Charles Dickens

Portrait by [[Jeremiah Gurney]], {{circa|1867–1868}} Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English novelist and social critic who created some of the world's best-known fictional characters, and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era. His works enjoyed unprecedented popularity during his lifetime and, by the 20th century, critics and scholars had recognised him as a literary genius. His novels and short stories are widely read today.

Born in Portsmouth, Dickens left school at age 12 to work in a boot-blacking factory when his father John was incarcerated in a debtors' prison. After three years, he returned to school before beginning his literary career as a journalist. Dickens edited a weekly journal for 20 years, wrote 15 novels, five novellas, hundreds of short stories and nonfiction articles, lectured and performed readings extensively, was an indefatigable letter writer, and campaigned vigorously for children's rights, education, and other social reforms.

Dickens's literary success began with the 1836 serial publication of ''The Pickwick Papers'', a publishing phenomenon—thanks largely to the introduction of the character Sam Weller in the fourth episode—that sparked ''Pickwick'' merchandise and spin-offs. Within a few years, Dickens had become an international literary celebrity, famous for his humour, satire, and keen observation of character and society. His novels, most of them published in monthly or weekly instalments, pioneered the serial publication of narrative fiction, which became the dominant Victorian mode for novel publication. Cliffhanger endings in his serial publications kept readers in suspense. The instalment format allowed Dickens to evaluate his audience's reaction, and he often modified his plot and character development based on such feedback. For example, when his wife's chiropodist expressed distress at the way Miss Mowcher in ''David Copperfield'' seemed to reflect her own disabilities, Dickens improved the character with positive features. His plots were carefully constructed and he often wove elements from topical events into his narratives. Masses of the illiterate poor would individually pay a halfpenny to have each new monthly episode read to them, opening up and inspiring a new class of readers.

His 1843 novella ''A Christmas Carol'' remains especially popular and continues to inspire adaptations in every creative medium. ''Oliver Twist'' and ''Great Expectations'' are also frequently adapted and, like many of his novels, evoke images of early Victorian London. His 1859 novel ''A Tale of Two Cities'' (set in London and Paris) is his best-known work of historical fiction. The most famous celebrity of his era, he undertook, in response to public demand, a series of public reading tours in the later part of his career. The term ''Dickensian'' is used to describe something that is reminiscent of Dickens and his writings, such as poor social or working conditions, or comically repulsive characters. Provided by Wikipedia
Showing 1 - 20 of 68 for search: 'Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870', query time: 0.06s
1
by Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870.
Published 1941
Book
2
Cuentos de navidad
Biblioteca Mayor
by Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870.
Published 1958
Book
3
Cuentos de Boz
Biblioteca Mayor
by Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870.
Published 1947
Book
4
by Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870.
Published 1942
Book
5
by Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870.
Published 1944
Book
6
David Copperfield
Biblioteca Mayor
by Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870.
Published 1943
Book
7
Obras completas de Charles Dickens
Escuela Superior de Comercio Manuel Belgrano
by Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870
Published 1961
Book
8
Tiempos difíciles
Facultad de Artes
by Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870
Published 1982
Book
9
Cuento de navidad. El grillo del hogar
Escuela Superior de Comercio Manuel Belgrano
by Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870
Published 1970
Book
10
by Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870.
Published 1943
Book
11
by Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870.
Published 1947
Book
12
Una canción de navidad
Escuela Superior de Comercio Manuel Belgrano
by Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870
Published 2017
Book
13
David Copperfield
Biblioteca Mayor
by Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870.
Published 1916
Book
14
El hijo de la parroquia
Biblioteca Mayor
by Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870.
Published 1909
Book
15
The humour of Dickens
Biblioteca Mayor
by Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870.
Published 1952
Book
16
Les grandes espérances
Biblioteca Mayor
by Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870.
Published 1873
Book
17
David Copperfield
Biblioteca Mayor
by Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870.
Published 1935
Book
18
by Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870.
Published 1886
Book
20
by Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870.
Published 1870
Book
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