Charles Dickens: A Literary Icon of the Victorian Era
Charles Dickens, the renowned English writer of the 19th century, was a prolific author whose works vividly portrayed the social injustices and harsh realities of the Industrial Revolution. Through timeless classics like "Oliver Twist" and "Great Expectations," Dickens highlighted issues such as poverty, child labor, and inequality, earning him the reputation of a master storyteller and social critic. His rich characters, episodic writing style, and enduring literary legacy continue to captivate readers worldwide.
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Charles Dickens English writer 1812-1870
Social Critic Dickens wrote during the Industrial Revolution, so his stories brought out concerns with injustices in the justice system (and capital punishment) child labor poor houses boys boarding schools the lack of education for women alcoholism the effects of poverty
Writing Career Considered the greatest English novelist of the Victorian era Never out of print Immensely popular during his time Wrote his books in serials (newspapers). Episodic plots constructed on a cliff-hanger model.
Most Famous Works Oliver Twist David Copperfield A Christmas Carol A Tale of Two Cities Great Expectations The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Dickensian [adj.] 1. of Charles Dickens (1812-70), the English novelist, or his works 2. resembling or suggestive of conditions described in Dickens' novels, especially a. squalid and poverty-stricken: working conditions were truly Dickensian b. characterized by jollity and conviviality: a Dickensian scene round the Christmas tree 3. grotesquely comic, as some of the characters of Dickens
Sentimental Once for all; I knew to my sorrow, often and often, if not always, that I loved her against reason, against promise, against peace, against hope, against happiness, against all discouragement that could be. Great Expectations
Grotesque On Sundays the little church in the park is mouldy; the oaken pulpit breaks out into a cold sweat; and there is a general smell and taste as of the ancient Dedlocks in their graves. -Bleak House
Characters Rich characters, often with odd names that might reveal something about the characters, such as Ebenezer Scrooge (left).
Characters A very old man in a flannel coat; clean, cheerful, comfortable and well cared for, but intensely deaf. Great Expectations The Aged Parent (or Aged P or the Aged One ):
Characters Mr. Pumblechook: a large hardbreathing middle- aged slow man, with a mouth like a fish, dull staring eyes, and sandy hair standing upright on his head, so that he looked as if he had just been all but choked, and had that moment come to Great Expectations
Characters Miss Havisham and Pip
Characters Mr. Murdstone
Characters My sister, Mrs. Joe, with black hair and eyes, had such a prevailing redness of skin that I sometimes used to wonder whether it was possible she washed herself with a nutmeg- grater instead of soap. Great Expectations
Dickens on completing David Copperfield It would concern the reader little, perhaps, to know how sorrowfully the pen is laid down at the close of a two-years imaginative task; or how an Author feels as if he were dismissing some portion of himself into the shadowy world, when a crowd of the creatures of his brain are going from him for ever. Yet, I had nothing else to tell; unless, indeed, I were to confess (which might be of less moment still), that no one can ever believe this Narrative, in the reading, more than I believed it in the writing.
Dickens on completing David Copperfield So true are these avowals at the present day, that I can now only take the reader into one confidence more. Of all my books, I like this the best. It will be easily believed that I am a fond parent to every child of my fancy, and that no one can ever love that family as dearly as I love them. But, like many fond parents, I have in my heart of hearts a favourite child. And his name is DAVID COPPERFIELD. -1869
