Life and Times of Charles Dickens: Autobiographical Novels, Stories, London Society Sketches, Travel Memoirs, Letters & Biographies (Illustrated) (ePub)

Charles Dickens (1812-1870) remains one of the most renowned English novelists of the Victorian era, gifted with a keen social insight and a flair for creating memorable characters. Born in Portsmouth, England, his experiences with financial hardship and labor in a blacking factory during his childhood informed much of his writing, imbued with themes of social reform and the plights of the working class. Dickens's literary career was prolific, spanning novels, short stories, essays, and journalism. His first commercial success came with 'The Pickwick Papers' (1836), quickly followed by a succession of celebrated works such as 'Oliver Twist' (1837), 'David Copperfield' (1849-50), which was notably autobiographical, and 'Great Expectations' (1860-61), masterpieces marked by their rich storytelling, satire, and humor. A distinctive feature of Dickens's work is his vivid portrayal of Victorian London, a city he both loved and condemned for its social disparities. Furthermore, his creation of some of literature's most enduring characters, including Ebenezer Scrooge and Miss Havisham, shows his profound understanding of human nature. As a social commentator, Dickens's works often reflected his advocacy for children's rights, education reform, and other pressing social issues of his time. 'Life and Times of Charles Dickens: Autobiographical Novels, Stories, London Society Sketches, Travel Memoirs, Letters & Biographies (Illustrated)' provides a comprehensive look at Dickens's life, capturing his literary genius and the era he both celebrated and critiqued through his body of work.