Charles Dickens (1812-70) - one of the English language's greatest writers, he filled his storytelling with such descriptive detail, and thus brought all those now familiar characters to life - Fagin, Bill Sykes, Pip, Mrs Havisham, Mr. Micawber, Sydney Carton, the list seems endless.
Born in Portsmouth, Dickens spent his early childhood in Chatham, and lastly lived in Gads Hill Place, Kent; but for most of his career he was closely associated with London.
Born in Portsmouth, Dickens spent his early childhood in Chatham, and lastly lived in Gads Hill Place, Kent; but for most of his career he was closely associated with London.
Today I visited the only Charles Dickens home to survive - 48 Doughty Street in the Bloomsbury area of London – now the Charles Dickens Museum. It was here that two of Dickens' ten children were born, where his beloved sister in law Mary died, and where he penned two of his most famous novels; Oliver Twist and Nicholas Nickleby.
A modest fee (£8 Adult, £4 children) secures entry and an informative booklet which provides for an interesting self-guided tour of the recently refurbished house. The Charles Dickens Museum Team has constructed the guide along a "serialised monthly theme" - a reference to how Victorian readers would have read Dickens' novels.
Each room contains various original items that belonged to Dickens featuring monthly parts describing their history and significance. The tour is like taking a journey through the author's life, and each room is a window on life in Victorian London.
More information about the museum is here: Dickens Museum
Each room contains various original items that belonged to Dickens featuring monthly parts describing their history and significance. The tour is like taking a journey through the author's life, and each room is a window on life in Victorian London.
More information about the museum is here: Dickens Museum
The Charles Dickens Museum is of course just the beginning - there are many, many places in London referenced in Dickens' novels and stories and also of significance to the author's own life and experiences.
To arrange a tour simply complete the Contact Form and I'll be in touch: Click Contact
To arrange a tour simply complete the Contact Form and I'll be in touch: Click Contact