This year, as well as the Olympics, we saw the bi-centenary (200 years anniversary) of the birth of one of our best-loved novelists; Charles Dickens.
Charles Dickens wrote some of the most famous books in the world. Nearly everyone has heard of A Christmas Carol’ and ‘Oliver Twist’ but these days , it is hard to appreciate just how famous and popular Charles Dickens was in the 19th century. He was paid a lot of money for personal appearances and sometimes was surrounded by fans as he walked along the road. He was the most popular novelist of the Victorian age and was a very rich man when he died. He was born in Portsmouth in 1812 and his father was a clerk for the Navy.
His father always spent more money than he earned and one day was arrested and put into debtors’ prison. Charles, at the age of 12, had to leave school and work in a shoe polish factory for 6 shillings (30p) a week to help support his family. These experiences were very important for his life as a writer.
His books often feature abandoned or victimised children like he was. His most sympathetic characters were often poor, simple people. He described the terrible conditions they lived and worked in. His visits to his father in prison gave him inspiration to describe the inhumane treatment of prisoners at the time.
Other experiences also affected what he wrote. He began a career as a newspaper reporter in the law courts before becoming a professional writer in 1833. It was this period of his life which gave a deep disrespect for the way the legal system worked against the interests of ordinary people.
Dickens went on to write 15 major novels and countless short stories and articles. Most of his novels were written in episodes in monthly magazines and sometimes he was writing 2 novels at the same time. Quite often Dickens changed his ideas to follow comments made by his readers.
His readers waited impatiently for the next episode of his stories and he used his power to influence people’s ideas and opinions. This was particularly true about the poor and oppressed people of the land. ‘A Christmas Carol’ (1843 ) was written mostly for this reason but it had the unexpected effect of re-inventing Christmas. The British/American Christmas tradition ; Christmas cards, turkey, decorations, presents all come from the Victorian era and were stimulated by Dickens’ novel.
Dickens wished to be buried, without fanfare, in a small cemetery in Rochester, but the Nation would not allow it. He was laid to rest in Poet’s Corner, Westminster Abbey, the flowers from thousands of mourners overflowing the open grave. Among the more beautiful bouquets were
many simple wildflowers, wrapped in rags, showing his devotion to the poor and their love for him.