A Tale of Two Cities

About the Author

Charles Dickens

Charles John Huffam Dickens (1812-1870) was one of the most popular and influential English novelists of the Victorian era. Born in Portsmouth to a clerk in the Navy Pay Office, Dickens experienced both middle-class comfort and poverty during his childhood, particularly when his father was imprisoned for debt, forcing young Charles to leave school and work in a factory—experiences that profoundly shaped his later writing. After working as a law clerk and court reporter, Dickens began his literary career with the serialized publication of 'The Pickwick Papers' in 1836, which brought him immediate success. He went on to write numerous acclaimed novels including 'Oliver Twist' (1837-39), 'A Christmas Carol' (1843), 'David Copperfield' (1849-50), 'Bleak House' (1852-53), 'Great Expectations' (1860-61), and 'A Tale of Two Cities' (1859). Known for his vivid characters, social criticism, and often dark humor, Dickens's work exposed the harsh realities of Victorian society, particularly the plight of the poor and the injustices of social institutions. He was also a literary celebrity who gave public readings of his works throughout Britain and America. His novels, originally published in monthly or weekly installments, pioneered the serial publication of narrative fiction, which became the dominant Victorian mode for novel publication. Dickens's rich storytelling, distinctive prose style, and passionate advocacy for social reform have ensured his enduring reputation as one of the greatest novelists in the English language. He died in 1870 at his home, Gad's Hill Place, following a stroke, and was buried in Poets' Corner at Westminster Abbey.