IEW 2 Lesson 4-Charles Dickens

On a rainy day on February 12, 1812, Elizabeth is reading beside a window when she suddenly cries, “John!”. Later, Elizabeth gives birth to a perfect little boy. They name him Charles Dickens. While Charles was growing, Elizabeth read him many stories. In time, Charles told his own stories too.

On the first day of school, Charles was so excited that he got dressed and fixed his breakfast all by himself even before his mother was awake! He excelled in school and often penned stories for his friends to enjoy. One day, Charles was walking with his friends to his house when they saw something that made them stop in their tracks and stare, jaws open. Police officers were arresting Charles’s father (John) for not paying off his debt in time. Charles stopped going to school to work and pay his father’s debt. He was just 12 when he worked in a factory with other boys labeling jars. Soon enough, John acquired an inheritance and was able to pay off his debt. Charles was able to go back to school again!

In 1831, Charles Dickens became a court reporter. He took notes in trials hoping for something exciting. Because of the way that Charles took notes, he acquired a job with a higher salary in the London newspapers. He worked for The Mirror of Parliament and Morning Chronicle. While in the Morning Chronicle, Charles met George Hogarth. Soon, he married the eldest daughter of George named Catherine.

Portions of his stories appeared in newspapers, and the public crowded into the newsstands to read the next story. When Charles heard about it, he was overjoyed! He penned some more stories down. Some of them were: Oliver Twist, Nicholas Nickleby, and A Christmas Carol.

Sadly, Charles and Catherine decided to separate, and in 1863, Elizabeth died, and also, his son Walter followed. Charles died of a stroke in 1870, when he was 58.

The End