Charles John Huffam Dickens
- Born:
- 7 February 1812, Landport, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
- Died:
- 9 June 1870, Gad's Hill Place, Higham, Kent, England
- Nationality:
- British
- Profession(s):
- Novelist, Journalist, Editor, Social Critic, Actor
Early Life and Education
- Born into a large family facing financial difficulties.
- His father, John Dickens, was imprisoned for debt, significantly impacting Charles's childhood.
- Worked in a blacking factory at the age of 12, an experience that deeply affected him and later informed his writing.
- Received some formal education, but his experiences in poverty were a greater influence.
Career and Major Achievements
- Began his literary career as a journalist, reporting on parliamentary debates and court cases.
- Achieved rapid success with his serialized novels, published in installments.
- Founded and edited several weekly magazines, including Household Words and All the Year Round.
- Undertook numerous public readings of his works, becoming a popular performer.
- Used his writing to address social issues, advocate for reform, and critique Victorian society.
Notable Works
- The Pickwick Papers (1836)
- Oliver Twist (1838)
- Nicholas Nickleby (1839)
- A Christmas Carol (1843)
- David Copperfield (1850)
- Bleak House (1853)
- A Tale of Two Cities (1859)
- Great Expectations (1861)
- Our Mutual Friend (1865)
- The Mystery of Edwin Drood (unfinished, 1870)
Legacy and Impact
Charles Dickens is recognized as one of the greatest novelists of the Victorian era and a significant figure in English literature. His works continue to be widely read, adapted, and studied. The information presented here is what one might expect in an entry concerning 'about charles dickens biography', designed for concise reference.