Charles Dickens

By Josiah Satzler

Young Life
Born

in 1812 in Portsmouth
England
When he was very young, family
situation was good. Family was
happy.
His father aspired to be rich. Took
risks and lived beyond familys
means
They grew increasingly poor until
Charles father was thrown in

After Fathers
Imprisonment
Dickens,

just 12 years old, now

had the responsibility to help
support his family
Began work in boot-blacking
factory. Earned 6 shillings a week.
Probably worth around 30-40
dollars in todays money.
Charles felt abandoned by father.
Became a theme in his writing

Pre-Adulthood
Shortly

after, his family received

an inheritance and Charles
returned to school.
He was in and out of school for
the remainder of his childhood

Beginnings of Writing
Career
Started

out as an errand boy at

the age of 15 and was eventually
able to work his way up to a
reporter for two major London
newspapers.
In his mid-twenties, he began
work on his first novel Oliver
Twist about an orphan boy.
Inspired by his early life. Oliver
Twist was very successful

Dickens the Famous

In

1842, Dickens toured the US.

He is what many call the first
modern celebrity.
He made $95,000 in this period.
1.5 million in todays money.
Other works include, David
Copperfield, American Notes and
Pickwick Papers.

End of His Life

Died

of a stroke in 1870 at the

age of 62.
His best works are considered to
be Great Expectations, A
Christmas Carol and David
Copperfield
Published an autobiography,
plays, weekly periodicals and
novels