Charles John Huffam Dickens was born on February 7,1812 in Portsmouth England. He was the second born out of eight children. John Dickens, his father was a naval clerk and his mother, Elizabeth Barrow, aspired to be a teacher and school director. During his lifetime he wrote six novels; Oliver Twist, A Christmas Carol, Nicholas Nickleby, David Copperfield, A Tale of Two Cities and Great Expectations.
Charles moved a lot in his childhood because of his family’s poor status. In 1816 they moved to Chatham, Kent, close to the countryside where they were free to roam and wander about. In 1822 they moved again, this time to Camden Town, a poor neighborhood in London. His family had hit a hard time in their lives when his father was sent to prison for debt in 1824 when Charles was 12. Following these events Charles was forced to leave school to work at a boot-blacking factory by the River Thames. At one point during this job he had to live away from his family as they once again moved; this time they moved closer to the debtors prison. He earned six shillings a week at best. Dickens once said, looking back on his experience, that he wondered. “How [he] could be so easily cast away at …show more content…
However, his education was once again taken from him. In 1827, he was forced to drop out and work as an office boy to support his family’s income. Within a year of being hired, Dickens began freelance reporting at the law courts of London. Just a few years later, he was reporting for two major London newspapers. In 1833, he began submitting sketches to various magazines and newspapers under the fake name, “Boz.” In 1836, his clippings were published in his first book, ‘Sketches’ by Boz. Dickens’ first success caught the eye of Catherine Hogarth, whom he soon married. Catherine and Charles would have ten children before they would separate in
Charles moved a lot in his childhood because of his family’s poor status. In 1816 they moved to Chatham, Kent, close to the countryside where they were free to roam and wander about. In 1822 they moved again, this time to Camden Town, a poor neighborhood in London. His family had hit a hard time in their lives when his father was sent to prison for debt in 1824 when Charles was 12. Following these events Charles was forced to leave school to work at a boot-blacking factory by the River Thames. At one point during this job he had to live away from his family as they once again moved; this time they moved closer to the debtors prison. He earned six shillings a week at best. Dickens once said, looking back on his experience, that he wondered. “How [he] could be so easily cast away at …show more content…
However, his education was once again taken from him. In 1827, he was forced to drop out and work as an office boy to support his family’s income. Within a year of being hired, Dickens began freelance reporting at the law courts of London. Just a few years later, he was reporting for two major London newspapers. In 1833, he began submitting sketches to various magazines and newspapers under the fake name, “Boz.” In 1836, his clippings were published in his first book, ‘Sketches’ by Boz. Dickens’ first success caught the eye of Catherine Hogarth, whom he soon married. Catherine and Charles would have ten children before they would separate in