About the Author Charles Dickens was born in Portsmouth, England, in 1812. He received little formal education as the conditions at home forced him to leave school and work in a factory at an early age. His early circumstances left a lasting impression on Dickens and greatly influenced his work, be it literary or philanthropic. Having worked in various professions, Dickens started writing in newspapers and magazines and most of his work was published as monthly serials in them. Dickens was a prolific writer. He wrote over a dozen novels, many a collection of short stories, a large body of non-fiction and poetic works, and many plays. He was arguably the best Victorian novelist and enjoyed great fame during his lifetime. He died in 1870 but even today he is one of the most popular authors of all times