Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens was born in Portsmouth in 1812 on the 7th of February to John Dickens and Elizabeth Dickens (nee Barrow), at 387 Mile End Terrace while his father was stationed in Portsmouth due to his employment as a pay cleric in the Navy.
Mile End Terrace was a lovely, middle-class home. Life should have been grand for the family but due to his father’s reckless behaviour with money, the high life didn’t last long, and they soon had to move to more modest accommodation.
In 1815 John Dickens was called back to London, and the family moved to Norfolk Street in the district of Fitzrovia in the West End; though they did not stay there long enough for this to really have an impact on Charles.
The Kentish Countryside and Gad’s Hill Place
His next home in Chatham, Kent, was a good posting for his father John. They made their home in Ordnance Terrace – another nice middle-class home – just up the hill the from the dockyard. It was here that Charles describes the happiest memories of his childhood; where he went to school, learned to read and found his love of literature.
Often going for walks with his father in the Kentish countryside, this is where he came across Coben Hall. The Elizabethan manor house gave Charles his first view of the aristocracy. Coben Hall would soon find its way into Charles’ own novels. Whilst on walks with his father he came across many places that, along with areas of London, would provide the basis of settings for his work.
It was on one of his walks with his father, that he came across the enamouring and influential Gad’s Hill Place. His Father told him ‘Maybe one day it will be yours’.
Dickens first set eyes on the house in 1821 and would repeatedly journey from Chatham to see it. In 1856 when Charles had gained success, he saw that it was for sale and made a subsequent purchase for £1790. Intending to use it as a let property, it was not long before he changed his mind and Gad’s Hill Place became his country home.
Bayham Street, London
These happy times at Chatham, were not to last, however, and at the age of 10, Dickens and his family had relocated to a poorer area of Chatham leading to a decline in his and his family’s happiness. Soon after this, his father was posted back to London and fell into financial hardship.
The family settled in 16 Bayham Street in London, with 6 children, and sold most of their furniture to pay debts. Though losing some luxuries, they still had a young maid servant.
For the next couple of years Charles did not go to school and instead he spent his days exploring the streets of early 19th Century London. It is here where we see the influence for his most popular works; with novels such as Oliver Twist and A Christmas Carol encapsulating the dirty, bustling industrial streets of merchants, meat vendors, beggars, workhouses and flower stalls that he witnessed. All things we now readily associate with Dickensian/Victorian London.
Put to Work at Age 12
The Young Charles at age 12 was put to work in Warrens blacking factory. Due to the most part of his father being declared bankrupt. He was sent to the rat invested factory to make boot polish. In reality Charles only worked here for about a year. However, the sociological effect lasted him a lifetime. It was his eternal pursuit of order which led him to carry out room inspections on his children regularly, and reorder furniture when staying in hotels.
Marshal Seaford Prison for Debtors
To make matters worse his whole family were sent to a debtors’ prison. Causing Dickens to travel across the bridge to visit his family where they stayed for a year. Showing Charles the lowest sights poverty had to offer had a lasting effect on him. We see this in all his books. It was these sight he saw that caused to help the poor in later life when he had mad something of himself.
A Sudden Death
Then all of a sudden there was dramatic change in family circumstance. His Grandmother died, leaving them enough money to pay their debts.
Charles was able to go back to school again – where he stayed for three years.
Finding Work
After leaving school Charles found a job in a law office. where he studied law as an attorney’s apprentice. Charles didn’t really enjoy this job, but it set him up nicely for life as a political reporter.
Pickwick Papers
After finding some success with his illustrations for the magazine Boz, he started on Pickwick Papers. Although he was making money he still lived frugally, and at times still had to pay his father’s debts.
Pickwick Papers in its heyday were selling up to 40 thousand copies a month. This success ensured his marriage to Catharine Hogarth.
It wasn’t long before there was Pickwick merchandise, Pickwick hats and cigars – which was affordable for all, helping Charles grow his empire.
First Home
Riding high from his recent success of Pickwick, and happy wedded bliss, saw the couple move in to their first home in a sort after area of London, Doughy Street. and this is where their first child was born. It’s safe to say these were happy days for the young Dickens family.
Charles the Public Figure
Not only was this their first home but also where he wrote Oliver Twist. At the tender age of 27, Dickens was a public figure. He worked hard and played hard he loved am-dram and directed many plays.
In later years he gave readings from his novels, which were a huge success. His endless energy helped him find time to help the poor. Where in so many of his novel’s – A Christmas Carol and Oliver Twist – he helped bring them to the forefront of Victorian society.
Legacy
By the end of his life his marriage was over, and he lived alone. Though he died rich, famous and accomplished it wasn’t until after his death that he became the iconic figure he is today.
Though the Christmases we enjoy today can be largely due to the marriage of a British Queen to a German Prince, you can not forget the huge part that Mr Dickens played and his legacy he left behind. where would we be with our Dickensian Christmas cards and biscuit tins, and endless remakes of A Christmas Carol.