About
Charles Dickens
1812 - 1870
Charles Dickens is much loved for his great contribution to classic English literature. He was the quintessential Victorian author. His epic stories, vivid characters and exhaustive depiction of contemporary life are unforgettable.
His own story is one of rags to riches. He was born in Portsmouth on 7 February 1812, to John and Elizabeth Dickens. The good fortune of being sent to school at the age of nine was short-lived because his father, inspiration for the character of Mr Micawber in 'David Copperfield', was imprisoned for bad debt. The entire family, apart from Charles, were sent to Marshalsea along with their patriarch. Charles was sent to work in Warren's blacking factory and endured appalling conditions as well as loneliness and despair. After three years he was returned to school, but the experience was never forgotten and became fictionalised in two of his better-known novels 'David Copperfield' and 'Great Expectations'.
News
News Clips
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Jim Carrey breaks into song19 May 09Jim Carrey breaks into song at the press conference for his new film ' A Christmas Carol'. ...
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From Bleak House to Doll's House11 May 09Hollywood star Gillian Anderson tells us about her return to the stage in London's West End playing Nora in Ibsen's 'Doll House'. ...
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Charles Dickens's house for sale09 Apr 09The former house of Charles Dickens, where he penned his masterpiece David Copperfield, is up for sale.
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Madoff scandal 'echoes Dickens'16 Dec 08John Bowen, president of the Dickens society, compares modern and 19th century financial scandals...
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Dickens descendent in visit11 Dec 08The great-great-grandson of Charles Dickens brings Dickensian magic to Kent.
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News Articles
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Grant for Cranford author's home16 Apr 09 | ManchesterAuthors including Charles Dickens and Charlotte Bronte are known to have visited and stayed at the house.
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Papers spy economy's green shoots11 Apr 09 | UK
We are under attack," says the Sun, Stranger than fiction?
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Class and prejudice10 Apr 09 | Magazine
So," he said, "you think that both Jane Austen and Charles Dickens are very good." Unreal bourgeoisie "I prefer Charles Dickens," I said firmly.
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Dickens's Bleak House up for sale07 Apr 09 | KentThe former seaside home of Charles Dickens, where the author wrote part of the novel David Copperfield, goes on the market..
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New novelist up for fiction prize18 Mar 09 | EntertainmentSocial worker Gaynor Arnold, 63, was nominated for Girl In A Blue Dress, which is a fictional account of the life of Charles Dickens' wife.
Knowledge
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Country profile: United KingdomCountry profiles
Traditional music has deep roots across the UK, which has also produced classical composers from Henry Purcell in the Baroque period to Benjamin Britten in the 20th century.
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Arts - Dickens GameArts
9 July 2009 SURVIVE DICKENS' LONDON Dare you take a tour of Dickensian London? If you do well, you'll get to meet Charles Dickens.
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Movies - review - Oliver Twist DVDMovies
Polanski shows us sketches of Dickensian London by contemporary artists like George Scharf and Gustave Doré, which inspired the production design.
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UK MOVIES - Oliver TwistUK MOVIES
The Story: Charles Dickens' 1830s-penned serialisation has been filmed numerous times, most notably by David Lean in 1948.
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Films - review - Nicholas NicklebyFilms
McGrath does well to balance the darkness and light of Dickens' tale, but (even if you're not familiar with the novel) the gaps are palpable.
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