1. Charles Dickens

2. Early Years  Born Feb. 7, 1812, Portsmouth, Hampshire, Eng.  Moved form London to a small country home where his family lived comfortably in the middle class  Even though his father was paid well with his job as a navy office clerk, he often put the family in debt Debt =(

3. Early Years (Cont.)  His father ended up in prison and he began working, ending his schooling short  After a relative passes and leaves the Dickens family with a great deal of money, Charles’ father gets out of prison and Charles gets to go back to school  He is only an average student however, and does not last long there John Dickens

4. Early Writing  Some of his early jobs had him in the courts as a shorthand writer and then as a journalist for the newspaper  In 1833 he began writing short stories and essays to be published in newspaper which in return, drew attention to him Shorthand Writing

5. Early Writing (Cont.)  As a successful journalist, he decided to became a full time novelist  By 1839 he had already written Pickwick, two plays and Oliver Twist  The Old Curiosity Shop (1840-1841)  Barnaby Rudge (1841)  Martin Chuzzlewit (1843-1844)  First Christmas book  A Christmas Carol Oliver Twist and A Christmas Carol

6. Influences  His early working experiences at age twelve at Warren’s Blacking Factory caused him great psychological trauma and influenced his feelings of abandonment and betrayal  His mother’s decision to keep him working after his father’s release influenced his negative feeling for her

7. Last Years  His death came on suddenly in June of 1870 although his health had stopped him from giving many readings  He was buried in the Westminster Abbey Westminster Abbey- Charles Dickens Grave

8. Greatest Works  Greatest Works that have not already been mentioned  Dombey and Son (1848); David Copperfield (1850); Bleak House (1853); Hard Times (1854); Little Dorrit (1857); A Tale of Two Cities (1859); Great Expectations (1861); Our Mutual Friend (1865); The Mystery of Edwin Drood (1870) A Tale of Two Cities and The Mystery of Edward Drood

9. Lasting Legacy  Noted as one of History’s greatest poets and writers  While some would criticize him and not even recognize him as a writer, others would compare his writing to that of Shakespeare  His books are now categorized with those of classical literature and his titles have become famously known and been adapted as movies and theatrical plays