The Biography of Charles Dickens

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Charles Dickens was one of the most renown English novelists of the Victorian Era; the immense popularity of his work is still remembered to this day. Born on February 7, 1812 in England, Charles was the son of John and Elizabeth Dickens and the second of eight children, two of which had died during childhood (Library.thinkquest.org). As a child, Dickens took to books early. Dickens never attended a real school; at the beginning, he attended a school run by local women, and later, until the age of nine, he attended a school run by a minister (Library.thinkquest.org). John Dickens, his father, was formerly a clerk in the Naval Pay Office (victorianweb.org). John did not have a talent for finances, and as a result, in 1824 found himself imprisoned for debt (victorianweb.org). His wife and children joined him in the Marshalsea Prison when she could no longer support her children (library.thinkquest.org). Charles was the exception, he was sent to work at Warren's Blacking Factory (victorianweb.org). Charles worked as a label-paster, with co-workers of the lowest type (library.thinkquest.org). Dickens lived in a tiny room close by, visiting the prison every Sunday (library.thinkquest.org). Charles despised this situation and lived in misery during his time there. Finally, his father had an altercation with the relative who employed Charles, and John pulled his son from the job (library.thinkquest.org). His mother tried to return Charles to his job, an act that Charles never forgave (library.thinkquest.org). The Dickens family was finally able to leave prison, and Charles went to a standard London school from the age of twelve to the age of fourteen (library.thinkquest.org). While at Wellington House Academy Charles was educ...

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...ree Heads" (1836) he assailed the Church of England on its Sunday closing method and boldly disputed sabbatarianism as opposing the labouring classes much earned recreational alleviation from the day-to-day drudgery (victorianweb.org). Charles creates the impression of being practically Unitarian in his interpretation of Christ as a educator, healer, and honorable leader (victorianweb.org). Perchance, Dickens should be characterized as Liberal first, then later idealistic and pessimist.

Works Cited

"Charles Dickens (1812-1870)." BBC News. BBC, n.d. Web. 04 Nov. 2013.
"Charles Dickens' Biography." ThinkQuest. Oracle Foundation, n.d. Web. 04 Nov. 2013.
"Dickens: A Brief Biography." Dickens: A Brief Biography. N.p., Mar. 2004. Web. 01 Nov. 2013.
Nelson, Harland S. Charles Dickens. Ed. Herbert Sussman. N.p.: Twayne, 1981. Print. Twayne's English Authors Ser.
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