-
Birth
Born to John and Elizabeth Dickens. -
Dad Sent to Prison
John Dickens arrested and sent to the Marshalsea prison. Charles Dickens worked at the Warren's Blacking Factory.
Exact date unknown. -
Starts Working Again
Rejoins the workforce as the clerk of an attorney.
Exact Date Unkown -
Falls in Love
Dickens meets Maria Beadnell, his first love interest. -
Heartbreak
The relationship with Maria Beadnell ends
Exact Date Unkown -
First Book Published
A Dinner at Poplar Walk is published -
Name Swap
Began using the pseudonym "Boz".
Exact Date Unknown -
New Love
Meets his future wife, Catherine Hogarth.
Exact Date Unkown -
An Engagement
Becomes engaged to Catherine.
Exact Date Unknown -
Here Comes the Bride
Marries Catherine Hogarth.
Exact Date Unknown -
Pickwick Papers
The first chapters of The Pickwick Papers are published.
Exact Date Unknown -
It's a Boy 1/10
The first of his 10 children, Charles Culliford Boz Dickens, is born.
Exact Date Unkown -
The Death of a Sister
Mary Hogarth, Catherine's sister, dies.
Exact Date Unknown -
Publication
The publication of Oliver Twist begins.
Exact Date Unkown -
Travel
Dickens and Hablot Browne travel to Yorkshire to see the boarding schools.
ACTUAL DATE UNKOWN -
It's a girl!
His daughter, Mary, is born.
ACTUAL DATE UNKNOWN -
Publication
Publication of Nicholas Nickleby begins.
EXACT DATE UNKOWN -
It's a Girl!
His daughter, Kate, is born. -
Publication
Publication of The Old Curiosity Shop begins -
Publication
Barnaby Rudge is published. -
Tour!
Charles and Catherine tour Scotland. -
It's a Boy!
Their son, Walter, is born. -
Travel!
Charles and Catherine travel to America. -
Writing
Dickens begins work on Martin Chuzzlewit. -
Publication
A Christmas Carol is published. -
It's a Boy!
His son Francis Jeffrey (Frank) is born. -
Travel
Dickens and family travel to Italy. Treated Madame de la Rue with mesmerism. -
It's a Boy!
Another son, Alfred, is born. -
Travel
Dickens and his family travel to Switzerland. -
Publication
Publication of Dombey and Son begins. -
It's a Boy!
His son, Sydney, is born. -
RIP Fanny
Dickens' sister, Fanny, dies. -
Publication
The Haunted Man, his last Christmas book is published. -
It's a Boy!
His son, Henry Fielding Dickens, is born. -
Publication
The publication of David Copperfield begins. -
It's a Girl!
His daughter, Dora Annie Dickens, is born. -
uh-oh
Catherine Dickens suffers a nervous collapse. -
RIP John
John Dickens, the father of Charles Dickens, dies. -
RIP Dora
Dora Dickens dies when she is only eight months old. -
Publication
The publication of Bleak House begins. -
It's a Boy!
His son, Edward or "Plorn", is born. -
Reading
Dickens gives his first public reading of one of his works. -
Publication
Hard Times is published. -
Heartbreak
Dickens has a disappointing reunion with first love Maria Winter (Maria Beadnell). -
Publication
Publication of Little Dorrit begins. -
Writing
Dickens works with Wilkie Collins on The Frozen Deep -
Homeowner
Dickens purchases Gad's Hill Place -
Entertaining
Hans Christian Anderson is entertained at Gad's Hill Place -
New Love
Dickens meets Ellen Ternan -
Separation
Dickens separates from Catherine, his wife. -
Publication
A Tale of Two Cities is published -
Publication
Publication of Great Expectations begins in All the Year Round -
Father of the Bride
Daughter, Katie, marries -
RIP Alfred
Brother Alfred dies -
Burning Papers
Dickens burns his personal papers -
RIP Elizabeth
Dickens' mother, Elizabeth, dies -
Writing
Dickens begins work on Our Mutual Friend -
RIP Walter
Dickens' son, Walter, dies in India -
Printing
The first installment of Our Mutual Friend is printed -
Train Crash
Dickens is involved in the Staplehurst railway accident along with Ellen Ternan and her mother -
Travel
Dickens tours America for the second time -
Reading
Dickens gives his first Murder of Nancy reading -
Collapse
Dickens collapses and is ordered by doctors to discontinue readings -
Writing
Dickens begins writing The Mystery of Edwin Drood -
Final Reading
Dickens gives his final public reading -
Publication
Publication of The Mystery of Edwin Drood begins -
Death
Charles Dickens dies at Gad's Hill Place on June 9
