Charles Dickens

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INTRODUCTION

This report will talk about the life of a famous author, Charles Dickens. It will tell you about his

early, middle, and later years of his life. It will also talk about one of his great works of literature.

In conclusion, this report will show a comparison of his work to his life.

EARLY LIFE

Charles Dickens was born at Landport, in Portsea, on February 7, 1812. His father was a clerk

in the Navy Pay-Office, and was temporarily on duty in the neighborhood when Charles was

born. His name was John Dickens. He spent time in prison for debts. But, even when he was free

he lacked the money to support his family. Then, when Charles was two they moved to London.

1

Just before he started to toddle, he stepped into the glare of footlights. He never stepped out of it

until he died. He was a good man, as men go in the bewildering world of ours, brave, transparent,

tender-hearted, and honorable.

Dickens was always a little too irritable because he was a little too

happy. Like the over-wrought child in society, he was splendidly sociable, and in and yet

sometimes quarrelsome. In all the practical relations of his life he was what the child is at a party,

genuinely delighted, delightful, affectionate and happy, and in some strange way fundamentally sad

and dangerously close to tears. 2

At the age of 12 Charles worked in a London factory pasting labels on bottles of shoe polish. He

held the job only for a few months, but the misery of the experience remain with him all his life. 3

Dickens attended school off and on until he was 15, and then left for good. He enjoyed reading

and was especially fond of adventure stories, fairy tales, and...