Biography Of Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens was born February 7, 1812 in Landport, Portsea, to a middle-class family. His father John Dickens worked as a clerk in the local Navy Pay-Office, and his mother was Elizabeth. Soon after his birth, Charles moved to Norfolk, temporarily, and then to London and finally to Chatham. (Bloom 1-3)

A few years later, in 1821, the Navy made internal reforms, and Charles's father lost his job, leaving the family poor and without steady income (Bloom 7). Due to this, the family moved to Camden Town, London in search of work. Just under three years later, Charles's father was arrested and thrown into debtors' prison along with the family, excluding Charles. With only twelve years under his belt, Charles was sent to work at the Warren's Blacking factory to repay the debts. He originally stayed in Camden and walked over four miles to work everyday, but he soon moved closer so that he could see his family easier.(Chesterton 7)

After four months of working at the blacking factory, Charles's family was released from prison and Charles was allowed to stop working. Instead, he was sent to school to study after the family moved back into Camden Town (Miller 27-35). After his father inherited a small legacy, he was allowed to go to private schools and his father sent him off to Wellington House Academy in London from 1824-1827, and then to Mr. Dawson's school in 1827(Miller 27-35). Charles was educated highly here and soon after completing school he worked as a law office clerk from 1827-1828(Miller 27-35). Not seeming to enjoy this profession, Charles decided to work instead as a shorthand reporter at the Doctor's Commons. This is where his love of writing started. He began to write for magazines under the alias Boz, a nickname ...

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...llen Lawless Ternan whom he met after she joined his theater company in 1858. Ellen was very loquacious and inspired many characters in Dickens's later novels. She was very headstrong and left a great impression in Charles Dickens's head when she left him in 1870, the year which he died. (Chesterton 7-23)

Charles Dickens suffered from two strokes in his later life which lead to his death on June 9th, 1870 while in the process of completing his final work, "The Mystery of Edwin Drood"(Bloom 6). Dickens left a lasting impression on later generations with his many insightful novels and short stories. His ability to portray characters, due to his upbringing, left the reader with a sense of understanding, and often time's sympathy for, the main characters. Charles Dickens will always be remembered and his legacy as an innovative writer will live on for centuries to come.