Charles Dickens was born in 1812 in Portsmouth, England, and experienced a tumultuous childhood marked by his father's imprisonment for debt. This forced Dickens to leave school at a young age to work in a boot-blacking factory, an experience that deeply influenced his later writings. Despite these hardships, Dickens rose to become one of the most famous and influential novelists of the Victorian era. Dickens' literary career took off with the serialization of The Pickwick Papers in 1836, which was followed by a string of successful novels, including Oliver Twist and A Christmas Carol. His works were known for their vivid characters, social commentary, and the serialized format that kept readers eagerly awaiting each new installment. Dickens used his writing to expose the harsh realities of industrial society, particularly the struggles of the poor and the injustices they faced. Throughout his life, Dickens was not only a prolific writer but also an advocate for social reform. He campaigned for children's rights, education, and the plight of the working class, using his influence to raise awareness and inspire change. His legacy endures in the timeless appeal of his novels and the term ""Dickensian,"" which describes both his distinctive style and the societal conditions he depicted.
