Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English novelist, journalist, short story writer and social critic. He created some of literature's best-known fictional characters, and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era. His works enjoyed unprecedented popularity during his lifetime and, by the 20th century, critics and scholars had recognised him as a literary genius. His novels and short stories are widely read today.Born in Portsmouth, Dickens left school at age 12 to work in a boot-blacking factory when his father John was incarcerated in a debtors' prison. After three years, he returned to school before beginning his literary career as a journalist. Dickens edited a weekly journal for 20 years; wrote 15 novels, five novellas, hundreds of short stories and nonfiction articles; lectured and performed readings extensively; was an indefatigable letter writer; and campaigned vigorously for children's rights, education and other social reforms.
Dickens's literary success began with the 1836 serial publication of ''The Pickwick Papers'', a publishing phenomenon—thanks largely to the introduction of the character Sam Weller in the fourth episode—that sparked ''Pickwick'' merchandise and spin-offs. Within a few years, Dickens had become an international literary celebrity, famous for his humour, satire and keen observation of character and society. His novels, most of them published in monthly or weekly instalments, pioneered the serial publication of narrative fiction, which became the dominant Victorian mode for novel publication. Cliffhanger endings in his serial publications kept readers in suspense. The instalment format allowed Dickens to evaluate his audience's reaction, and he often modified his plot and character development based on such feedback. For example, when his wife's chiropodist expressed distress at the way Miss Mowcher in ''David Copperfield'' seemed to reflect her own disabilities, Dickens improved the character with positive features. His plots were carefully constructed and he often wove elements from topical events into his narratives. Masses of the illiterate poor would individually pay a halfpenny to have each new monthly episode read to them, opening up and inspiring a new class of readers.
His 1843 novella ''A Christmas Carol'' remains especially popular and continues to inspire adaptations in every creative medium. ''Oliver Twist'' and ''Great Expectations'' are also frequently adapted and, like many of his novels, evoke images of early Victorian London. His 1859 novel ''A Tale of Two Cities'' (set in London and Paris) is his best-known work of historical fiction. The most famous celebrity of his era, he undertook, in response to public demand, a series of public reading tours in the later part of his career. The term ''Dickensian'' is used to describe something that is reminiscent of Dickens and his writings, such as poor social or working conditions, or comically repulsive characters. Provided by Wikipedia
Showing 1 - 20 results of 310 for search 'Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870', query time: 4.17s
Refine Results
-
1
David Copperfield / by Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870
Published 1991Call Number: Loading…Sample text
Located: Loading…
Contributor biographical information
Publisher description
Book -
2
Bleak House / by Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870
Published 2002Call Number: Loading…CONNECT
Located: Loading…
Electronic eBook -
3
Great expectations / by Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870
Published 2002Call Number: Loading…CONNECT
Located: Loading…
Electronic eBook -
4
Hard times / by Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870
Published 2002Call Number: Loading…CONNECT
Located: Loading…
Electronic eBook -
5
Oliver Twist / by Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870
Published 2002Call Number: Loading…CONNECT
Located: Loading…
Electronic eBook -
6
Great expectations. by Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870
Published 1939Call Number: Loading…
Located: Loading…Book Loading… -
7
Mr. Dickens goes to the play, by Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870
Published 1967Call Number: Loading…
Located: Loading…Book Loading… -
8
Hard times : an authoritative text, backgrounds, sources, and contemporary reactions, criticism / by Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870
Published 1966Call Number: Loading…
Located: Loading…Book Loading… -
9
Letters of Charles Dickens to Wilkie Collins, by Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870
Published 1892Call Number: Loading…
Located: Loading…Book Loading… -
10
Our mutual friend. by Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870
Published 1952Call Number: Loading…
Located: Loading…Book Loading… -
11
Oliver Twist, by Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870
Published 1941Call Number: Loading…
Located: Loading…Book Loading… -
12
Christmas stories. by Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870
Published 1956Call Number: Loading…
Located: Loading…Book Loading… -
13
Christmas books. by Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870
Published 1954Call Number: Loading…
Located: Loading…Book Loading… -
14
Master Humphrey's clock, and A child's history of England. by Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870
Published 1958Other Authors: “…Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870…”
Call Number: Loading…
Located: Loading…Book Loading… -
15
The life & adventures of Nicholas Nickleby. by Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870
Published 1950Call Number: Loading…
Located: Loading…Book Loading… -
16
The posthumous papers of the Pickwick Club. by Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870
Published 1948Call Number: Loading…
Located: Loading…Book Loading… -
17
The life of Our Lord. Written for his children during the years 1846 to 1849 and now first published. by Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870
Published 1934Call Number: Loading…
Located: Loading…Book Loading… -
18
David Copperfield ... by Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870
Published 1917Call Number: Loading…
Located: Loading…Book Loading… -
19
Great expectations. by Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870
Published 1942Call Number: Loading…
Located: Loading…Book Loading… -
20
The Dickens theatrical reader. by Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870
Published 1964Call Number: Loading…
Located: Loading…Book Loading…
Search Tools:
Related Subjects
Social life and customs
Orphans
History
Young men
Benefactors
Inheritance and succession
Investigation
Murder
Revenge
Actions and defenses
Stepfathers
Fathers and daughters
Men
Societies and clubs
Man-woman relationships
Ex-convicts
Pickpockets
Businesspeople
Christmas stories, English
Dysfunctional families
Family-owned business enterprises
Poor
Poor families
Young women
Children of prisoners
Debt, Imprisonment for
Grandparent and child
Social conditions
Christmas
Compulsive gamblers