Charles Dickens, son of John and Elizabeth, was born on February 7, 1812.
He was a lover of the theatre, aspired to be an actor, political reporter , reformer , philanthropist and father of 10 children.
He was the author of 16 novels over four decades.
His father was a Navy clerk, he had a middle-class childhood was sadly disrupted when his father’s finances or lack of, landed him in debtor’s prison.
When he was 12, Charles was forced to room with a family friend.
To pay for board, he worked long hard hours with poor children in a warehouse that made polish for shining shoes.
The hardship of these days left a mark on his writings and inspired a life's work for labor , especially child labor, reform.
In 1833 his first story was published.
Followed by The Pickwick Papers, Oliver Twist, Nicholas Nickleby, The Old Curiosity Shop, A Christmas Carol.
He wrote for a radical newspaper called the Daily News.
In 1859 he wrote A Tale of Two Cities, Great Expectations ( 1860) .
He died on June 8th, 1870.
I remember him as the snotty kid down the road.
ReplyDeleteAnd to think we thought he wouldn't amount to much!
LOL !!! Thank you for the good laugh ~
ReplyDelete