Background
Charles Dickens (1812-1870) was a British writer during the Victorian era, perhaps the most
celebrated writer of his time; he used his writing to entertain but to also expose the ills
of Victorian society. Dickens was born in Portsmouth, England, and was forced by family
circumstances to leave school at the age of 12 for three years. After some additional
schooling, he began his writing career as a journalist; over the following decades, he was
also a journal editor, publisher, critic, and a writer of novels, short stories, and
articles. Dickens also gave many lectures and reading performances throughout England and
America. He used his writings to campaign for social reform for children and education among
other issues. In 1836, he married Catherine Thomson Hogarth; together they had 10 children.
On June 8, 1870, Dickens had a second stroke at his home; he never regained consciousness
and, the next day, he died at Gads Hill Place.
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