Charles DickensCharles John Huffam Dickens is the greatest English writer who ever lived. He was one of the most appreciated writers in the history of literature. Surely no English author is as well known and as widely read, translated and remembered as Charles Dickens. His fame is well deserved. From the pen of this great author came characters such as Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim, Mr. Pickwick and Little Nett. Dickens was born on 7 February 1812 in Portsmouth and spent most of his childhood in London. and Kent, both of whom appear frequently in his novels. Charles Dickens was the son of John and Elizabeth Dickens. John Dickens worked as a clerk in the Navy Pay Office in Portsmouth. Charles, the second of seven children, attended the local school. John Dickens found it difficult to provide for his growing family on his small salary. In 1822 the family moved to Camden Town in London. John Dickens' debts had become so severe that all the household goods were sold. Still unable to satisfy his creditors, John Dickens was arrested and sent to Marshalsea Prison. At the age of 12, Charles found work at Warren's Blacking Factory, where he was paid six shillings a week to wrap shoeshine bottles. The short time he worked at the Blacking Factory haunted him throughout his life. He only spoke about it to his wife and his closest friend, John Forster. The difficult time he spent there would emerge in his stories David Copperfield and Great Expectations. Six months after being sent to Marshalsea, one of John Dickens' relatives died. He was left enough money in the will to pay off his debts and leave prison. Part of the inheritance was used to educate Charles at a nearby private school, Wellington House Acade... halfway... the problem was that he got the royalties for the books sold in America. The only thing I didn't understand about this book was that the author said that Charles was a self-centered man, but he supported trying to abolish slavery and donated some of his earnings from writing books to charities. It doesn't seem self-centered to me. Everything else was great and I learned a lot. Charles Dickens went through many tough times in his life and eventually made it to the top. He went from being an ordinary middle-class citizen to one of the most popular people in the world. His books have been read, translated and made into films. They have been read and watched by people for years and will continue to be for years to come. Charles Dickens' personal life became increasingly unhappy and led to his early death. But his work remains funny, sad, warm and surprising.