The Complicated Life of this Famous Author

Arguably the greatest author of the Victorian era, Charles Dickens is a familiar household name. While his amazing writing skills are known to all, how much do you know about his life outside the pen? There's always more to these historical figures than meets the eye. Here's everything you need to learn about Charles Dickens that lies beyond his title as an author.

Popular Graphic Arts on Wikimedia

1. A Literary Legend

Best known for A Tale of Two Cities, Great Expectations, and Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens is an icon in the world of classic literature. His writing has transcended the test of time with many of his books still beloved today. Though his talent is undeniable, hidden behind these great works is a towering wall of secrets. Turns out this accomplished author had a dark past you never knew.

Suzy Hazelwood on Pexels

2. One of Too Many

Born as the second eldest son to Elizabeth Barrow and John Dickens, a Royal Navy Pay Office clerk, Dickens grew up in a massive family with seven other siblings. Having so many mouths to feed was the family's ultimate downfall as his father was unable to provide with his scant income. Sadly, their financial situation only become more dire over time.

John Jabez Edwin Mayall on Wikimedia

3. An Unreliable Father

With his father being so reckless with the little money they had, the Dickens family was quickly thrown into debt. Even after selling all their furniture and household items, it still wasn't enough. The family was forced to frequently move cities in hopes of escaping creditors, but it all came to an end when John Dickens was arrested and sent to Marshalsea Debtor's Prison in 1824. It wasn't just him though - the mother and four youngest joined him.

Russell Kenny, taken December 2007. Original uploader was SlimVirgin at en.wikipedia on Wikimedia

4. Left On His Own

With most of his family imprisoned, Dickens was left to his own devices at the mere age of twelve. He was sent to live with a family friend, Elizabeth Roylance, but his childhood was changed forever. As the new head of the family, he wasn't allowed to lounge around for long; despite being a young child, he was sent to work.

Herbert Watkins (1828–1916) on Wikimedia

5. A Young Factory Worker

Dropping out of school so he could help his family, Dickens spent an exhausting year working ten-hour shifts at Warren's Blacking Warehouse. Making a measly six shillings a week, he would spend his days sticking labels onto blacking pots. It was this punishing year that influenced Dicken's perspective of labor conditions and economic status the most; it's safe to say his books would not be the same without this experience. 

Internet Archive Book Images on Wikimedia

6. A Loss Turned To Gain

Not too long after his family's imprisonment, Dicken's grandmother passed away, bringing the family an inheritance of £450. Despite this loss, it was like a small ray of sun during these dark days. Thanks to the sudden income, the family was able to pay their debts and were released from Marshalsea Prison in May of 1824. Though it sounded like it was headed towards a happy family reunion, this was not the case.

cottonbro studio on Pexels

7. A Heartless Mother

Even though the family was freed, Dicken's mother still wanted him in chains. Despite his strong hatred towards his time in the factory, his mother pressed Dickens to stay. Her desire to keep him working at the warehouse resulted in a life-long resentment that he could never shake. After all, what loving mother would want to keep her son in such horrible conditions?

unattributed on Wikimedia

8. Add It To The List

Finally, after months of hardship, Dickens was sent back to school in 1827 where he stayed for two years. He attended Wellington House Academy in Camden Town which didn't turn out as he had hoped. Unable to escape his bad luck, he had a miserable time there. From poor teaching to overly strict conditions and a "sadistic" headmaster, his return to school was anything but good.

Ernest Edwards on Wikimedia

9. Forced To Work - Again

Though he was forced out of school just three years prior, Dickens had to leave once more to support his family at the age of fifteen. This time finding himself in better working conditions, he worked as a junior clerk at a law office. Little did he know, it was a blessing in disguise. It was here that he first glimpsed his talents as a writer, learning Gurney's system of shorthand and leaving shortly after to become a freelance reporter. 

From a photograph by Gurney on Wikimedia

10. Love Gone Bitter

Dickens may have been busy with his family, but he wasn't about to miss out on his own life experiences. In 1830, he was faced with something truly remarkable - love at first sight. Falling head-over-heels for a middle-class woman named Maria Beadnell, their relationship was short-lived as her family disapproved of his low social status. Once again, being poor negatively impacted Dickens' life. 

Rischgitz on Wikimedia

11. A Love For The Stage

Though we all recognize Dickens as a masterful writer, it wasn't always his dream. Before discovering his writing potential, he once dreamed of becoming an actor. Around 20 years of age, he grew especially fond of theatre, even receiving an offer to audition at the Covent Garden. Though his plans were within reach, they were quickly crushed thanks to a cold that forced him to miss the meeting. Dickens had to suffer from a few tumbles before he found his footing again. 

Library of Congress on Unsplash

12. On The Rise

With acting removed from his horizons, Dickens turned to writing. He published his very first story, "A Dinner At Poplar Walk" in a London magazine in 1833. During this time he worked various jobs, most notably as a political journalist for the Morning Chronicle. He also started publishing works, his very first in 1836 which was titled Sketches by Boz. He worked under a pseudonym for many years due to a critic that claimed his name was "queer". 

John Macrone on Wikimedia

13. A Destined Meeting

During his time at the Morning Chronicle, Dickens became friendly with the music critic, George Hogarth. He began regularly visiting his home, eventually being introduced to Hogarth's three daughters, Georgina, Mary, and Catherine. Though the burn of losing Beadnell was still relatively fresh, he quickly became drawn to Catherine, this new 19-year-old woman. It was a disaster waiting to be written. 

Daniel Maclise on Wikimedia

14. Marriage At First Sight

Not too long after their initial meeting in 1834, Dickens and Hogarth married in April of 1836. Though their marriage started out like a fairy tale, they were brought back to reality pretty quickly. Having a whopping total of ten children together, Dickens seemingly followed in his father's footsteps despite his troubled childhood. 

Ijon on Wikimedia

15. An Unreliable Father Part 2 

And it wasn't just the number of offspring that was reminiscent of his past, his ability to be a good father was also in question. Raising so many children is troublesome for even the greatest of historical figures. Too focused on his own definition of success, Dickens expected far too many great yet unachievable things from his children. Unsurprisingly, he was constantly left disappointed. 

Antoine Francois Jean Claudet on Wikimedia

16. A Tragic Death That Changed His World

But everything came crashing down on April 14, 1951 when tragedy struck the Dickens' household. Dora Dickens, the second youngest child, suddenly passed due to convulsions. It was an unexpected death, one that shook the family to its core. On that night, Dickens had left the house to attend a special dinner, only to return home to his beloved 8-month-old daughter gone. The family never truly recovered - and neither did his marriage. 

Mike Bird on Pexels

17. A Second Chance At A First Love?

With his attraction to Hogarth diminishing by the second, a chance re-encounter with Maria Beadnell was warmly received by Dickens. Years after their first meeting, they reconnected via letters. After a few exchanges, Dickens suggested meeting in secret despite her warning that she had drastically changed. Having gotten old and fat, he was no longer tempted in the same way. No further relationship resulted from their short reunion.

Suzy Hazelwood on Pexels

18. The Temptation of Ellen Ternan

To make matters worse, while Dickens was still married to his wife in 1857, he became infatuated with a young actress named Ellen Ternan who he had hired for a play. At this point, his marriage was already in shambles and his home life was deteriorating as he became more obsessed with this other woman. Hogarth had been completely tossed to the side.

Unknown authorUnknown author on Wikimedia

19. Locking Up His Wife

Sadly, Dicken's hatred towards his wife never ceased, building to a point where he finally slandered her in public. In an attempt to lock her up so he could be with Ternan, he stated she was a terrible mother and suffered from mental illnesses. The two officially separated on May 1858 and were never on good terms again.

Samuel Laurence on Wikimedia

20. His Weirdest Hidden Obsession

And while Dicken's married life was riddled with complications, his true darkest secret remains to be this: his secret obsession with his sister-in-law, Mary Hogarth. Their "friendly" relationship began when he first started courting Catherine, but it continued on into their marriage. Dickens was beyond devastated when Mary unexpectedly passed, living the rest of his life wearing a ring he took from her finger and carrying a lock of her hair everywhere. 

Unknown authorUnknown author on Wikimedia