as A Christmas Carol, David Copperfield, Bleak House, A Tale of Two Cities, Great Expectations, and Our ...
Charles John Huffam Dickens (/ ˈ d ɪ k ɪ n z /; 7 February 1812 - 9 June 1870) was an English novelist, journalist, short story writer and social critic.He created some of literature's best-known fictional characters, and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era. [1] His works enjoyed unprecedented popularity during his lifetime and, by the 20th century, critics ...
Charles Dickens was a British author, journalist, editor, illustrator, and social commentator who wrote the beloved classics Oliver Twist, A Christmas Carol, and Great Expectations. His books were ...
Dickens, Charles John Huffam (1812-1870), probably the best-known and, to many people, the greatest English novelist of the 19th century. A moralist, satirist, and social reformer, Dickens crafted complex plots and striking characters that capture the panorama of English society.
Updated on June 18, 2019. Charles Dickens (February 7, 1812-June 9, 1870) was a popular English novelist of the Victorian era, and to this day he remains a giant in British literature. Dickens wrote numerous books that are now considered classics, including "David Copperfield," "Oliver Twist," "A Tale of Two Cities," and "Great Expectations."
Charles Dickens (1812 - 1870) was a Victorian author whose novels include A Christmas Carol, Oliver Twist, and Great Expectations. This short biography tells about his work and little-known aspects of his life. Table of Contents. The Childhood of Charles Dickens 1812 - 1824. Dickens Enters the Workforce 1827 - 1831.
Charles Dickens Biography. Charles Dickens was born on February 7, 1812, in Portsea, England. His parents were middle-class, but they suffered financially as a result of living beyond their means. When Dickens was twelve years old, his family's dire straits forced him to quit school and work in a blacking factory (where shoe polish was ...
Charles Dickens was a nineteenth-century British author and editor who wrote novels, short stories, comics, and novellas. He produced some of the most famous books of his time, including Oliver Twist, Great Expectations, A Tale of Two Cities, and A Christmas Carol.
Charles Dickens was born on February 7, 1812, the son of a clerk at the Navy Pay Office. His father, John Dickens, continually living beyond his means, was imprisoned for debt in the Marshalsea in 1824. 12-year-old Charles was removed from school and sent to work at a boot-blacking factory earning six shillings a week to help support the family.
Read a biography about the life of Charles Dickens the Victorian author whose epic stories (e.g. Great Expectations and A Christmas Carol) and vivid characters are unforgettable.
Charles Dickens, (born Feb. 7, 1812, Portsmouth, Hampshire, Eng.—died June 9, 1870, Gad's Hill, near Chatham, Kent), British novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period.The defining moment of Dickens's life occurred when he was 12 years old. With his father in debtors' prison, he was withdrawn from school and forced to work in a factory.
Early Life. Charles John Huffam Dickens was born at Portsmouth, England, on February 7, 1812, the second of eight children. His father, John Dickens, a clerk in the Naval Pay Office, was always ...
Catherine Dickens. (1815-1879) - Charles Dickens' wife, with whom he fathered 10 children. She was born in Scotland on May 19, 1815 and came to England with her family in 1834. Catherine was the daughter of George Hogarth, editor of the Evening Chronicle where Dickens was a young journalist.
Charles Dickens: Biography The most popular storyteller of his time, a zealous social reformer, the esteemed leader of the English literary scene and a wholehearted friend to the poor, Charles Dickens was an unrestrained satirist who spared no one. His writings defined the complications, ironies, diversions and
AUTHORS (1812-1870); PORTSMOUTH, ENGLAND. Born in Portsmouth, England, on February 7, 1812, author Charles Dickens will forever be linked to the streets of 19th-century London, where so many of ...
Few other scholars agree — not even Edgar Johnson, whose two-volume "Charles Dickens: His Tragedy and Triumph," published in 1952, was the first major modern biography.
Charles Dickens biography. Charles Dickens (1812 - 1870) Victorian novelist who created some of the most memorable characters in English Literature, while also criticising the worst excesses of Victorian society. Novels included Oliver Twist, Great Expectations and David Copperfield.. Early life. Charles Dickens was born in Portsmouth on 7 February 1812, to John and Elizabeth Dickens.
Charles Dickens Biography DICKENS, CHARLES JOHN HUFFAM (1812—1870), English novelist, was born on the 7th of February 1812 at a house in the Mile End Terrace, Commercial Road, Landport (Portsea)—a house which was opened as a Dickens Museum on 22nd July 2904. His father John Dickens (d. 1851), a clerk in the navy-pay office on a salary of £ ...
Charles Dickens (February 7, 1812 -- June 9, 1870), pen-name "Boz", was a very popular and prolific British author who lived and wrote during the Victorian Era. He was the author of over two dozen books, many of which are considered masterpieces of English literature. Though written for publication in serial form in magazines, the novels of ...
Charles Dickens Biography. Charles Dickens ( Charles John Huffam Dickens) was born in Landport, Portsmouth, on February 7, 1812. Charles was the second of eight children to John Dickens (1786-1851), a clerk in the Navy Pay Office, and his wife Elizabeth Dickens (1789-1863). The Dickens family moved to London in 1814 and two years later to ...
Charles Dickens 1812-1870. Charles Dickens was an extraordinary man. He is best known as a novelist but he was very much more than that. He was as prominent in his other pursuits but they were not areas of life where we can still see him today. We see him as the author of such classics as Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, Great Expectations, A ...
Charles John Huffman Dickens was born on 7 February, 1812 in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England (now the Dickens Birthplace Museum) the son of Elizabeth née Barrow (1789-1863) and John Dickens (c.1785-1851) a clerk in the Navy Pay Office. John was a congenial man, hospitable and generous to a fault which caused him financial difficulties ...
Dickens: A Brief Biography. harles Dickens was born on February 7, 1812, the son of John and Elizabeth Dickens. John Dickens was a clerk in the Naval Pay Office. He had a poor head for finances, and in 1824 found himself imprisoned for debt. His wife and children, with the exception of Charles, who was put to work at Warren's Blacking Factory ...
By 1857, when Charles Dickens met the young actress Ellen Ternan, he had been one of England's most famous men for the past two decades.. To his legions of fans, who gobbled up best-selling ...
English novelist Charles Dickens (1812 - 1870) at work in his study at his home, Tavistock House, ...[+] Bloomsbury, London, circa 1855. Painting by Edward Matthew Ward. Getty Images
Charles Dickens had a knack for creating fictional characters, dozens and dozens of them in every book, so vivid and so individualized in personality, with wonderfully distinctive names, that it ...