“…Bleak House, [is] generally judged his

masterpiece.” (Bloom 1)

Charles Dickens was appalled at the lack of

copyright laws between America and Britain
that allowed American writers to plagiarize to
his books. (Fido 56)

He had 9 children with his wife Catherine, of

which two died, but divorced her 6 years after
the birth of the last child. (Slater 89, 55, 80-1)

“Like many others, he [Charles Dickens]

began his literary career as a journalist.”
(BBC, “Charles Dickens)
He did not finish his last novel, The Mystery of
Edwin Drood, and the ending of the book will
never be known for sure. (Merriman, “Charles
Dickens”)

“Much drawn to the theatre, Dickens nearly

became a professional actor in 1832.”
(Encyclopedia Britannica Online, “Charles
Dickens”)

“…[Charles Dickens], English novelist,

generally considered the greatest of the
Victorian era.” (Encyclopedia Britannica
Online, “Charles Dickens”)
Charles Dickens wrote 17 books in his life,
some in the form of novels and others in form
of monthly parts in newspapers. (Encyclopedia
Britannica Online, “Charles Dickens”)

“It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I

have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I
go to, than I have ever known.” A Tale of Two
Cities (The Quotations Page, “Quotations by
Author: Charles Dickens”)
“I love these little people; and it is not a slight
thing when they, who are so fresh from God,
love us.” The Old Curiosity Shop (The
Quotations Page, “Quotations by Author:
Charles Dickens”)

“Annual income twenty pounds, annual

expenditure nineteen six, result happiness.
Annual income twenty pounds, annual
expenditure twenty pound ought and six, result
misery.” David Copperfield (The Quotations
Page, “Quotations by Author: Charles
Dickens”)

“It’s over, and can’t be helped, and that’s one

consolation, as they always says in Turkey,
ven they
cuts the wrong man’s head off.” Pickwick
Papers (The Quotations Page, “Quotations by
Author: Charles Dickens”)

“It is a melancholy truth that even great men

have their poor relations.” Bleak House (The
Quotations Page, “Quotations by Author:
Charles Dickens”)

In 1824 Charles Dickens was withdrawn from

school and sent to work in a factory to help
pay off his father’s debt so that he could be
released from a debtor’s prison. This
experience affected him deeply and was a
major inspiration for some of his works.
(Encyclopedia Britannica Online, “Charles
Dickens”)