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Charles Dickens was born.
Charles Jhon Huffam Dickens was born in Portsmouth, England (on the southern coast of England). Charles was the second of eight children. His mother, Elizabeth Barrow, had an ambition to become a teacher or school director. His father, Jhon Dickens, worked as a naval clerk. The place of Charles' birth is shown in the picture. -
The family moved to Chatham, Kent.
Here, young Charles and his siblings were free to roam around. They particularly liked visiting the castle in Rochester, as shown in the picture. -
The family moved to Camden Town.
This was a poor neighbourhood in London and there, the family's financial situation became worse. A plaque marks his stay there, as shown in the picture. -
Going back to school
His father recieved a family inheritance to pay off his debts. By this time, Dickens was allowed to return home and go back to school. This image shows a sketch of Charles as a young man. -
Jhon sent to prison and Charles sent to work
Jhon Dickens was sent to Debtors prison, as the family was so low on money that they could not pay their debts. At the time, Charles was only 12 years old. As the eldest male in the house, Charles was forced to leave school and sent to earn money. He worked in a boot-blacking factory along the river Thames. Dickens only earnt 6 shillings a week. He felt abandoned and betrayed by adults who were supposed to take care of him. These feelings would be vital in his writing career. -
Charles works as an office boy
When he was 15, Dickens had to leave school once again. This time, he worked as an office boy. This job became an early jaunching point in his career. Within a year of hire, Dickens began reporting at law courts of London. A few years later, he was reporting for two major newspapers. -
Sketching
Dickens began submitting sketches to various newspapers under the pseudonym 'boz'. -
'Sketches by Boz'
Charles' clippings were compiled together in Dickens' first book: 'Sketches by Boz'. An image of the book is also above. -
Married Catherine Hogarth
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Released Oliver Twist
Oliver Twist was inspired by how Dickens felt as an impoverished child. The book was well recieved in England and America. -
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Publishing Books
Dickens published sever books. These include:
- The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby
- The Old Curiosity Shop
- Barnaby Rudge -
The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit
Charles published The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit. Over the next copule of years, Dickens published two Christmas stories. One was a classic 'A Christmas Carol'. An image of The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit is included above. -
Seperation
The couple had 10 children, before they seperated. -
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Death
Charles Dickens died on the 9th of June, 1870, at the age of 58, in, Kent, England. His final novel, 'The Mystery of Edwin Drood' was left unfinished.