Charles Dickens and his books
Ranked #12,431 in Culture & Society, #251,334 overall
Charles Dickens Started a Fad that has Returned
When the internet has become popular for selling downloads of novels chapter by chapter, or Amazon is selling chapters on Kindle it is a practice that Charles Dickens started as a popular format for selling his fiction in periodicals. Unlike other authors of the time he would publish one chapter at a time before penning the next. It made the practice of "cliffhanger"s most popular.
Charles Dickens experienced a rough childhood from a working class background. At a time his father was in debters prison because he chose to live beyond his means and could not meet the obligation. At the age of 12 he was first hired out to paste labels on boot polish for 6 shillings a week. That was enough to pay for his room and board and help support the family. The hard and cruel work conditions in the factory made quite an impression on Charles and shows in many of his works.
In May 1827 Dickens began work in the law office of Ellis and Blackmore as a clerk. He moved through positions as a junior clerk, articled clerk and qualified for admission to the Bar. Here he gleaned knowledge of legal processes of the period. It appeared that each position he held was for further background for his writing.
In 1834 he became a political journalist and he traveled and reported on parliamentary debate and to cover election campaigns. This is when he first 'sketches' appeared in periodicals and formed his first collection or pieces "Sketches by Boz". This was published in 1836 and led to the serialization of "The Pickwick Papers", his first novel in March of 1836.
Charles Dickens experienced a rough childhood from a working class background. At a time his father was in debters prison because he chose to live beyond his means and could not meet the obligation. At the age of 12 he was first hired out to paste labels on boot polish for 6 shillings a week. That was enough to pay for his room and board and help support the family. The hard and cruel work conditions in the factory made quite an impression on Charles and shows in many of his works.
In May 1827 Dickens began work in the law office of Ellis and Blackmore as a clerk. He moved through positions as a junior clerk, articled clerk and qualified for admission to the Bar. Here he gleaned knowledge of legal processes of the period. It appeared that each position he held was for further background for his writing.
In 1834 he became a political journalist and he traveled and reported on parliamentary debate and to cover election campaigns. This is when he first 'sketches' appeared in periodicals and formed his first collection or pieces "Sketches by Boz". This was published in 1836 and led to the serialization of "The Pickwick Papers", his first novel in March of 1836.
Charles Dickens penned much work before his untimely death.
Although he lived in England, Dickens traveled to America
America - because it was both Canada and the United States
In 1842,Dickens traveled to Canada and the United States with his wife for company. While there he gave lectures, raised support for copyright laws, and wrote about many of his impressions of America. While in New York he was the honored guest at the "Boz Ball" in the Park Theater with 3,000 of the most elite present. His trip is described in the travelogue "American Notes for General Circulation" and is the basis for "Martin Chuzzlewit". More information about Charles Dickens
- A Timeline of Charles Dickens
- This website chronicalizes Charles Dickens lifetime in a very concise manner.
Dickens Writing Styles
Humor, Satire, Realism - He tried them all.
Dickens used a variety in writing. He was fluid and poetic but he added a comic touch. He used satire to give his opinions of Britsh aristocratic snobbery. He also tended to mix fantasy with realism. We know that many of his characters came from his real life, at times you just wonder which ones. "The whole difference between construction and creation is exactly this: that a thing constructed can only be loved after it is constructed; but a thing created is loved before it exists."
Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens and His Neighborhood
Though many of these shots are from his theater productions it still depicts HIS London.
Charles Dickens the family man
He came from a large family and had a large family.
Charles John Huffam Dickens was born Febuary 7, 1812 in Landport, Portsmouth, in Hampshire, England. He was the second of eight children. His mother was Elizabeth and his father, John Dickens was a clerk in the Navy Pay Office at Portsmouth. When he was five the family moved to Chatham, Kent and again in 1822 they moved to 16 Bayham Street, Camden Town, in London.On April 2, 1836 he married Catherine Thompson Hogarth and they set up a home in Bloomsbury where they had ten children. His wife's sister, Mary, moved into their home to help care for the children and he became quite fond of her. She died in his arms in 1837. In 1856 he began a relationship with a woman, Ellen Ternan, who was a professional actress and did public performances of his play, "The Frozen Deep". The nature of his relationship was unknown because both he and Ellen burned their letters. The relationship did last through his life as he settled an annuity on her which made her financially independent at his death.
Dickens separated from his wife in 1858 but divorce was almost unthinkable for someone as famous as he was so he continued to maintain her in a house for the next 20 years until she died.
He died in June 9, 1870 he died in his home after a grueling lecture tour. He was buried in the Poet's Corner of Westminster Abbey even though he wanted to be buried at Rochester Cathedral. On his tomb it reads "He was a sympathiser to the poor, the suffering, and the oppressed; and by his death, one of England's greatest writers is lost to the world."
Dickens has graced us with such variety-----
but the Christmas Carol is probably the favorite!
A Christmas Carol
Amazon Price: $5.40 (as of 05/30/2012)
One of his classics - known to many a school child. It has come to us in all forms - theater, film, cartoon, children's books and the basic novel. Reading it in the original form is always a pleasure at the holiday season.
Charles Dickens - the Man
The amateur film master disclaims for some errors - he says he "got confused with the internet". Can't we all at time. Many facts are included with a peppy tune. Enjoy.
Charles Dickens is a topic of conversation every day.
- London echoes to Dickensian footsteps
- It is hardly the image of sporting prowess but the place, conjured by Charles Dickens, underpins important historical context for the 2012 Games and a reality that endures. The characters who visited this tavern "of dropsical appearance" in the 1860s ...
- Does Dickens have relevance for modern Britain?
- BBC Newsnight's Stephen Smith explores what modern Britain can learn from the works of Charles Dickens. He speaks to the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams who expresses an anxiety about the gulf between the top and bottom of society.
- Olympics-London echoes to Dickensian footsteps
- It is hardly the image of sporting prowess but the place, conjured by Charles Dickens, underpins important historical context for the 2012 Games and a reality that endures. The characters who visited this tavern "of dropsical appearance" in the 1860s ...
- Silver jug given by Charles Dickens to Welwyn man goes under the hammer
- A SILVER claret jug given by Charles Dickens to his close friend and confidant, William Henry Wills, who spent his final years at Welwyn, is up for sale. To send a link to this page to a friend, simply enter their email address below.
Until as adult I thought Charles Dickens was something to avoid - it was a Literature assignment after all.
What are your comments?
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lostinfiction
Dec 30, 2009 @ 9:56 am | delete
- I greatly admire Charles Dickens - his work has left such a lasting impact on our culture, and that truly is a mark of an incredible story-teller. For example, I was just reading on Infloox (see article here) about how a lot of our modern Christmas traditions actually date back to his story, "A Christmas Carol". Fascinating eh?
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jipock
Mar 5, 2009 @ 7:41 am | delete
- Great Lens!! 5*****
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lisasboutique
Feb 13, 2009 @ 12:30 am | delete
- thanks for the great info in your lens 5 stars
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heehaw
Jan 18, 2009 @ 5:43 pm | delete
- Hav not got a chance to read his books, any good books?
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singaporehosting
Jan 17, 2009 @ 12:33 am | delete
- Please, sir, I want some more. :) Yeap will love some more of such great lenses!
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