Charles Dickens

Author of many classics

You are sure to have read books like Oliver Twist, David Copperfield and Great Expectations. These books provide us a lot of indepth information about 19th century London and the harsh lifestyles of that era(period of time). Charles Dickens, who was the author of these books, was very much a part of that harsh London and survived its hardships to become the greatest writer of the era.

So, how did his great story begin? Dickens was born on February 7, 1812, the son of John and Elizabeth Dickens. He had a rough childhood as his father, a clerk who was used to living beyond his means, was imprisoned for debt.

The 12-year-old boy had to give up schooling and start working at a boot-blacking factory, earning six shillings a week to help support his family. His experiences there are said to have scarred him for life, and it's said that he spoke of them only to his wife and to his closest friend.

After his father was released, despite his mother's insistence that he continue work at the factory, his father enrolled him in a school in London, where he studied between 1824 and 1827. At 15 years of age, he was employed as an office boy at an attorney's office, while he studied shorthand at night. This harsh and poverty-stricken childhood was a great influence on Dickens' later work.

In 1829, he became a freelance reporter at Doctor's Commons Courts. By 1832, he was a successful shorthand reporter of Parliamentary debates in the House of Commons, and began working as a reporter for a newspaper.

His first published story appeared in 1833, and was followed by many other stories and sketches. In 1835, he met and became engaged to Catherine Hogarth. They were married in 1836, and the same year, Dickens became editor of the newspaper Bentley's Miscellany.

The success of The Pickwick Papers, published in 1836/37, prompted him to enter a full-time career as a novelist, although he continued with his journalistic career. Oliver Twist was begun in 1837, and continued in monthly parts until April 1839.

The first of his 10 children, Charles was born in 1837. Work started on Nicholas Nickleby in 1838, and continued through 1839, in which year Dickens resigned as editor of the Bentley's Miscellany.

Foreign tours

During an 1842 visit to Canada and the United States, Dickens promoted international copyright and the abolition of slavery. A Christmas Carol, the first of many Christmas books which were massive successes, were first published in December 1844.

The same year, Dickens and his family embarked on a foreign tour, which continued until 1847, when they visited Italy, Switzerland, and France. This was the first of many foreign tours that they would make.

In 1845, Dickens' amateur theatrical company launched its shows. They would consume a great deal of his time from then on. From 1849 to 1850, he worked on David Copperfield, which is said to be the closest autobiographical work he has tackled.

Public readings

In 1853, he toured Italy and after returning to England, gave the first of many public readings of his own works, both in England and abroad. Three years later, in 1856, Dickens bought Gad's Hill, an estate he had admired since childhood; the family spent the summer of 1857 in this house after renovation.

Around 1865, poor health started to bother Dickens, which may have been a result of overwork. However, against his doctor's advice, he carried on with his work, writing, touring and giving public readings.

Dickens' final public reading took place in London in 1870. He suffered a stroke on June 8, 1870 and died on June 9, 1870. Although he wanted to be buried in a small cemetery in Rochester, due to public demand, he was buried in Poet's Corner, Westminster Abbey.

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Dickens' work

Dickens wrote 15 major novels and many short stories and articles. Here are some of the most well-known:

The Pickwick Papers
Oliver Twist
David Copperfield
A Tale of Two Cities
Great Expectations
Nicholas Nickleby
A Christmas Carol
Hard Times
Little Dorrit
Dombey and Son
The Battle of Life
Master Humphrey's Clock
The Old Curiosity Shop
Barnaby Rudge
American Notes
Martin Chuzzlewit
The Cricket and the Hearth
Pictures From Italy
The Haunted Man
Bleak House
Our Mutual Friend