One of the most famous authors of all time, Charles Dickens, was born in London, England in 1812. Though his family was of the middle class, the Dickens family fell into poverty due to his father’s overspending. At twelve years old, Dickens stopped his schooling and was forced to work in a blacking warehouse to pay back the family debt. This experience affected the young Dickens for the rest of his life and caused poverty in the Victorian era to become a frequent theme in his stories. After escaping the family debt through inheritance and a stint as a reporter, Dickens began writing and publishing (typically in a serialized format) novels in 1833. His most famous works include A Tale of Two Cities, Oliver Twist, and A Christmas Carol. Dickens died in 1870 after suffering from a stroke. The Charles Dickens Museum is located in the former Dickens’ home in London, England. Dickens moved into the house in 1837 and raised his family there. One of the museum’s highlights is Dickens’ study, which is where he wrote most of his works with a quill pen. Besides the study, the Charles Dickens Museum also displays artifacts such as original drafts of Dickens’ novels, his wife’s engagement ring, and the family furniture.
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