History Creator / CharlesDickens

He defined VictorianLondon, but actually started writing before Queen Victoria came to the throne. In fact, several of his works are set in the Georgian period (''Literature/ThePickwickPapers'' 1827-8, ''Literature/LittleDorrit'' around 1826, ''Barnaby Rudge'' 1780).

Thus it's perhaps not altogether surprising that his writing style can be best described as "barely controlled chaos." It mirrored [[UsefulNotes/VictorianBritain the society he lived and wrote in]] -- sentimental and satirical, melodramatic and priggish, exuberantly credulous and narrowly sceptical. And as if to match the action, the style of diction is wordy in the extreme -- popular legend holds that he was "paid by the word." These novels are stuffed full of literary flourishes that are not SnarkBait today only because their author was an undisputed genius. Also, this was before [[https://www.tangentonline.com/articles-columnsmenu-284/529-on-writing-as-a-fantasist the realism movement in literature]] which scorned extensive background information and description of characters and places, let alone any form of {{Anvilicious}} [[AuthorTract moralising]]. As in a modern SoapOpera, there are usually about four or five interwoven plots on the go in any single Dickens novel, not counting many more side-issues and [[AuthorFilibuster random authorial digressions.]] The whole was often leavened substantially with social criticism, most famously in ''Literature/OliverTwist'', ''Literature/NicholasNickleby'', and ''Literature/LittleDorrit''.

Tropes he rather heavily relied on to get these effects included [[LukeIAmYourFather hidden connections between established characters]] and the ContrivedCoincidence. A number of the crucial plot twists in ''Literature/DavidCopperfield'', for instance, depend on characters just happening to walk past doors or meet on the street (in the heart of London!) ''Literature/ATaleOfTwoCities'' only happens to begin with thanks to the intersection of a [[BackStory fortuitous marriage]], a highly coincidental co-passage on a boat, and an IdenticalStranger.

* ''Literature/Martin Chuzzlewit'' (1844)

* ''Martin Chuzzlewit'' (1844)

His direct descendant Harry Lloyd is now an actor, whose work includes an adaptation of Dickens' ''Bleak House'', a role in the first half of an adaptation of ''David Copperfield,'' and a turn as Viserys Targaryen on ''[[Series/GameOfThrones Game of Thrones]].''

[[quoteright:255:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/62908_o_4735.jpg]]

Charles John Huffham Dickens (February 7, 1812 -- June 9, 1870) was the foremost English novelist of the 19th century, and is to this day one of the most famous authors in the English language.

This set-up resulted in the books serving as the SoapOperas of the day, and the subsequent need to keep reader interest alive accounts for the convoluted nature of much of Dickens' plotting. The more readers, the more subscription fees; a very direct connection to the fanbase, so to speak. If sales dropped over the latest plot twist, Dickens would sometimes be forced to undo months of careful pre-planning.

This set-up resulted in the books serving as the the soap operas of the day, and the subsequent need to keep reader interest alive accounts for the convoluted nature of much of Dickens' plotting. The more readers, the more subscription fees; a very direct connection to the fanbase, so to speak. If sales dropped over the latest plot twist, Dickens would sometimes be forced to undo months of careful pre-planning.

Thus it's perhaps not altogether surprising that his writing style can be best described as "barely controlled chaos." It mirrored [[UsefulNotes/VictorianBritain the society he lived and wrote in]] -- sentimental and satirical, melodramatic and priggish, exuberantly credulous and narrowly sceptical. And as if to match the action, the style of diction is wordy in the extreme -- popular legend holds that he was "paid by the word." These novels are stuffed full of literary flourishes that are not SnarkBait today only because their author was an undisputed genius. As in a modern SoapOpera, there are usually about four or five interwoven plots on the go in any single Dickens novel, not counting many more side-issues and [[AuthorFilibuster random authorial digressions.]] The whole was often leavened substantially with social criticism, most famously in ''Literature/OliverTwist'', ''Literature/NicholasNickleby'', and ''Literature/LittleDorrit''.

He defined VictorianLondon, but actually started writing before Queen Victoria came to the throne. In fact, several of his works are set in the Georgian period (''Literature/ThePickwickPapers'' 1827-8, ''Literature/LittleDorrit'' around 1826, ''Barnaby Rudge'' 1780)

* ''Barnaby Rudge'', a fictionalized account of the Gordon Riots with a notably [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} oddball]] title character, and Dolly Varden where a fashion fad in the early 1870s, a cake, and a trout were named after her. (1841)

* ''Barnaby Rudge'', a fictionalized account of the Gordon Riots with a notably [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} oddball]] title character, and Dolly Varden where a fashion fad in the early 1870s, and a cake, were named after her. (1841)

* ''Barnaby Rudge'', a fictionalized account of the Gordon Riots with a notably [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} oddball]] title character. (1841)

* ''Literature/Martin Chuzzlewit'' (1844)

* ''TheOld Curiosity Shop'' - Containing the renowned Death of Little Nell (no, not [[Series/NCISLosAngeles that one]]), by reader acclaim the most tragic deathbed scene in English literature to that point...and these were ''Victorian'' readers, so you know the competition had to be stiff. Although Creator/OscarWilde said that you'd need a heart of stone to read it without dissolving in tears of laughter. (1841)

* ''Sketches by Boz''(1836) : The work that brought Dickens to early prominence during his days as a reporter. A series of pieces detailing London

* ''Literature/TheOldCuriosityShop'' - Containing the renowned Death of Little Nell (no, not [[Series/NCISLosAngeles that one]]), by reader acclaim the most tragic deathbed scene in English literature to that point...and these were ''Victorian'' readers, so you know the competition had to be stiff. Although Creator/OscarWilde said that you'd need a heart of stone to read it without dissolving in tears of laughter. (1841)
* ''Literature/BarnabyRudge'', a fictionalized account of the Gordon Riots with a notably [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} oddball]] title character. (1841)

* ''Literature/MartinChuzzlewit'' (1844)

* * ''Literature/OliverTwist'' - Considerably darker than most of its adaptations, with more beatings and less [[CrowdSong spontaneous multi-part harmony.]] (1839)

* ''Literature/ThePickwickPapers''. Containing the best known fictional description of a British by-election before the 1832 Great Reform Act and a major pop-culture phenomenon at the time (especially Cockney comedy relief Sam Weller), it catapulted Dickens to celebrity. The Dingley Dell-Old Muddleton cricket match appeared on a British bank note for a while.
* ''Literature/AChristmasCarol'' - "Marley was dead, to begin with..." This book is credited with playing a major role, not only in the celebration of Christmas, but also in ''creating'' the modern version of the holiday. And you'll be hard-pressed to find a tale that's [[AdaptationOverdosed spawned more]] [[YetAnotherChristmasCarol adaptations]].
* ''Literature/GreatExpectations'' - despite a similar setup to many of his other works, [[SubvertedTrope subverts]] many of his usual plot twists.
* ''Literature/TheOldCuriosityShop'' - Containing the renowned Death of Little Nell (no, not [[Series/NCISLosAngeles that one]]), by reader acclaim the most tragic deathbed scene in English literature to that point...and these were ''Victorian'' readers, so you know the competition had to be stiff. Although Creator/OscarWilde said that you'd need a heart of stone to read it without dissolving in tears of laughter.
* ''Literature/BarnabyRudge'', a fictionalized account of the Gordon Riots with a notably [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} oddball]] title character.
* ''Literature/OliverTwist'' - Considerably darker than most of its adaptations, with more beatings and less [[CrowdSong spontaneous multi-part harmony.]]
* ''Literature/ATaleOfTwoCities'' - Set during the French Revolution. "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..."
* ''Literature/DavidCopperfield'' - Dickens' 'favourite child' of his works. Semi-autobiographical tale of a young writer's rise from poverty and abuse, notable for drawing on certain dark incidents in Dickens' own past. And, on a much lighter note, introducing the Micawbers, Uriah Heep and Aunt Betsey Trotwood to the world.
* ''Literature/LittleDorrit'' - Recently the subject of a well-received BBC miniseries, a scathing indictment of society vs. human nature that pits gentle Amy Dorrit, Child of the Marshalsea (debtor's) prison, against the challenges first of poverty, then wealth.
* ''Literature/NicholasNickleby'' - Featuring Dotheboys Hall, one of the most monstrous fictional schools (and schoolmasters) ever created. Also well-known for the hopelessly maudlin subplot featuring loyal sidekick [[TheWoobie Smike]], who gets a sendoff second only to Little Nell's.
* ''Literature/BleakHouse'' - A long running court case over a disputed will, includes an early example of the police detective.
* ''Literature/HardTimes''
* ''Literature/MartinChuzzlewit''
* ''Literature/DombeyAndSon''
* ''Literature/OurMutualFriend'' - His last complete novel.
* ''Literature/TheMysteryOfEdwinDrood'' - His last, uncompleted novel.

* ''Literature/AChristmasCarol'' - "Marley was dead, to begin with..." This book is credited with playing a major role, not only in the celebration of Christmas, but also in ''creating'' the modern version of the holiday. And you'll be hard-pressed to find a tale that's spawned more [[YetAnotherChristmasCarol adaptations]].

He defined UsefulNotes/VictorianLondon, but actually started writing before Queen Victoria came to the throne. In fact, several of his works are set in the Georgian period (''Literature/ThePickwickPapers'' 1827-8, ''Literature/LittleDorrit'' around 1826, ''Barnaby Rudge'' 1780)

He defined VictorianLondon, but actually started writing before Queen Victoria came to the throne. In fact, several of his works are set in the Georgian period (''Literature/ThePickwickPapers'' 1827-8, ''Literature/LittleDorrit'' around 1826, ''Barnaby Rudge'' 1780)

Thus it's perhaps not altogether surprising that his writing style can be best described as "barely controlled chaos." It mirrored [[VictorianBritain the society he lived and wrote in]] -- sentimental and satirical, melodramatic and priggish, exuberantly credulous and narrowly sceptical. And as if to match the action, the style of diction is wordy in the extreme -- popular legend holds that he was "paid by the word." These novels are stuffed full of literary flourishes that are not SnarkBait today only because their author was an undisputed genius. As in a modern SoapOpera, there are usually about four or five interwoven plots on the go in any single Dickens novel, not counting many more side-issues and [[AuthorFilibuster random authorial digressions.]] The whole was often leavened substantially with social criticism, most famously in ''Literature/OliverTwist'', ''Literature/NicholasNickleby'', and ''Literature/LittleDorrit''.

* LovesSecrecy: Mr Nadgett from ''Literature/MartinChuzzlewit''; {{Lampshaded}}: "The ruling passion of the man expressed itself even then, in the tone of regret in which he deplored the approaching publicity of what he knew".

'''Charles John Huffham Dickens''' (February 7, 1812 -- June 9, 1870) was the foremost English novelist of the 19th century, and is to this day one of the most famous authors in the English language.