Changes

*''[[Bleak House]]''

*''[[Bleak House]]''

Dickens was a [[Christian]], though he was "suspicious of organized religion,"<ref>https://hollowverse.com/charles-dickens/</ref> perhaps because he had a secret [[adulteress]] affair with an 18-year-old actress which lasted for many years.<ref>https://www.biography.com/news/charles-dickens-mistress-nelly-ternan</ref>

Dickens was a [[Christian]], though he was "suspicious of organized religion,"<ref>https://hollowverse.com/charles-dickens/</ref> perhaps because he had a secret [[adulterous]] affair with an 18-year-old actress which lasted for many years.<ref>https://www.biography.com/news/charles-dickens-mistress-nelly-ternan</ref>

Charles Dickens' father was incarcerated in [[Debtor's prison]] in 1824, during which Charles at age only 12 had to do hard manual labor at a blacking factory to support the family. This influenced how he portrayed Pip in ''Great Expectations'',<ref>https://greatexpectationscommunity.weebly.com/dickens-and-debtors-prison.html</ref>

Charles Dickens' father was incarcerated in [[Debtor's prison]] in 1824, during which Charles at age only 12 had to do hard manual labor at a blacking factory to support the family. This influenced how he portrayed Pip in ''Great Expectations'',<ref>https://greatexpectationscommunity.weebly.com/dickens-and-debtors-prison.html</ref>

== Childhood ==

== Childhood ==

Charles John Huffam Dickens was born on February 7, 1812, in [[England]]. His first years were spent with his family and two household servants where they lived in Kent county. Charles was a good student and an avid reader.   

Charles John Huffam Dickens was born on February 7, 1812, in [[England]]. His first years were spent with his family and two household servants where they lived in [[Kent]]. Charles was a good student and an avid reader.   

John Dickens, his father, worked as a clerk in the Navy payroll office and as the years progressed had difficulty supporting his wife Elizabeth and eight children. In 1824 he was sent to debtors' prison. His wife and children went with him, with the exception of Charles, age 12, who went to work at Warren's shoe blacking factory, to earn enough to pay off his father's debt.

John Dickens, his father, worked as a clerk in the Navy payroll office and as the years progressed had difficulty supporting his wife Elizabeth and eight children. In 1824 he was sent to debtors' prison. His wife and children went with him, with the exception of Charles, age 12, who went to work at Warren's shoe blacking factory, to earn enough to pay off his father's debt.

== Writing career ==

== Writing career ==

In 1833 Dickens became a newspaper reporter, and began writing under the pen name "Boz". In 1836 his first book, a collection of short stories called ''[[Sketches by Boz]]'' was published, and he became editor of the monthly magazine ''Bentley's Miscellany''. He also met and became engaged to Catherine Hogarth, and they married on April 2, 1836. The first of their ten children, a boy named Charles, was born the following year.

In 1833 Dickens became a newspaper reporter, and began writing under the pen name "Boz". In 1836 his first book, a collection of short pieces called ''[[Sketches by Boz]]'' was published, and he became editor of the monthly magazine ''Bentley's Miscellany''. He also met and became engaged to Catherine Hogarth, and they married on April 2, 1836. The first of their ten children, a boy named Charles, was born the following year.

In 1837, his first novel, ''The Pickwick Papers'', was published in monthly segments in a newspaper. This was followed by his second novel, ''[[Oliver Twist]]'', which also was published monthly in segments.

In 1837, his first novel, ''The Pickwick Papers'', was published in monthly instalments in a newspaper. This was followed by his second novel, ''[[Oliver Twist]]'', which also was published monthly in segments.

More books followed, and Dickens became successful around the world, and traveled through Europe and to America to give readings from his books. In 1845 he formed his own amateur theatrical company, personally choosing the actors and supervising the performances.  

More books followed, and Dickens became successful around the world, and traveled through Europe and to America to give readings. In 1845 he formed his own amateur theatrical company, personally choosing the actors and supervising the performances.  

Dickens had many successful books published during the next decade. His health began to decline around 1865 and four years later he suffered the first of two strokes. He died from his second stroke on June 9, 1870. His final book, ''[[The Mystery of Edwin Drood]]'' was not yet completed.

Dickens had many successful books published during the next decade. His health began to decline around 1865 and four years later he suffered the first of two strokes. He died from his second stroke on June 9, 1870. His final book, ''[[The Mystery of Edwin Drood]]'' was not completed.

== Adaptations ==

== Adaptations ==

Several of Dickens's books have been successfully adapted into movies and plays, notably:

Several of Dickens's books have been successfully adapted into movies and plays, notably:

''Oliver Twist'': published as a book in 1838, was made into movie in 1948, remade in 1968 and 2005, and as a TV movie in 1999. It is also a popular stage play and long running Broadway musical.  

''Oliver Twist'' was made into movie in 1948, remade in 1968 and 2005, and as a TV movie in 1999. It is also a popular stage play and long running Broadway musical.  

''David Copperfield'': original movie made in 1939, remade in 1999.  

''David Copperfield'': movie made in 1939, remade in 1999.  

''[[Great Expectations (1946)|Great Expectations]]'': published 1860, made into a movie in 1946, remade in 1998.

''[[Great Expectations (1946)|Great Expectations]]'': made into a movie in 1946, and 1998.

''A Christmas Carol'', one of Dickens's most famous books, published in 1843, is the story of a miserly old man (Scrooge) and how his spirit is redeemed, and has been made into movies many times, including versions for children including ''The Muppets' Christmas Carol'' and ''Mickey's Christmas Carol''.   

''A Christmas Carol'', one of Dickens's most famous books, published in 1843, is the story of a miserly old man (Scrooge) and how his spirit is redeemed, and has been made into movies many times, including versions for children including ''The Muppets' Christmas Carol'' and ''Mickey's Christmas Carol''.   

== References ==

== References ==

*http://dickens.ucsc.edu

*[http://dickens.ucsc.edu USCS]

*https://www.imdb.com/

*[https://www.imdb.com/ IMDB]

*http://books.mirror.org/gb.dickens.html

*[ http://www.online-literature.com/dickens/ Online literature]

*http://www.online-literature.com/dickens/  

*[http://www.victorianweb.org/authors/dickens/ Victorian web]

*http://www.victorianweb.org/authors/dickens/

*[http://www.britainexpress.com/History/bio/dickens.htm Britain Express: Passionate about British Heritage]

*http://www.britainexpress.com/History/bio/dickens.htm

*[http://www.dickensmuseum.com/ Dickens Museum]

*http://www.dickensmuseum.com/

==External links==

==External links==