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Dickens 199th Anniversary

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Published on Sunday, 25 September 2011 22:33

Today, the 25th of September is the 199th Anniversary of famous 19th century author Charles Dickens.

Dickens is known for his timeless classics including: A tale of two cities, Oliver Twist and Great Expectations to name but a few. During his lifetime, Dicken's wrote 23 number of novels. One of the facts I find extremely interesting about Dickens was that from just 23 novels, he created a staggering 989 characters!

Dickens was born in Hampshire, England and he started writing as a journalist at the age of 17. His home is still standing in its original place. His first writings were The Pickwick Papers which - after accumulating a huge success - spurred Mr Dickens to write many other books. His books are now known to the world as true timeless classics, so much so that his books have never gone out of print.

Dickens was the King of Novels, his writings were unique and original in every way. Today, in serial TV shows a technique used by many people nowadays is the technique of the Cliffhanger. An ending making the reader wanting to read the next part. Who was the first author to successfully use this golden technique? Charles Dickens, the one the only.

Dickens is sometimes thought to be just a great novelist. In actual fact, he was this and much much more. Dickens was the great thinker, he was able to enrich a novel with all the plot twists, intriguing characters and real-life settings it needed. Take the perfect example of Oliver Twist. You have Oliver, the poor but optimistic orphan boy who demands sympathy from the author.

Next is the Artful Dodger, a witty, sharp and intelligent pick pocket feared by all London. Lastly, Fagin, the villainous yet humorous, money-minded old man who trains pick pockets for a living. There you go. I have just described three of Dicken's pieces of pure genius. Now you already feel like you've known them for a longer period of time.

Another important writing technique is how Dickens could create a villainous character but still have the author side him. Not many authors can do this successfully. He died on the ninth June 1870 aged 58 in his home because of stroke.

His last words were: 'Be natural my children. For the writer that is natural has fullfilled all the rules of art.'

Charles Dickens: Author, Storyteller, Genius.