| Charles Dickens | |
|---|---|
 | |
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Real Name |
Charles John Huffam Dickens |
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First Appearance |
February 7, 1812 |
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Original Publisher |
June 9, 1870 |
Origin[]
Charles John Huffam Dickens was a highly influential English novelist, journalist, and social critic, celebrated as one of the greatest writers of the Victorian era. He created some of literature’s most iconic characters, and his works—novels, short stories, and nonfiction—remain widely read today.
Born in Portsmouth, Dickens left school at 12 to work in a factory while his father was imprisoned for debt, returning later to pursue a literary career. He became a journalist, edited a weekly journal for 20 years, wrote 15 novels, five novellas, and hundreds of short stories, and campaigned for social reforms, particularly children’s rights and education.
Dickens gained fame with the 1836 serial publication The Pickwick Papers, which introduced the popular character Sam Weller. He became known for humor, satire, and keen social observation. Many of his novels were published in serial form with cliffhanger endings, allowing him to adapt plots and characters based on reader feedback. His works often incorporated topical events and social commentary, reaching audiences that included the illiterate poor who paid to have episodes read aloud.
Among his best-known works are A Christmas Carol, Oliver Twist, Great Expectations, Bleak House, and A Tale of Two Cities. His writings highlighted social issues, influenced reform movements, and inspired numerous adaptations. Dickens was a major celebrity in his time, giving public reading tours, and his name gave rise to the term “Dickensian,” describing conditions or characters reminiscent of his works.
Public Domain Appearances & Works[]
All published works and appearances of Charles Dickens from before January 1, 1931 are public domain in the US.
Some notable works and appearances are listed below:
Public Domain Works[]
- The Pickwick Papers (1836–1837)
- Oliver Twist (1837–1839)
- Nicholas Nickleby (1838–1839)
- The Old Curiosity Shop (1840–1841)
- Barnaby Rudge (1841)
- Martin Chuzzlewit (1843–1844)
- A Christmas Carol (1843)
- The Chimes (1844)
- The Cricket on the Hearth (1845)
- Dombey and Son (1846–1848)
- The Battle of Life (1846)
- The Haunted Man (1848)
- David Copperfield (1849–1850)
- Bleak House (1852–1853)
- Hard Times (1854)
- Little Dorrit (1855–1857)
- A Tale of Two Cities (1859)
- Great Expectations (1860–1861)
- Our Mutual Friend (1864–1865)
- The Mystery of Edwin Drood (1870)
Public Domain Literary Appearances[]
- "Charles Dickens," in The Times (1870)
- Dickens, a sonnet by Algernon Charles Swinburne
- "Dickens, Charles," by William Minto in Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition (v. 7) (1878)
- "Dickens, Charles," by Rossiter Johnson in The American Cyclopædia (1879)
- "Dickens, Charles," by Leslie Stephen in Dictionary of National Biography, 1885–1900, London: Smith, Elder, & Co. (1885–1900) in 63 vols.
- "Dickens, Charles," in The New International Encyclopædia, New York: Dodd, Mead and Co. (1905)
- Charles Dickens (1906) by Gilbert Keith Chesterton
- "Dickens, Charles," in The Nuttall Encyclopædia, (ed.) by James Wood, London: Frederick Warne and Co., Ltd. (1907)
- "Dickens, Charles," in A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature, by John William Cousin, London: J. M. Dent & Sons (1910)
- "Dickens, Charles John Huffam," by Thomas Seccombe in Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed., 1911)
- "Dickens, Charles," in The New Student's Reference Work, Chicago: F.E. Compton and Co. (1914)
- "Dickens, Charles," by William T. Brewster in The Encyclopedia Americana, New York: The Encyclopedia Americana Corporation (1920)
- "Dickens, Charles," in Collier's New Encyclopedia, New York: P. F. Collier & Son Co. (1921)
- "Charles Dickens", a poem by Dorothy Parker (1928)
Public Domain Comic Appearances[]
- The Saturday Evening Post v200 #8, V201 #25 (1927, 1928)
- Jack-in-the-Box Comics #11
Notes[]
- A list of characters created by Charles Dickens on this wiki can be found here.