The Life of Charles Dickens, Vol. I-III, Complete
by John Forster (1812–1876)
- Free to read
- 29 hours to read
- 67 chapters
- Reading level: 8th & 9th grade
"The Life of Charles Dickens, Vol. I-III, Complete" by John Forster is a biographical work written in the late 19th century. This comprehensive biography chronicles the life of Charles Dickens, focusing particularly on his formative years and the experiences that shaped him as one of the greatest novelists of the era. It captures his childhood, early hardships, and the early influences that would later permeate his literary career. The opening of the biography delves into Dickens's early life, beginning with his birth in 1812 and unfolding his childhood years through vivid recollections of family dynamics and significant events. It discusses his family's struggles, particularly his father's financial difficulties that led to Dickens enduring hardships in his youth, including working in a blacking factory at a tender age. Through personal anecdotes and reflections, the text emphasizes his keen powers of observation and imaginative spirit, which would later flourish in his writing, laying the groundwork for understanding the profound influence of these early experiences on his literary works.
- Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870
- Novelists, English · 19th century · Biography
Read the opening
Chapter I
CHILDHOOD
1812-1822.
Birth at Landport in Portsea—Family of John
Dickens—Powers of Observation in Children—Two
Years Old—In London, aet. 2-3—In Chatham, aet.
4-9—Vision of Boyhood—The Queer Small
Child—Mother's Teaching—Day-School in Rome
Lane—Retrospects of Childhood—David
Copperfield and Charles Dickens—Access to
Small but Good
Library—Tragedy-Writing—Comic-Song
Singing—Cousin James Lamert—First taken to
Theatre—At Mr. Giles's School—Encored in the
Recitations—Boyish Recollections—Birthplace
of his Fancy—Last Night in Chatham—In
London—First Impressions—Bayham Street,
Camden-town—Faculty of Early Observation—His
Description of his Father—Small Theatre made
for him—Sister Fanny at Royal Academy of
Music—Walks about London—Biography and
Autobiography—At his Godfather's and his
Uncle's—First Efforts at Description—"Res
Angusta Domi"—Mother exerting Herself—Father
in the Marshalsea—Visit to the Prison—Captain
Porter—Old Friends disposed of—At the
Pawnbroker's.
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About this edition
This free edition of The Life of Charles Dickens, Vol. I-III, Complete by John Forster comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #25851, released 2008-06-20. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: Biographies.
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