Boz
Boz“Boz”
Charles John Huffam Dickens was not only a great writer, but “the most popular novelist in the [19th] century, and one of the greatest humanists that England has produced." (Murray, Brian. Charles Dickens, p. 15) Charles Dickens’ greatness was expressed throughout his life in his works and in the reputation he gained while writing.
Charles Dickens was born on Friday February 7, 1812 in a small area known as New Town or Mile End, just on the outskirts of Portsmouth, England. His father, John Dickens, worked in the Naval Pay Office. It was not until 1821 when Charles received his first formal education. He was able to do so because they moved next to a church in which the minister's son kept a school not far away. After only a year in school, Charles was moved back to London after his father had accumulated a large debt. Charles was not sent back to school. John Dickens was then arrested and sent to the Marshalsea Prison. Having no where to stay, the Dickens family moved into the Prison with John. Charles did not move into the prison because he had just started a job in a blackening warehouse with his relative James Lambert. After John Dickens was released, the family moved in with Mrs. Roylance, the person whom Charles had been staying with while his family was away. After much quarreling between John and James, the Dickens’ moved out and Charles began to attend school again. He became an independent reporter at Doctor’s Commons Courts in 1829. By 1832 he had become a very successful shorthand reporter of Parliamentary deputies in the House of Commons, and began work as a reporter for a newspaper. It was in the new house on Norfolk St. that Charles met his first love, Maria Beadwell. Maria was 15 months older than he, short, had dark hair, dark eyes and was a flirt. Her nick name at one time, because of her looks, was “the Pocket Venus”. (Ackroyd, Peter. Dickens p. 130) Their relationship lasted only until 1833 when it ended most likely because her parents did not think him a good match. “Boz” became his pseudonym, in 1834. His father was again arrested for debt and Charles was forced to come to his aid. Catherine Hogarth became his Fiancee after meeting him in 1835. They were wed on April 2, 1836, and he became editor of Bentley’s Miscellany later that year. John Foster became his closest friend and confidant that same year. In 1942 he took a trip to Canada and the United states in which he advocated intentional copyright. In 1844 the family toured Italy, and became frequent visitors of France, Italy, and Switzerland until 1847. The only time he returned to England was in December 1844 to see the publishing of The...
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