Charles John Huffam DickensCharles John Huffam Dickens7 February 18127 February 1812

PortsmouthPortsmouth, England, England

BiographyBiography The second of eight children to The second of eight children to

John Dickens a clerk in the John Dickens a clerk in the Navy Pay OfficeNavy Pay Office at Portsmouth, at Portsmouth, and his wife, Elizabeth .and his wife, Elizabeth .

When he was five, the family When he was five, the family moved to moved to Chatham, KentChatham, Kent. In . In 1822, when he was ten, the 1822, when he was ten, the family relocated to 16 Bayham family relocated to 16 Bayham Street, Street, Camden TownCamden Town, in , in London. London.

the 12-year-old Dickens had the 12-year-old Dickens had begun begun workingworking ten-hour days ten-hour days at Warren's at Warren's BlackingBlacking WarehouseWarehouse

First workFirst work Although Dickens eventually attended the Wellington Although Dickens eventually attended the Wellington

House Academy in House Academy in North LondonNorth London In May 1827, Dickens began work, in the law office of In May 1827, Dickens began work, in the law office of

Ellis and Blackmore, as a Ellis and Blackmore, as a clerkclerk. It was a junior position, . It was a junior position, but, as an but, as an articled clerkarticled clerk, Dickens would eventually , Dickens would eventually qualify for admissionqualify for admission to the to the BarBar, and it was there that he , and it was there that he gleaned his detailed knowledge of legal processes of the gleaned his detailed knowledge of legal processes of the period. period.

At the age of seventeen, he became a court At the age of seventeen, he became a court stenographerstenographer and, in 1830, met his first love, Maria and, in 1830, met his first love, Maria Beadnell. It is believed that she was the model for the Beadnell. It is believed that she was the model for the character Dora in character Dora in David CopperfieldDavid Copperfield. Maria's parents . Maria's parents disapproved of the courtship and effectively ended the disapproved of the courtship and effectively ended the relationship by sending her to school in Paris.relationship by sending her to school in Paris.

Journalism and early novelsJournalism and early novels In 1834, Dickens became a political In 1834, Dickens became a political

journalist, reporting on parliamentary journalist, reporting on parliamentary debate and travelling across debate and travelling across BritainBritain by by stagecoachstagecoach to cover election campaigns to cover election campaigns for the for the Morning ChronicleMorning Chronicle. .

His journalism, in the form of sketches His journalism, in the form of sketches which appeared in periodicals from 1833, which appeared in periodicals from 1833, formed his first collection of pieces formed his first collection of pieces Sketches by BozSketches by Boz which were published in which were published in 1836 and led to the serialization of his first 1836 and led to the serialization of his first novel, novel, The Pickwick PapersThe Pickwick Papers, in March , in March 1836. 1836.

Also in 1836, Dickens accepted the job of Also in 1836, Dickens accepted the job of editor of editor of Bentley's MiscellanyBentley's Miscellany. .

At the same time, his success as a At the same time, his success as a novelist continued, producing novelist continued, producing Oliver TwistOliver Twist (1837-39), (1837-39), Nicholas NicklebyNicholas Nickleby (1838-39), (1838-39), The Old Curiosity ShopThe Old Curiosity Shop and, finally, and, finally, Barnaby Rudge: A Tale of the Riots of 'EiBarnaby Rudge: A Tale of the Riots of 'Eightyghty as part of the as part of the Master Humphrey's ClockMaster Humphrey's Clock series (1840-41)—all published in series (1840-41)—all published in monthly instalments before being made monthly instalments before being made into books. into books.

After living briefly abroad in After living briefly abroad in Italy (1844) and Switzerland Italy (1844) and Switzerland (1846), Dickens continued his (1846), Dickens continued his success with success with

Dombey and SonDombey and Son (1848); (1848); David CopperfieldDavid Copperfield (1849-50); (1849-50); Bleak HouseBleak House (1852-53); (1852-53); Hard TimesHard Times (1854); (1854); Little DorritLittle Dorrit (1857); (1857); A Tale of Two CitiesA Tale of Two Cities (1859); (1859); Great ExpectationsGreat Expectations (1861). (1861). Dickens was also the publisher Dickens was also the publisher

and editor of, and a major and editor of, and a major contributor to, the journals contributor to, the journals Household WordsHousehold Words (1850 – (1850 – 1859) and 1859) and All the Year RoundAll the Year Round (1858-1870). (1858-1870).

Literary styleLiterary style Dickens's writing style is florid and Dickens's writing style is florid and

poetic, with a strong comic touch. His poetic, with a strong comic touch. His satiressatires of British aristocratic snobbery of British aristocratic snobbery—he calls one character the "Noble —he calls one character the "Noble Refrigerator"—are often popular. Refrigerator"—are often popular. Many of his character's names Many of his character's names provide the reader with a hint as to provide the reader with a hint as to the roles played in advancing the the roles played in advancing the storyline, such as Mr. Murdstone in storyline, such as Mr. Murdstone in the novel David Copperfield, which is the novel David Copperfield, which is clearly a combination of "murder" and clearly a combination of "murder" and stony coldness. His literary style is stony coldness. His literary style is also a mixture of also a mixture of fantasyfantasy and and realismrealism. .

Dickens loved the style of 18th Dickens loved the style of 18th century century gothic romancegothic romance,although it ,although it had already become a target for had already become a target for parodyparody. .

Last years Last years In 1868 his second American reading tour.In 1868 his second American reading tour. in New York, he gave 22 readings at Steinway in New York, he gave 22 readings at Steinway

Hall between 9 December 1867 and 20 April Hall between 9 December 1867 and 20 April 18681868

at Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims between at Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims between 16 January and 21 January 1868. 16 January and 21 January 1868.

Dickens boarded his ship to return to Britain on Dickens boarded his ship to return to Britain on 23 April 1868, barely escaping a Federal Tax 23 April 1868, barely escaping a Federal Tax Lien against the proceeds of his lecture tour.Lien against the proceeds of his lecture tour.

During 1869 readings continued, in England, During 1869 readings continued, in England, Scotland, and Ireland, until at last he Scotland, and Ireland, until at last he collapsed, showing symptoms of mild stroke. collapsed, showing symptoms of mild stroke. Dickens's final public readings took place in Dickens's final public readings took place in London in 1870. London in 1870.

He suffered another stroke on 8 June at Gad's He suffered another stroke on 8 June at Gad's Hill, after a full day's work on Hill, after a full day's work on Edwin DroodEdwin Drood, , and five years to the day after the Staplehurst and five years to the day after the Staplehurst crash, on 9 June 1870, he died at his home in crash, on 9 June 1870, he died at his home in Gad's Hill Place. Gad's Hill Place.

Museums and festivalsMuseums and festivals There are museums and festivals celebrating There are museums and festivals celebrating

Dickens's life and works in many of the towns with Dickens's life and works in many of the towns with which he was associated.which he was associated.

The The Charles Dickens MuseumCharles Dickens Museum, in Doughty Street, , in Doughty Street, HolbornHolborn is the only one of Dickens's London homes is the only one of Dickens's London homes to survive. He lived there only two years but in that to survive. He lived there only two years but in that time wrote time wrote The Pickwick PapersThe Pickwick Papers, , Oliver TwistOliver Twist, and , and Nicholas NicklebyNicholas Nickleby. It contains a major collection of . It contains a major collection of manuscripts, original furniture and memorabilia. manuscripts, original furniture and memorabilia.

Charles Dickens' Birthplace MuseumCharles Dickens' Birthplace Museum in in PortsmouthPortsmouth is the house in which Dickens was born. is the house in which Dickens was born. It has been re-furnished in the likely style of 1812 and It has been re-furnished in the likely style of 1812 and contains Dickens memorabilia. contains Dickens memorabilia.

The The Dickens House MuseumDickens House Museum in in BroadstairsBroadstairs is the is the house of Miss house of Miss Mary Pearson StrongMary Pearson Strong, the basis for , the basis for Miss Miss Betsey TrotwoodBetsey Trotwood in in David CopperfieldDavid Copperfield. It is . It is visible across the bay from the original Bleak House visible across the bay from the original Bleak House (also a museum until 2005) where (also a museum until 2005) where David CopperfieldDavid Copperfield was written. The museum contains memorabilia, was written. The museum contains memorabilia, general Victoriana and some of Dickens's letters. general Victoriana and some of Dickens's letters. Broadstairs has held a Broadstairs has held a Dickens FestivalDickens Festival annually annually since 1937. since 1937.

The The Charles Dickens CentreCharles Dickens Centre in Eastgate House, in Eastgate House, RochesterRochester, closed in 2004, but the garden containing , closed in 2004, but the garden containing the author's Swiss the author's Swiss chaletchalet is still open. is still open.

Dickens FestivalDickens Festival Dickens FestivalDickens Festival in in Rochester, KentRochester, Kent. .

Summer DickensSummer Dickens is held at the end of is held at the end of May or in the first few days of June, it May or in the first few days of June, it commences with an invitation only ball on commences with an invitation only ball on the Thursday and then continues with the Thursday and then continues with street entertainment, and many costumed street entertainment, and many costumed characters, on the Friday, Saturday and characters, on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday.Sunday.

Christmas DickensChristmas Dickens is the first weekend is the first weekend in December- Saturday and Sunday only. in December- Saturday and Sunday only. The The Riverside Dickens FestivalRiverside Dickens Festival in in Riverside, CaliforniaRiverside, California, includes literary , includes literary studies as well as entertainmentsstudies as well as entertainments