February 7th marks the bicentenary of the birth of renowned English novelist Charles Dickens (1812-1870).
Born in Portsmouth, the son of a naval clerk, who spent some time in prison for debt, Dickens left school at 15 and initially became a newspaper reporter. In fact, many of the people and events described in his novels were based on personal experience.
His best known books are A Christmas Carol, David Copperfield, Great Expectations, Oliver Twist, The Pickwick Papers and A Tale of Two Cities. These works have produced some of the greatest characters in English literature and have endured through time, not only via print but film and stage.
Dickens had a keen eye for social observation and detail, empathy for all aspects of the human condition, and laced his novels with satire and wit, all factors which have ensured his popularity to this day.
What's your favourite Dickens novel or character?
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