Charles Dickens Biography

A study of Charles Dickens' biography reveals that much of his life was mirrored in his written work, including events he experienced and people he met. As one of England's most successful authors and lecturers, Dickens spent his life campaigning for social reform and bringing the trials of the poor and suffering to the public eye.

Early Years
Charles Dickens was born in 1812 to John and Elizabeth Dickens, in Landport, Portsmouth, England. They later moved to Kent, and then London. He enjoyed a typical middle-class childhood until about the age of 12, when his father was imprisoned for unpaid debts, and the entire family of eight children and their mother joined John Dickens in debtor's prison, except for young Charles. He was sent to work at a shoe blacking factory and worked 10-hour days, 6 days per week. The factory conditions were deplorable, and the hundreds of child laborers were harshly treated.

Eventually, he stopped working at the factory and attended school. At age 15, Dickens worked at an attorney's office as an errand boy and clerk, learning shorthand. In 1829, he became a court reporter, taking down complicated legal cases in shorthand and reporting the events to local papers.

Writing Years
When Dickens was 21 years old, his first published story appeared, the first of a string of letters and stories. A few years later, he assumed a pseudonym, "Boz," and successfully published Sketches by Boz. He married Catherine Hogarth in 1836 and also published a second work, Pickwick Papers. He also took a position as an editor and set out to become a novelist.

Dickens wrote successful novels in the 1830s and 1840s, including Oliver Twist, Nicholas Nickleby, The Old Curiosity Shop and the Master Humphrey's Clock series. These were followed by A Christmas Carol, Dombey and Son and David Copperfield. The novels were enormously successful and propelled Dickens to fame and fortune. A Christmas Carol in particular touched hearts and involved one of the most famous Dickens quotes: "Reflect upon your present blessings-of which every man has many-not your misfortunes, of which all men have some."

Dickens spent some time in the United States, lecturing, meeting dignitaries and lobbying for the abolition of slavery. Much of his later life was spent participating in philanthropic endeavors, writing, giving public readings, engaging in amateur theater and traveling with his 9 living children (a baby died in infancy). He kept writing, and his later works included A Tale of Two Cities, Great Expectations, All the Year Round and numerous plays. He died of a stroke on June 9, 1870, in Kent.