Changes

== 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]]. 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, and wrote his first story at age 9.

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.

After young Charles had earned enough to pay off his father's debt, the family was released from [[Marshalsea Prison]], but due to their precarious financial position, his mother insisted Charles continue working at the factory. His father arranged for him to return to school before much time passed. In later years his father was again imprisoned for debt.  

After young Charles had earned enough to pay off his father's debt, the family was released from [[Marshalsea Prison]], but due to their precarious financial position, his mother insisted Charles continue working at the factory. His father arranged for him to return to school before much time passed. In later years his father was again imprisoned for debt.  

His harsh experiences at the blacking factory greatly affected his perspective on life and became the inspiration for the themes in several of his books including ''David Copperfield'' and ''Great Expectations'', in which the good, kindly main character overcomes great hardships and poverty.  

His harsh experiences at the blacking factory greatly affected his perspective on life and became the inspiration for the themes in several of his books including ''David Copperfield'' and ''Great Expectations'', in which the good, kindly main character overcomes great hardships and poverty.

== Adulthood ==

== Adulthood ==