1. Charles Dickens (1812-1870)

2. He was born in Portsmouth, but soon moved to London. His father was sent to prison and he was forced to leave school and start working. He became a journalist. Sketches by Boz. The Pickwick Papers, his first novel. He travelled in the United States, Italy and France. Life and Early works

3. He portrays a vivid picture of Victorian society. The majority of his characters come from the lower and middle-class: eccentrics, vagabonds, criminal, orphans Upper-class and aristocratic are not so well portrayed: stereotyped Characters: the Good and the Bad

4. He was deeply conscious of social injustice. He had a critical attitude towards Victorian England. Oliver Twist (1837-38)  the sufferings of an orphan brought up in a London workhouse. Hard Times (1854)  the factory system and the harm done by the utilitarian philosophy. Bleak House (1852-53)  an attack on the Court of Chancery David Copperfield (1849-50)  the loves, pains and wonders of childhood. Great Expectations (1860-61)  the theme of growing up. Themes of Dickens’ Novels

5. There is a variety of settings: the countryside and Merry England; provincial towns; industrial settlements; London: his most typical scenery. The Setting of His Novels

6. Dickens’ plots involve many characters and parallel stories, intrigue and mystery. He is a master of the English language. He combines the pathetic with the comic. He is very good at creating dialogues. Humour is the main strength of his style. Melodramatic or openly didactic passages are his weak point. Plots and Style

7. He is the most popular English novelist. He profoundly influenced many of his contemporaries. Earlier critics said he was a great comic writer and entertainer. Contemporary critics say he combines social realism with metaphor and symbolism. He could explore the depths of the human psyche and represent social conflict and evil. Dickens’ Reputation

8. It was published in instalments (1837-38). It combines the sentimental with social satire and realism, the pathetic with the comic. Dickens tackles important social issues: the Poor Law which sent poor people to the workhouses. Oliver Twist

9. Oliver is a foundling, leading a miserable life in a workhouse. He runs away and meets a young pickpocket. They go to London where Oliver is introduced to other friends, who turn out to be a gang of young criminals. He is temporarily rescued by Mr Brownlow, but he is kidnapped by the gang. After many incidents, he is discovered to be a relative of Mr Brownlow’s. Oliver has finally found a family. The Story

10. It is set in Coketown, an industrial city in northern England. The novel is built around two important issues: a. the factory system; b. the utilitarian philosophy applied to school programmes. Hard Times