1. Charles Dickens
English writer

2. Watch the BBC cartoon of his life!

3. 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

4. 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.

5. Most Famous Works Oliver Twist David Copperfield A Christmas Carol
A Tale of Two Cities
Great Expectations
The Mystery of Edwin Drood

6. Dickensian [adj.]
1. of Charles Dickens ( ), 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. Characters
Rich characters, often with odd names that might reveal something about the characters, such as Ebenezer Scrooge (left).

10. 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”):

11. 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

12. Characters
Miss Havisham and Pip

13. Characters
Mr. Murdstone

14. 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