Short History Of... Charles Dickens
13 snips
Nov 6, 2023 Charles Dickens, one of the greatest novelists of the Victorian Age, wrote about prevalent issues and sparked societal change. Explore his early life, financial struggles, social campaigning, personal triumphs, strained relationship with his wife, heroic rescue, fame, relationships, and lasting legacy.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Childhood Humiliation Shaped His Voice
- A 12-year-old Charles Dickens worked ten-hour shifts at a blacking factory while his family lived in a debtors' prison.
- That humiliation and poverty became a lasting driver for his empathy and social campaigning.
Reporting Fueled Literary Powers
- Dickens turned legal reporting and shorthand into a career path that launched his journalism and fiction.
- His courtroom experience sharpened his eye for institutional injustice and vivid character detail.
Serialised Stories Created Public Fever
- The Pickwick Papers were published in monthly instalments, creating cliffhangers and huge public anticipation.
- Dickens repeated this serial format throughout his career, turning novels into cultural events.