His Life
Charles Dickens is much loved for his great contribution to classic
English literature. He was the quintessential Victorian author. His epic
stories, vivid characters and exhaustive depiction of contemporary life are
unforgettable.
His own story is one of rags to riches. He was born in
Portsmouth on 7 February 1812, to John and Elizabeth Dickens. The good fortune
of being sent to school at the age of nine was short-lived because his father,
inspiration for the character of Mr Micawber in 'David Copperfield', was
imprisoned for bad debt. The entire family, apart from Charles, were sent to
Marshalsea along with their patriarch. Charles was sent to work in Warren's
blacking factory and endured appalling conditions as well as loneliness and
despair. After three years he was returned to school, but the experience was never
forgotten and became fictionalized in two of his better-known novels 'David
Copperfield' and 'Great Expectations'.
Like many others, he began his literary career as a
journalist. His own father became a reporter and Charles began with the
journals 'The Mirror of Parliament' and 'The True Sun'. Then in 1833 he became
parliamentary journalist for The Morning Chronicle. With new contacts in the
press he was able to publish a series of sketches under the pseudonym 'Boz'. In
April 1836, he married Catherine Hogarth, daughter of George Hogarth who edited
'Sketches by Boz'. Within the same month came the publication of the highly
successful 'Pickwick Papers', and from that point on there was no looking back
for Dickens.
As well as a huge list of novels he published autobiography,
edited weekly periodicals including 'Household Words' and 'All Year Round',
wrote travel books and administered charitable organisations. He was also a
theatre enthusiast, wrote plays and performed before Queen Victoria in 1851.
His energy was inexhaustible and he spent much time abroad - for example
lecturing against slavery in the United States and touring Italy with
companions Augustus Egg and Wilkie Collins, a contemporary writer who inspired Dickens'
final unfinished novel 'The Mystery of Edwin Drood'.
He was estranged from his wife in 1858 after the birth of
their ten children, but maintained relations with his mistress, the actress
Ellen Ternan. He died of a stroke in 1870. He is buried at Westminster Abbey.
His Work
Wondering what books Dickens wrote? He was the author of 15
novels. (However, one of those is incomplete.) He also wrote short stories,
essays, articles and novellas.
The Pickwick Papers – 1836
The Pickwick Papers, also known as The Posthumous Papers of
the Pickwick Club, was the first novel of Charles Dickens. It was published by Chapman & Hall in monthly
installments from March of 1836 until November 1837. Dickens worked a very serious subject into comedic Pickwick
Papers, that of the injustice of the justice system.
Oliver Twist – 1837
The second novel of Charles Dickens was Oliver Twist. The
first edition had a longer title, Oliver Twist; or, The Parish Boy’s Progress. It was initially published in monthly installments that
began in February of 1837 and ended in April of 1839. The character Fagin was named after Bob Fagin, a fellow
employee that young Charles Dickens met when he worked at a blacking factory.
Nicholas Nickleby – 1838
The first installment of Nicholas Nickleby was published in
March 31, 1838 and the last installment was published in October 1, 1839. Dickens’s mother, Elizabeth Dickens, was the model for the
always-confused Mrs. Nickleby. Luckily for Charles she didn’t recognize herself
in the character. In fact, she asked someone if they “really believed there
ever was such a woman”.
The Old Curiosity Shop – 1840
The Old Curiosity Shop was published in installments in the periodical,
Master Humphrey’s Clock. The first installment was printed in April of 1840 and
the last was printed in February of 1841. Dickens was traumatized by the death of the book’s
character, Little Nell. As he was writing the novel he felt as though he were
experiencing the death of one of his children. It also brought back painful
memories of the death of his sister-in-law, Mary Hogarth.
Barnaby Rudge – 1841
Barnaby Rudge was published in installments from February to
November of 1841. It appeared in the magazine Master Humphrey’s Clock. The historical novel is set during the Gordon Riots of 1780.
Martin Chuzzlewit – 1843
Martin Chuzzlewit was first published by Chapman & Hall
in installments that began in January of 1843 and ran through July of 1844. The novel was written after Dickens traveled to America in
1842. The trip left Dickens with a very unfavorable impression of the United
States.
Dombey and Son – 1846
Dombey and Son was first published in installments that
began in 1846 and ran through 1848. Dickens gave a reading of the first installment of Dombey to
some of his friends. It went very well and gave Dickens the idea of doing
public readings.
David Copperfield – 1849
David Copperfield, Dickens’s eighth novel, was first
published as a serial. The first installment was published in May of 1849. The
last installment was issued in November of 1850. David Copperfield held a special place in Dickens’s heart.
In the preface to the 1867 edition, Dickens wrote, “like many fond parents, I
have in my heart of hearts a favourite child. And his name is David
Copperfield.”
Bleak House – 1852
Bleak House was published in installments from March 1852
through September 1853. This novel has the distinction of being perhaps the only
work of classic literature featuring a character that dies by spontaneous
combustion.
Hard Times – 1854
The novel first appeared in Dickens’s Weekly periodical,
Household Words. Hard Times was published in installments that began in April
of 1854 and ran through August of 1854. Hard Times takes an unsympathetic look at Utilitarianism.
This no-nonsense movement relied heavily on statistics, rules and regulations.
Little Dorrit – 1855
Little Dorrit was published in installments from December of
1855 through June of 1857. The Marshalsea debtors’ prison plays a large part in Little
Dorrit. What very few people knew was that Dickens’s father had been sent to
Marshalsea for three months.
A Tale of Two Cities – 1859
The first chapters of A Tale of Two Cities appeared in print
in April of 1859. The last chapter was printed in November of that same year. A play, The Frozen Deep, was the inspiration for A Tale of
Two Cities. Not only did the play give Dickens the idea for A Tale of Two
Cities, it brought about lasting changes to Dickens’s life in the form of Ellen
Ternan.
Great Expectations – 1860
Great Expectations was initially published in All the Year
Round, a weekly periodical founded and owned by Charles Dickens. There were
nine monthly installments, running from December of 1860 until August 1861. In the novel Pip, like Dickens himself, dreams of becoming a
gentleman. However, Pip comes to realize that there is more to life than wealth
and station.
Our Mutual Friend – 1864
Our Mutual Friend is the last novel that Charles Dickens
completed before his death. An interesting feature of the novel is its focus on the
“dust” business.
The Mystery of Edwin Drood – 1870
The Mystery of Edwin Drood was the fifteenth novel of
Charles Dickens. Dickens was only halfway finished with the book when he died.
