The Life of Charles Dickens
Early Life
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Charles Dickens was born February 7, 1812 in Portsmouth.
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He was the son of John and Elizabeth Dickens.
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Charles was the second of eight children.
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John was sent to Marshalsea Prison (debtors prison) and
brought his family with him except for Charles.
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Charles was put to work at Warren's Blacking Factory.
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Charles was twelve when his father was released.
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Charles was sent to private school from 1824 to 1827.
Young Adult Life
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1827: At 15, Charles found employment as an office boy with
an attorney.
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1830: Charles met and fell in love with Maria Beadnell, the
daughter of a banker. (Relationship ended in 1833.)
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1832: Charles began work as a reporter for a newspaper.
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1834: Charles adopted the famous pseudonym “Boz”.
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1835: He met and became engaged to Catherine Hogarth.
Catherine
Maria
Adult Life
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1836: Charles started a set of creative stories called The
Pickwick Papers.
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1837: November: The last installment of The Pickwick Papers
was published.
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Oliver Twist began and continued in monthly parts until April of
1839.
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Charles and Catherine's first child out of ten was born.
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Catherine's younger sister Mary, whom Dickens idolized, died.
To America
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America had welcomed Charles's books from the start.
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Charles longed to study America and its freedom first hand.
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Charles was excited to experience America, but later became
disgusted.
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In January of 1842, Charles and Catherine landed in Boston.
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Charles spoke everywhere of the need for an international
copyright that would protect the rights of both American and
British writers.
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He wanted to protect other writers such as Edgar Allan
Poe.
To America
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Late Life
1858: In London, Charles gave his first public reading for money.
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Charles and Catherine separated.
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1860: Great Expectations began in weekly installments until August
of
1861.
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1865: Charles was in poor health due to consistent overwork.
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1867: Charles returned to America for a second trip of a reading tour
that lasted until 1868.
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1869: Charles had a mild stroke.
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1870: Charles's final public readings took
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place in London.
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June 8, 1870: Charles suffered another stroke.
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June 9, 1870: Charles Dickens died.
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September 1870: The last episode of the unfinished Mystery of
Edwin Drood appeared.
Novels
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A Christmas Carol: A story about redemption of
a selfish and hard-hearted old man Ebenezer
Scrooge.
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Barnaby Rudge: A historical novel of the Gordon
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David Copperfield: a story about the struggles and
•
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**Is considered to be a fictionalize
account of Dickens's early life.
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Hard Times: a story of a number of different
characters and their growth through troubles and
time.
The Chimes: a story about self-respect and the
consequences of our choices.
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The Cricket on the Hearth: tells the story of John
Peerybingle and his love for his wife Dot.
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Martin Chuzzlewit: The Life and Adventures of Martin
Chuzzlewit is a brilliant satire on selfishness and
hypocrisy.
wealthy businessman, whose dream is to have a son •
to continue his business.
Pip and charts his progress through life.
Our Mutual Friend: satiric masterpiece and mysterious
story about money and its relations among the intriguing
characters.
Dombey and Son: a story about Paul Dombey, a
Great Expectations: a story about a boy named
Oliver Twist: a story of injustice and hope through the
eyes of orphaned boy who escapes to London.
obstacles of life that a young man overcomes.
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Nicholas Nickleby: a story of a young man and his
family dealing with the hardships in their life.
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story about the inheritance and absurdities of
English law in the 1850s.
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intriguing story of love, courage and self-sacrifice
during the French Revolution.
Bleak House: a tragic, romantic and complicated
Little Dorrit: a novel about disappointment and a satire
on the shortcomings of the government and society.
A Tale of Two Cities: A historial novel telling an
Riots in 1780, tells a story of individuals caught up
in the mindless violence of the mob.
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The Mystery of Edwin Drood: an unsolved mystery
about Edwin Drood (Dickens died before completing the
story, leaving the mystery unsolved).
The Old Curiosity Shop: tells the story of a young girl,
who lives with her grandfather in his shop of curiosities.
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The Pickwick Papers: a story about a man who is dealt
an injustice with the law.
Fun Facts
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Charles never attended college.
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Charles was not only a writer but a journalist, a director, and actor
of amateur plays.
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Charles suffered from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
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He had to touch certain things 3 times every day.
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He aligned every bed he slept in from north-south.
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He rearranged furniture in his home and couldn't concentrate
if it wasn't in the correct position.
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Charles had a book case with fake books with such silly titles as
Noah's Arkitecture and a nine- volume set titled Cat's Lives.
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A Christmas Carol was conceived and written in only a few weeks.
Charles Dickens
February 7, 1812 – June 9, 1870