Charles Dickens, the most acclaimed writer of the Victorian era, had a difficult childhood and worked as a law reporter before becoming a successful writer. He founded two magazines and wrote numerous novels, including David Copperfield, Bleak House, and A Tale of Two Cities. He was a critic of his era and his works influenced the Reformation. He died in 1870, leaving his last novel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, unfinished.
Charles Dickens (1812-1870) is the most acclaimed writer of the Victorian era. His childhood was difficult. He received some education, but his father was indiscriminate with his money, and when he was 12, John was jailed for debt at the Marshalsea. He went to work blackening the bottles. This first experience, after some success at school, hurt him deeply. He reflects on it in his semi-autobiographical novel, David Copperfield, as well as in the novel Little Dorrit, which deals specifically with the Marshalsea.
When his father paid off the debt, Charles Dickens resumed his studies. He studied law and became a law reporter for Doctors Commons, the prosecutors who audited wills and also defended laws relating to seafarers and relating to the Church of England. His views on prosecutors make their way both in Copperfield and in his masterful Bleak House.
In the 1830s he began writing opinion pieces and short stories and became a contributor to several magazines. He would found his magazines “Household Words” and “All the Year Round” in 1850. These magazines featured work by Wilkie Collins and Elizabeth Gaskell, as well as numerous contributions of essays and sketches by Dickens.
Charles Dickens saw his first novel Sketches Boz published in 1836. Pickwick Papers followed in 1837. Pickwick certainly represents his humor and was very well received by the public at the time. It is now considered by many critics to be a good humorous read, but unimpressive in comparison with Dickens’ later works.
In 1836, Charles Dickens married Catherine Hogarth, with whom he had 10 children. The novelist fell deeply in love with Catherine’s sister Mary, who died at the age of 17. Mary is thought to be the model for Dickens’ devoted and infinitely good female characters in most of his novels. In David Copperfield, Catherine is thought to represent Dora, the young bride who is actually not right for David, while Maria represents Agnes, the ever-faithful woman who marries David when Dora dies. The novel represents wishful thinking on the part of Charles Dickens, who separated from Catherine in 1858.
Other early novels by Charles Dickens include: Oliver Twist in 1837, Nicholas Nickle in 1838, The Old Curiosity Shop and BarnaRudge both published in 1841. 1843 saw the publication of the work for which he is probably most recognized, The Christmas Carol, actually a short story compared to his other novels.
David Copperfield was published in 1849. Bleak House, The Tale of Two Cities, Great Expectations and Our Mutual Friend are all from his later period and represent his maturity. Mutual Friend is considered by many to be his best work. Contains over 50 characters. The novel evaluates social strata, the nouveau riche, moneylending, treatment of Jews, and a host of other topics as it explores a top-notch mystery. Others consider Bleak House, also rich in character, to be the best of Dickens’ work in its scathing criticism of proctory and most people’s ignorance of the unbearable lives of the poor.
A Tale of Two Cities examines the French Revolution. Charles Dickens echoes the fear of many that England’s indifference to the impoverished during the Industrial Revolution would lead to a revolt by the poor as happened in France. In this respect, he is partially right, as much rioting took place in England, although the British Army stopped it, causing numerous deaths and further suffering.
Charles Dickens remained a critic of his era, and was so popular that his works can be said to have partly influenced the Reformation. He was also admired in the United States, although many of his serials were pirated, resulting in him attempting to change the copyright status in order to be reimbursed for his work. He has toured the United States as a lecturer, and his nonfiction work American Notes represents his critical attitude toward Americans.
Charles Dickens continued to write and lecture until shortly before his death in 1870. His last novel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, was unfinished. His contemporaries, and later critics, admired his characters and complex plots.
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