One of the most influential figures of the 19th century was the Victorian writer Charles Dickens (1812 – 1870), whose extremely popular novels exposed the evils of the time. Charles John
Huffam Dickens was born in Portsmouth, England, on February 7, 1812 as the second of eight children of Elizabeth and John Dickens. His father, a clerk in the naval pay office, was a good man but incapable of managing money.
In 1824, when Charles was 12, John Dickens was imprisoned for debt in the Marshalsea prison. His entire
family went with him to jail, except for young Charles, who was sent to work in a shoe blacking factory to help support the family. His job was to paste labels on boxes. The working conditions were harsh, the hours long, and the pay poor. This traumatic experience was a turning point in his life that shaped much of his future writing.
Some months later, John Dickens was released from prison after he received an inheritance that enabled
him to pay his debts. But Charles’s mother wanted him to stay at work. Charles bitterly resented this. Fortunately, his father allowed him to return to school.
In 1827, Charles was forced to leave school for good as his family was evicted for unpaid rent dues.He found work as a clerk in a law firm. After learning shorthand,he became a court reporter. Soon, he graduated to
reporting parliamentary debates in the House of Commons. In 1832, he joined a newspaper as a reporter.
In 1833, he began contributing short stories and essays to periodicals under the pseudonym ‘Boz’. He tasted success in 1836 with the publication of Pickwick Papers, which won him international fame. He resigned his job as a newspaper reporter and became editor of Bentley’s Miscellany, a monthly magazine. The same
year, he married Catherine, the daughter of his friend George Hogarth, an editor. The couple were to have ten children.
After the success of Pickwick, Dickens started afull-time career as a novelist, while continuing his journalistic
activities at the same time. Between 1837 and 1844, he wrote Oliver Twist, Nicholas Nickleby, The Old Curiosity Shop, Barnaby Rudge, Martin Chuzzlewit and A Christmas Carol. The next few years saw him start and edit many periodicals (Daily News, Household Words, All the Year Round), direct and act in numerous amateur theatricals, and write several novels (Hard Times – 1854, Little Dorrit – 1863, A Tale of Two Cities – 1859, Great Expectations – 1861). He also started making public readings from his own works, which became very popular. Through these, he could combine his love of the stage with an accurate rendition
of his writings. While these readings earned him money and acclaim, they took a heavy toll on his health. In
all, he made about 400 such performances.
Through his books, Dickens actively fought for social issues such as educational reform, sanitary measures, and slum clearance. He created numerous memorable characters, such as Little Nell, Tiny Tim, Pip, and Mr. Micawber, whose popularity endures to this day. He was undoubtedly one of the most celebrated novelists of his day.
Dickens was an energetic person who led an extremely busy life. In 1867, the strain of overwork finally told on his health and he fell ill. But against his doctor’s advice, he continued on his punishing schedule, going on reading tours in America, England, Scotland and Ireland. Finally in 1869, he collapsed with a mild stroke. Further readings were cancelled.
He retired to his country residence and started work on his last book, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, which, however, was destined to remain unfinished. On June 8, 1870, Dickens had another stroke. The following day, he breathed his last.# Subscribe to Child Project Helper by Email
Huffam Dickens was born in Portsmouth, England, on February 7, 1812 as the second of eight children of Elizabeth and John Dickens. His father, a clerk in the naval pay office, was a good man but incapable of managing money.
In 1824, when Charles was 12, John Dickens was imprisoned for debt in the Marshalsea prison. His entire
family went with him to jail, except for young Charles, who was sent to work in a shoe blacking factory to help support the family. His job was to paste labels on boxes. The working conditions were harsh, the hours long, and the pay poor. This traumatic experience was a turning point in his life that shaped much of his future writing.
Some months later, John Dickens was released from prison after he received an inheritance that enabled
him to pay his debts. But Charles’s mother wanted him to stay at work. Charles bitterly resented this. Fortunately, his father allowed him to return to school.
In 1827, Charles was forced to leave school for good as his family was evicted for unpaid rent dues.He found work as a clerk in a law firm. After learning shorthand,he became a court reporter. Soon, he graduated to
reporting parliamentary debates in the House of Commons. In 1832, he joined a newspaper as a reporter.
In 1833, he began contributing short stories and essays to periodicals under the pseudonym ‘Boz’. He tasted success in 1836 with the publication of Pickwick Papers, which won him international fame. He resigned his job as a newspaper reporter and became editor of Bentley’s Miscellany, a monthly magazine. The same
year, he married Catherine, the daughter of his friend George Hogarth, an editor. The couple were to have ten children.
After the success of Pickwick, Dickens started afull-time career as a novelist, while continuing his journalistic
activities at the same time. Between 1837 and 1844, he wrote Oliver Twist, Nicholas Nickleby, The Old Curiosity Shop, Barnaby Rudge, Martin Chuzzlewit and A Christmas Carol. The next few years saw him start and edit many periodicals (Daily News, Household Words, All the Year Round), direct and act in numerous amateur theatricals, and write several novels (Hard Times – 1854, Little Dorrit – 1863, A Tale of Two Cities – 1859, Great Expectations – 1861). He also started making public readings from his own works, which became very popular. Through these, he could combine his love of the stage with an accurate rendition
of his writings. While these readings earned him money and acclaim, they took a heavy toll on his health. In
all, he made about 400 such performances.
Through his books, Dickens actively fought for social issues such as educational reform, sanitary measures, and slum clearance. He created numerous memorable characters, such as Little Nell, Tiny Tim, Pip, and Mr. Micawber, whose popularity endures to this day. He was undoubtedly one of the most celebrated novelists of his day.
Dickens was an energetic person who led an extremely busy life. In 1867, the strain of overwork finally told on his health and he fell ill. But against his doctor’s advice, he continued on his punishing schedule, going on reading tours in America, England, Scotland and Ireland. Finally in 1869, he collapsed with a mild stroke. Further readings were cancelled.
He retired to his country residence and started work on his last book, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, which, however, was destined to remain unfinished. On June 8, 1870, Dickens had another stroke. The following day, he breathed his last.# Subscribe to Child Project Helper by Email
