Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens was born in 1812 the middle child of a family of 8.
Although his father had a good job, he was absolutely hopeless with money and forever getting into debt, so much so that so that he was eventually sent to prison in 1824.

This meant 12 year old Charles had to leave school and get work to help support his family. He a got a job in a boot polish factory where he worked long hours for very little money.  The harsh conditions made a lasting impression on him and later found their way into several of his books.

Fortunately for Dickens his father was eventually able to pay his debts meaning he was released from prison and young Charles was able to return to school and finish his education.
After leaving school he got a job as junior clerk for a news paper called the ‘Morning Chronicle’ and soon became a journalist in his own right. From journalism it was just a short hop to writing fiction, beginning with serialized stories in newspapers and magazines, his first novel the 'Pickwick papers' was published in 1836, from this point here was no looking back for Dickens, his books became hugely successful and he is still regarded as one of the best known writers in the English language.

However not everyone knows he also did a huge amount of charity work, having experienced poverty first hand he resolved to ...‘Strike a sledgehammer blow for the poor’...He set up schools for slum children, built homes for fallen women and raised funds for Great Ormond street hospital

Find out more, join us for
'What the Dickens?'
A fabulous immersive tour around the streets that inspired Dickens

4th- 14th December
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