Discover new books on Goodreads

See if your friends have read any of Charles Dickens's books

more photos (1)

Charles Dickens’s Followers (32,114)

Add New
Videos

Watch the trailer for THE MAN WHO INVENTED CHRISTMAS

3 comments

9 comments

Charles Dickens

Born

in Portsmouth, England

February 07, 1812

Died

June 09, 1870

Genre

Historical Fiction, Fiction

Influences

Thomas Carlyle, Miguel de Cervantes, Daniel Defoe, Henry Fielding, Tob ...more

edit data

Charles John Huffam Dickens (1812-1870) was a writer and social critic who created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era. His works enjoyed unprecedented popularity during his lifetime, and by the twentieth century critics and scholars had recognised him as a literary genius. His novels and short stories enjoy lasting popularity.

Dickens left school to work in a factory when his father was incarcerated in a debtors' prison. Despite his lack of formal education, he edited a weekly journal for 20 years, wrote 15 novels, five novellas, hundreds of short stories and non-fiction articles, lectured and performed extensively, was an indefatigable letter writer, and campaign Charles John Huffam Dickens (1812-1870) was a writer and social critic who created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era. His works enjoyed unprecedented popularity during his lifetime, and by the twentieth century critics and scholars had recognised him as a literary genius. His novels and short stories enjoy lasting popularity.

Dickens left school to work in a factory when his father was incarcerated in a debtors' prison. Despite his lack of formal education, he edited a weekly journal for 20 years, wrote 15 novels, five novellas, hundreds of short stories and non-fiction articles, lectured and performed extensively, was an indefatigable letter writer, and campaigned vigorously for children's rights, education, and other social reforms.

Dickens was regarded as the literary colossus of his age. His 1843 novella, A Christmas Carol, remains popular and continues to inspire adaptations in every artistic genre. Oliver Twist and Great Expectations are also frequently adapted, and, like many of his novels, evoke images of early Victorian London. His 1859 novel, A Tale of Two Cities, set in London and Paris, is his best-known work of historical fiction. Dickens's creative genius has been praised by fellow writers—from Leo Tolstoy to George Orwell and G. K. Chesterton—for its realism, comedy, prose style, unique characterisations, and social criticism. On the other hand, Oscar Wilde, Henry James, and Virginia Woolf complained of a lack of psychological depth, loose writing, and a vein of saccharine sentimentalism. The term Dickensian is used to describe something that is reminiscent of Dickens and his writings, such as poor social conditions or comically repulsive characters.

On 8 June 1870, Dickens suffered another stroke at his home after a full day's work on Edwin Drood. He never regained consciousness, and the next day he died at Gad's Hill Place. Contrary to his wish to be buried at Rochester Cathedral "in an inexpensive, unostentatious, and strictly private manner," he was laid to rest in the Poets' Corner of Westminster Abbey. A printed epitaph circulated at the time of the funeral reads: "To the Memory of Charles Dickens (England's most popular author) who died at his residence, Higham, near Rochester, Kent, 9 June 1870, aged 58 years. He was a sympathiser with the poor, the suffering, and the oppressed; and by his death, one of England's greatest writers is lost to the world." His last words were: "On the ground", in response to his sister-in-law Georgina's request that he lie down.

(from Wikipedia) ...more

Combine Editions
Charles Dickens’s books

Average rating: 3.92 · 4,326,020 ratings · 172,860 reviews · 13,026 distinct works • Similar authors

	A Tale of Two Cities 3.88 avg rating — 1,030,199 ratings — published 1859 — 7251 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	A Christmas Carol 4.09 avg rating — 959,208 ratings — published 1843 — 18 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Great Expectations 3.80 avg rating — 891,206 ratings — published 1861 — 7143 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Oliver Twist 3.88 avg rating — 435,996 ratings — published 1838 — 2346 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	David Copperfield 4.05 avg rating — 265,125 ratings — published 1850 — 4486 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Bleak House 4.02 avg rating — 116,385 ratings — published 1853 — 1990 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Hard Times 3.55 avg rating — 76,104 ratings — published 1854 — 3434 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	A Christmas Carol / The Chimes / The Cricket on the Hearth by Charles Dickens, Katharine Kroeber Wiley (Introduction) 4.14 avg rating — 59,204 ratings — published 1843 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Little Dorrit really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 50,416 ratings — published 1857 — 1333 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Nicholas Nickleby 3.95 avg rating — 47,533 ratings — published 1839 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Charles Dickens…

Series by Charles Dickens

Our Mutual Friend (3 books)
by

Charles Dickens,

Richard Gaughan (Goodreads Author) (Introduction)

4.09 avg rating — 32,018 ratings

The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club (3 books)
by

Charles Dickens

3.68 avg rating — 1,508 ratings

Bleak House (3 books)
by

Charles Dickens

4.20 avg rating — 735 ratings

The Old Curiosity Shop (2 books)
by

Charles Dickens,

Michigan Historical Reprint Series

3.84 avg rating — 164 ratings

Dickens' Places (2 books)
by

Charles Dickens,

George Cruikshank (Illustrator)

3.76 avg rating — 71 ratings

More series by Charles Dickens…

Need another excuse to treat yourself to a new book this week? We've got you covered with the buzziest new releases of the day, according to early...

Polls

December 2024 Author otm Voting!

Charles Dickens

12 votes, 24.0%

Suzanne Collins

12 votes, 24.0%

Brandon Sanderson

8 votes, 16.0%

Dr. Suess

7 votes, 14.0%

Pepper Basham

6 votes, 12.0%

Stephenie Meyer

5 votes, 10.0%

50 total votes

21 comments

More...

Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
YA Book Council: The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry	49	276	Nov 19, 2008 01:09AM
The Book Challenge: Sarah's 2008 Book Challenge v2.0 - Fini!	5	1874	Dec 29, 2008 09:31AM
The Book Challenge: Elaine's Oct - Dec 2008 Book Challenge	13	213	Jan 01, 2009 09:33AM
SciFi and Fantasy...: February Theme: Historically inspired fantasy !	63	824	Jan 13, 2009 07:13AM
The Next Best Boo...: OFFICIAL WINTER CHALLENGE - 2008/2009	2155	4193	Mar 04, 2009 07:03AM
The Book Challenge: Katy's 2009 Book Challenge	6	666	Mar 23, 2009 06:33AM
The Book Challenge: Michelle Kay's Reads 2009	4	1213	Apr 17, 2009 12:42AM

More…

Charles Dickens’s Followers (32,114)

Add NewVideos

Charles Dickens

Combine EditionsCharles Dickens’s books

Series by Charles Dickens

Related News

Polls

Topics Mentioning This Author

Add New
Videos

Combine Editions
Charles Dickens’s books