Charles Dickens

English novelist and social critic (1812–1870)

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About

Charles Dickens was a major English novelist of the 19th century. Born in Portsmouth, his childhood was marked by his father's imprisonment for debt and early work in a blacking factory. After becoming a journalist, he rose to fame with The Pickwick Papers. His novels, often serialized, depict Victorian society and its injustices. He is also known for his Christmas books and public readings. He died in 1870, leaving his last novel unfinished.

* 1812-02-07 — † 1870-06-09

Major works

  • The Pickwick Papers (1836)novel
  • Oliver Twist (1838)novel
  • A Christmas Carol (1843)novella
  • David Copperfield (1850)novel
  • Great Expectations (1861)novel

Key milestones

  • 1824Works at Warren's Blacking Warehouse, an experience that will mark his work.
  • 1836Marries Catherine Hogarth and achieves immediate success with The Pickwick Papers.
  • 1865Survives the Staplehurst rail crash, which traumatizes him permanently.

Themes

Social injusticeChildhood and povertyCritique of Victorian societyRedemption and transformationThe city and its contrasts

Sources: britannica.com · dev.westminster-abbey.org · catdir.loc.gov