Charles John Huffam Dickens
- Born:
- February 7, 1812, Landport, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
- Died:
- June 9, 1870, Gad's Hill Place, Higham, Kent, England
- Nationality:
- English
- Profession(s):
- Novelist, Journalist, Editor, Social Critic
Early Life and Education
- Experienced poverty and hardship in childhood due to his father's imprisonment for debt.
- Worked in a blacking factory at the age of 12.
- Received limited formal education, but was an avid reader.
- Worked as a law clerk and then as a freelance reporter before becoming a novelist.
Career and Major Achievements
- Began his writing career as a journalist and parliamentary reporter.
- Gained immediate popularity with the serial publication of The Pickwick Papers (1836-1837).
- Established himself as a leading novelist with works addressing social issues and Victorian society.
- Founded and edited periodicals such as Household Words and All the Year Round.
- Undertook extensive reading tours in Britain and the United States.
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 remains one of the most important and influential novelists of the Victorian era. His works continue to be widely read and adapted for film, television, and stage, demonstrating their enduring appeal and relevance to contemporary audiences. This entry about charles dickens biography in english highlights the key facts.