Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens

Who Was Charles Dickens?

Charles Dickens was a British author, journalist, editor, and social commentator, widely regarded as one of the most influential writers of the 19th century. He is best known for his iconic works such as Oliver Twist, A Christmas Carol, and Great Expectations. Dickens’ novels, published initially in monthly serial installments, became immensely popular and provided him with significant financial success, following a childhood marked by poverty. Over his lifetime, Dickens wrote 15 novels, including Nicholas Nickleby, David Copperfield, and A Tale of Two Cities, which offered vivid depictions of the harsh conditions faced by the poor and working class in Victorian England. His writing played a pivotal role in raising awareness of social injustices and contributed to societal reform. Dickens passed away in June 1870 at the age of 58, leaving behind a literary legacy that continues to shape the world of literature.

Early Life and Education

Charles John Huffam Dickens was born on February 7, 1812, in Portsmouth, England. He was the second of eight children born to John Dickens, a naval clerk, and Elizabeth Barrow, who aspired to be a schoolteacher. Despite their aspirations, the family struggled financially. In 1816, they moved to Chatham, Kent, where young Charles and his siblings enjoyed the freedom to explore the countryside, which later influenced his storytelling. Dickens was a frail child, often ill, and found solace in books. He avidly read works such as Robinson Crusoe, Tom Jones, and The Arabian Nights, fostering a love for literature that would shape his future career.

In 1822, the family relocated to Camden Town, London, where their financial difficulties deepened. John Dickens’ tendency to live beyond his means eventually led to his imprisonment for debt in 1824 when Charles was only 12 years old. This traumatic event forced Charles to leave school and work at a boot-blacking factory by the River Thames, where he earned 6 shillings a week labeling pots of blacking—a substance used to clean fireplaces. This experience left a profound mark on Dickens, influencing his writing and instilling in him a deep empathy for the working class.

After his father was released from prison, thanks to a family inheritance that cleared his debts, Charles was able to return to school. He attended Wellington House Academy in Camden Town, though he later criticized the institution for its poor teaching and harsh discipline. His time there inspired the character of Mr. Creakle, the tyrannical headmaster in his semi-autobiographical novel David Copperfield.

Life as a Journalist, Editor, and Illustrator

At the age of 15, Charles Dickens once again faced the abrupt end of his formal education. In 1827, he left school to work as an office boy, contributing to his family’s income. Despite this setback, the position became a stepping stone in his writing career. Within a year, Dickens began working as a freelance reporter at London’s law courts, and soon after, he was reporting for two of the city’s leading newspapers.

By 1833, Dickens had started submitting sketches to magazines and newspapers, using the pseudonym “Boz,” a family nickname. His first published story, “A Dinner at Poplar Walk,” appeared in London’s Monthly Magazine in 1833. This moment of seeing his work in print, as Dickens recounted in Dickens: A Biography, filled him with “joy and pride.” In 1836, his collected writings were published in his first book, Sketches by Boz.

Throughout his career, Dickens also worked as an editor. He edited prominent magazines like Household Words and later founded All the Year Round, where he published some of his most notable works, including Oliver Twist and A Tale of Two Cities.

Personal Life: Wife and Children

In 1836, the same year his first book was published, Dickens married Catherine Hogarth, the daughter of George Hogarth, editor of the Evening Chronicle. The couple had 10 children between 1837 and 1852. Their children included Charles Dickens Jr., who became a magazine editor, Kate Dickens Perugini, a painter, and barrister Henry Fielding Dickens. Another son, Edward Dickens, pursued a political career after emigrating to Australia.

Tragedy struck Dickens’ personal life in 1851, when he lost both his infant daughter, Dora, and his father, John. In 1858, he separated from Catherine, a rift that became public when Dickens publicly criticized her. He subsequently became romantically involved with a young actress, Ellen “Nelly” Ternan. The nature and timing of their relationship remain debated, with some sources suggesting it began before his separation from Catherine. Dickens made significant efforts to conceal Ternan’s presence in his life, even attempting to erase any evidence of their connection. These personal challenges, along with his losses, had a profound impact on his writing during what is referred to as his “dark novel” period.

Charles Dickens’ Books: ‘Oliver Twist,’ ‘Great Expectations,’ and More

Charles Dickens is best remembered for his fiction, producing 15 novels between 1836 and 1870. His first novel was The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, and his last, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, remained unfinished at the time of his death. Dickens’ novels were initially published in serial form, with monthly installments costing one shilling each, making them accessible to the general public. Despite the affordability, Dickens’ works were also admired by wealthier readers, including Queen Victoria.

His novels, particularly Oliver Twist and Great Expectations, provided a vivid depiction of the hardships faced by the poor and working class in Victorian England. His writings were instrumental in highlighting social injustices, contributing to a shift in societal attitudes. After enduring personal tragedies in the 1850s, Dickens’ works took on a darker tone, reflecting his more somber outlook on life. His “dark novels,” including Bleak House (1853), Hard Times (1854), and Little Dorrit (1857), are known for their intricate plots and complex characters, though they continue to offer the societal critique that was a hallmark of his earlier work.

Each of Dickens’ novels, listed below, showcases his ability to intertwine storytelling with social commentary:

  • The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club
  • Oliver Twist
  • Nicholas Nickleby
  • The Old Curiosity Shop
  • Barnaby Rudge
  • Martin Chuzzlewit
  • Dombey and Son
  • David Copperfield
  • Bleak House
  • Hard Times
  • Little Dorrit
  • A Tale of Two Cities
  • Great Expectations
  • Our Mutual Friend
  • The Mystery of Edwin Drood

Travels to the United States

In 1842, Charles Dickens and his wife, Catherine, embarked on a five-month lecture tour across the United States. During this period, Dickens articulated his opposition to slavery and expressed support for various social reforms. The tour commenced in Virginia and concluded in Missouri, drawing such large audiences that ticket scalpers began gathering outside his events. Biographer J.B. Priestley noted that Dickens received “the greatest welcome that probably any visitor to America has ever had.”

Reflecting on the attention he received, Dickens remarked, “They flock around me as if I were an idol,” highlighting his penchant for showmanship. Initially relishing the acclaim, he soon grew weary of the invasion of his privacy. Additionally, he expressed frustration with what he perceived as the Americans’ gregariousness and lack of refinement, sentiments he later detailed in American Notes for General Circulation (1842). This travelogue, written upon his return to England, offered a sardonic critique of American culture and materialism.

Following his critical assessment during this first tour, Dickens initiated a second visit to the United States from 1867 to 1868. This time, he aimed to mend his relationship with the public, delivering charismatic speeches that promised to commend the United States in revised editions of American Notes for General Circulation and Martin Chuzzlewit, his 1844 novel set against the backdrop of the American frontier.

‘A Christmas Carol’ and Other Works

On December 19, 1843, Dickens published A Christmas Carol, which would become one of his most enduring and cherished works. The novella features the iconic character Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserly old man who, with the help of the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come, discovers the true meaning of the holiday spirit. Remarkably, Dickens completed the book in just six weeks, beginning in October and finishing in time for the Christmas celebrations. Consistent with his earlier writings, the work served as a social critique aimed at highlighting the struggles faced by the impoverished in England.

The novella was an immediate success, selling over 6,000 copies upon its release. Readers in both England and America were moved by its profound emotional resonance; one American entrepreneur even granted his employees an additional day off after reading it. However, despite its overwhelming popularity, Dickens faced high production costs and disputes with the publisher that significantly limited his profits. He was further compelled to take legal action against publishers for producing unauthorized copies. According to Claire Tomalin’s Charles Dickens: A Life, A Christmas Carol became Dickens’ most popular work in the United States, selling over two million copies in the century following its initial publication. It is also among his most frequently adapted works, with portrayals of Ebenezer Scrooge by actors such as Michael Caine, Albert Finney, Patrick Stewart, Tim Curry, and Jim Carrey.

Following A Christmas Carol, Dickens produced several other Christmas novellas, including The Chimes (1844), The Cricket on the Hearth (1845), The Battle of Life (1846), and The Haunted Man and the Ghost’s Bargain (1848). In 1867, he also authored a stage play titled No Thoroughfare.

Death

On June 8, 1870, Dickens suffered a stroke at his home in Kent, England, after a day of writing The Mystery of Edwin Drood. He passed away the following day at the age of 58.

At the time of his death, Edwin Drood was in the process of serial publication and remained unfinished; only half of the planned installments were completed, as noted by biographer Graham Fido.

Dickens was laid to rest in Poet’s Corner at Westminster Abbey, where thousands of mourners gathered to pay their respects at the gravesite of the beloved author.

The preservation of 48 Doughty Street in London, Dickens’ residence from 1837 to 1839, was ensured by the Dickens Fellowship when the building faced demolition. It was subsequently renovated and now operates as the Dickens House Museum. Opened in 1925, the museum resembles a middle-class Victorian home, reflecting Dickens’ living conditions and housing a significant collection of artifacts related to his life and works.

Pop Culture Adaptations of Charles Dickens’ Works

Charles Dickens’ major literary contributions have frequently inspired adaptations across film and theater, with “A Christmas Carol” standing out for its numerous reinterpretations. One of the earliest Hollywood adaptations featured Reginald Owen as Ebenezer Scrooge in the 1938 film, while Albert Finney portrayed the iconic character in the 1970 musical “Scrooge,” sharing the screen with Alec Guinness as Marley’s ghost.

Innovative interpretations of Dickens’ narratives have emerged over the years. For instance, Michael Caine brought a unique charm to Scrooge in “The Muppet Christmas Carol” (1992), where Muppet characters filled various roles, with Gonzo the Great serving as a narrative stand-in for Dickens himself. Bill Murray offered a contemporary, comedic twist on the classic tale in the modern adaptation “Scrooged.” Furthermore, animated renditions of “A Christmas Carol” have also gained popularity, including the 2009 motion-capture film featuring Jim Carrey as Scrooge.

Beyond “A Christmas Carol,” other works by Dickens have similarly captured the interest of filmmakers. Renowned director David Lean is celebrated for his adaptations of “Great Expectations” (1946) and “Oliver Twist” (1948). The latter was transformed into the acclaimed stage musical “Oliver!” in 1960, which was later adapted into a successful film in 1968, directed by Carol Reed. This film won the Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Director.

In recent years, “The Personal History of David Copperfield” (2019) offered a comedic reinterpretation of Dickens’ personal favorite work, featuring Dev Patel in the lead role. Additionally, Barbara Kingsolver’s novel “Demon Copperhead” (2022) serves as a modern adaptation of “David Copperfield,” further showcasing the enduring relevance of Dickens’ storytelling.