Charles Dickens: Life, Curiosities, and A Christmas Carol

Charles Dickens: A Biography

Early Life and Family

Charles Dickens was born on February 7, 1812, to John and Elizabeth Dickens. He was the second of eight children, six of whom survived to adulthood. The family moved to London in 1822.

Childhood Struggles

At the age of twelve, Dickens began working at a blacking factory, labeling bottles for eleven hours a day. He also visited his father in prison every Sunday.

Journalistic Career and Literary Success

In 1827, Dickens began working as a solicitor's clerk. He launched his journalistic career in 1831, writing for newspapers by day and working on his own writing by night. His first piece of fiction was published in 1835.

Marriage and Family Life

In 1835, Dickens met Catherine Thompson. They fell in love and married. They had ten children together, each of whom Dickens gave a nickname.

Later Life and Legacy

In 1842, Dickens traveled to Boston, America. He was fascinated by the unusual, which inspired his writing. In 1856, he bought Gad's Hill, the house his father had pointed out to him.

Dickens' theatrical project, The Frozen Deep, led him to meet the young actress Ellen Ternan, who caused the end of his marriage to Catherine. Dickens and Ternan had a train accident while returning to his palace, which left Dickens shaken.

Dickens died of a stroke on June 9, 1870, at the age of 58.

7 Curiosities About Dickens

. 1. Dickens always slept facing north. 2. He was almost killed in a train accident. 3. The Oxford English Dictionary credits Dickens for coining several words and phrases in his work. Examples include: abuzz, the creeps, flummox and devil-may-care. 4. Charles Dickens and his wife Catherine had 10 children and Dickens had a nickname for each child. These nicknames included Chicken Stalker, Lucifer Box, and Skittles. 5. Dickens was fascinated with hypnotism and often experimented on his wife, children, and friends. 6. Some scholars believe Dickens suffered from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder people who knew him said Dickens constantly combed his hair, rearranged furniture and looked at himself in the mirror. 7. Dickens said that his eight novel David Coperfield was his favorite.

A book review

A Christmas Carol it was first published back in 1843. The main character is Ebenezer Scrooge, he is a very mean and hateful man that he lives a very lonely life. This is a story about a man called Ebenezer Scrooge that he lives in London. He is hateful and mean man. It’s Christmas Eve, and fortunately he gives the day off to his clerks, among them, Bob Cratchit. By the time he is entering in his house, he sees the face of his old business partner, Marley, in the door knocker. This frightens him, but he enters and he prepares to go to bed. Later, Scrooge is visited by Marley’s ghost, who warns him that to avoid an afterlife of torment, he will be visited by three ghosts. Later still, appears the Ghost of Christmas Past, and shows to Scrooge the memories of his childhood and young adult years. Scrooge is then returned back to his room and is later visited by the second ghost, the Ghost of Christmas Present. This ghost takes him to the streets of London and shows him how normal people celebrate Christmas, including Scrooge’s nephew, Fred, and his clerk, Bob Cratchit. This trip to the present seems to revitalize Scrooge’s outlook on Christmas. Then, Scrooge is returned to his room, and later appears the third ghost, the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. This ghost shows him how others react to his eventual death. Scrooge promises to change and enjoy Christmas. Next morning, he buys a giant turkey to the Cratchits and visits his nephew to celebrate Christmas. In the end, Scrooge becomes generous and loves. This book it’s a Christmas classic.