1. Dickens was one of the greatest of all English writers, and A Christmas Carol shows his writing at its best. In all of his books, he spoke out against the Scrooges of the world, and for the Cratchits, the downtrodden people he saw around him. He used his books to show his readers the dark side of their country, and inspired them to change it for the better.

2. Dickens’s Life Charles Dickens was born in Portsmouth, in 1812. When he was 10, his family moved to London, the city that was his great inspiration. His family experienced great poverty, so they could not provide him with a good education, but he read widely.

3. Dickens’s Childhood When Dickens was 12, his father was sent to prison for debt. Charles had to work in a filthy factory. He later worked as a solicitor’s clerk doing the same work Bob Cratchit did.

4. Dickens began to have stories published in magazines in 1833. He was married in 1836, and started The Pickwick Papers, a serialized novel which made him famous. Fame Came Swiftly Dickens in 1842

5. In the next seven years, Dickens wrote five more successful novels. He was probably the world’s most famous living writer. When Dickens died, the American poet Longfellow said, “This whole country is stricken with grief.” The Living Legend Dickens in 1869

6. Dickens’s Charities Dickens’s childhood poverty showed him the immense misery and suffering in Britain. He made speeches, and wrote articles to fight these evils and support schools for poor children. He worked to support education for adult working people and better sanitation and public health in London.

7. Public Readings Dickens’s first public reading was of A Christmas Carol to raise funds for a new Industrial and Literary Institute; he wanted the poor to be admitted for free. He also gave readings to raise funds for the Hospital for Sick Children at Great Ormond Street in London.

8. Readings for Money He started to do commercial readings around Britain and the U.S. to enormous acclaim. The favorite was always A Christmas Carol.

9. Unforgettable Energy Dickens was such a forceful personality that no one who met him ever forgot him. He had ten children, edited his own magazines, produced and acted in plays, and traveled widely. He was writing his 15 th novel when he died in 1870.

10. Dickens’s Characters Dickens filled his books with memorable characters. He drew his characters from every part of British society. Some like Scrooge, are larger than life, and have become legends. Mrs. Gamp from Martin Chuzzlewit

11. Immoral Eccentrics Eccentric Dickens characters like Scrooge and Mrs. Gamp show aspects of human nature by exaggeration. Mrs. Gamp from Martin Chuzzlewit

12. Children Dickens uses more children than any novelist in such novels as David Copperfield and Oliver Twist. David Copperfield and Mr. Micawber from David Copperfield

13. Real Villains Dickens villains are often very, very bad, but they are drawn with such energy that they are more fascinating than repulsive. Fagin from Oliver Twist

14. Hard-up Heroes Dickens’s heroes are not superhuman. They are ordinary people who triumph over great troubles. Sam Weller from The Pickwick Papers

15. World of Women Dickens created a wide range of female characters. One of the best-loved is the innocent and good Little Dorrit. Little Dorrit from Little Dorrit

16. Dickens on Screen Dickens’s novels and stories have been made into many movies and television series seen all over the world. He is famous to people who have never even read his books. BBC’s presentation of Martin Chuzzlewit 1994 A TV version of Little Dorrit 1987

17. Return to Lesson Page