Charles Dickens in 1839, by Maclise (detail) Charles Dickens was born in Portsea, the second of eight children. He had a difficult and uncertain later childhood, when his parents were sent to the Marchalsea debtors' prison. His childhood experiences have a marked presence in his writing. Dickens' novels teem with characters from all walks of life, but he creates a vivid impression of each one, even the minor characters, and often with just a few words. His earliest characteristic work was The Pickwick Papers (1837), concerning the adventures of the benevolent Mr Pickwick and his friends. There is a progression in the range, depth and complexity of Dickens' works, as the youthful exuberance of The Pickwick Papers is left behind, and we encounter the great later novels, including David Copperfield (1850), Bleak House (1853) and Great Expectations (1861). Dickens had enormous energy and was much concerned with the social issues of his day, and he had a huge public following. He edited the journal Household Words, which had considerable material about Australia. Read about the book Charles Dickens' Australia. Selected essays from Household Words 1850-1859, presented by Margaret Mendelawitz, published by Sydney University Press. * Go to the Charles Dickens home page * GO TO THE HOME PAGE		One of the many incidents that befall Mr. Pickwick