Charles Dickens(1812-1870)
- Writer
- Additional Crew
- Soundtrack
Charles Dickens' father was a clerk at the Naval Pay Office, and
because of this the family had to move from place to place: Plymouth,
London, Chatham. It was a large family and despite hard work, his
father couldn't earn enough money. In 1823 he was arrested for debt and
Charles had to start working in a factory, labeling bottles for six
shillings a week. The economy eventually improved and Charles was able
to go back to school. After leaving school, he started to work in a
solicitor's office. He learned shorthand and started as a reporter
working for the Morning Chronicle in courts of law and the House of
Commons. In 1836 his first novel was published, "The Pickwick Papers".
It was a success and was followed by more novels: "Oliver Twist"
(1837), "Nicholas Nickleby" (1838-39) and "Barnaby Rudge" (1841). He
traveled to America later that year and aroused the hostility of the
American press by supporting the abolitionist (anti-slavery) movement.
In 1858 he divorced his wife Catherine, who had borne him ten children.
During the 1840s his social criticism became more radical and his
comedy more savage: novels like "David Copperfield" (1849-50), "A Tale
of Two Cities" (1959) and "Great Expectations" (1860-61) only increased
his fame and respect. His last novel, "The Mystery of Edwin Drood", was
never completed and was later published posthumously.
because of this the family had to move from place to place: Plymouth,
London, Chatham. It was a large family and despite hard work, his
father couldn't earn enough money. In 1823 he was arrested for debt and
Charles had to start working in a factory, labeling bottles for six
shillings a week. The economy eventually improved and Charles was able
to go back to school. After leaving school, he started to work in a
solicitor's office. He learned shorthand and started as a reporter
working for the Morning Chronicle in courts of law and the House of
Commons. In 1836 his first novel was published, "The Pickwick Papers".
It was a success and was followed by more novels: "Oliver Twist"
(1837), "Nicholas Nickleby" (1838-39) and "Barnaby Rudge" (1841). He
traveled to America later that year and aroused the hostility of the
American press by supporting the abolitionist (anti-slavery) movement.
In 1858 he divorced his wife Catherine, who had borne him ten children.
During the 1840s his social criticism became more radical and his
comedy more savage: novels like "David Copperfield" (1849-50), "A Tale
of Two Cities" (1959) and "Great Expectations" (1860-61) only increased
his fame and respect. His last novel, "The Mystery of Edwin Drood", was
never completed and was later published posthumously.