For most of us who have read English literature either for examinations or pleasure, Charles Dickens still remains the ideal novelist. Before Dickens turned 12, his father – a government clerk – fell into debt and was sentenced to prison. As a result, Dickens had to work in a blacking factory for survival.
By dint of hard work, he became a solicitor’s clerk at the age of 15. He taught himself shorthand and graduated to court reporting. Thereafter, he joined the House of Commons as a reporter. He quenched his thirst for learning by reading the books at the British Museum.
Dickens’ life-story is fascinating even for a novel. After some time, he started contributing articles for various publications. His first article appeared in the ‘Monthly Magazine’ with his byline as ‘Boz.’ When he published ‘The Pickwick Papers,’ it soon opened the door to his wealth and fame. It was followed by an uninterrupted stream of novels published during 30 years.
Some of them are ‘Oliver Twist’ (1837), ‘Nicholas Nickleby’ (1838), ‘A Christmas Carol’ (1843), ‘Bleak House’ (1852), ‘Hard Times’ (1854), ‘Little Dorrit’ (1855), ‘A Tale of Two Cities’ (1859), ‘Great Expectations’ (1860) and ‘Our Mutual Friend’ (1864). He died in 1870 before completing his last novel ‘The Mystery of Edwin Drood.’ Many of these novels dealt with moral and social problems.
Dickens married Catherine Hogarth in 1837, the year ‘Oliver Twist’ was published. Although he had written several novels, he was worried about his mounting bills. He had even mortgaged his house. Dickens also had trouble in sleeping and he used to walk the cliffs for hours. He wanted to write a good novel and earn some money.
In the midst of all these problems, he felt a sudden flash of imagination to write a Christmas story. In fact, Christmas was less than three months away and Dickens was worried whether he could finish the novel in so short a time. He knew that the novel had to be finished by the end of November.
Selfish villain
Dickens filled ‘A Christmas Story’ with scenes and characters appealing to his readers. For this purpose, he created a small sickly child and an honest but ineffectual father. He also created a selfish villain and an old man with a pointed nose and shrivelled cheeks. He devised a plot simple enough for children to understand.
However, when the little novel was published, it evoked warm memories and emotions in adults. In the course of writing the novel, a strange incident took place. While writing about Christmas, the joy of the season he cherished began to alleviate his depression. In fact, the little novel he was writing captured his heart and soul turning it into a labour of love. The characters he created seemed to act magically.
Dickens grew impatient to see the launch of his book. His biographer John Foster said a strange mystery held over the author. Dickens later said how he wept and laughed while writing the novel. As he had correctly imagined, the first edition of 6,000 copies sold out by Christmas Eve. The response from readers was overwhelming. The celebrated novelist William Thackeray said, “It seems to me a national benefit and to every man and woman who reads it a personal kindness.”
‘A Christmas Carol’ has charmed and inspired millions of readers. There have been scores of editions and translations of the novel. In addition, there were many stage plays, television and film adaptations making it the best loved tale of the time. What is more, the little book changed the course of his life forever. Then he received some bad news from his publisher. He told Dickens that the sales of his novels were dropping. He felt that his talents were being questioned by readers.
Despite being a prolific writer, Dickens felt that none of his novels gave him the soul-satisfying joy he derived from his little book. He recalled how he produced such a marvellous novel in the midst of self-doubt and confusion.
‘A Christmas Carol’ gave him a new-found faith in himself. It was conceived and written in a short time in 1843.
However, the novel created a new literary genre known as ‘Christmas books.’ Later literary critics referred to the novel as ‘Carol Philosophy.’ He had a purpose in writing the short novel. He wanted Christmas spirit to prevail throughout the year.
After-dinner speaker
Apart from being a celebrated novelist, Dickens was a brilliant after-dinner speaker and the best shorthand reporter on the London Press. He also made his mark as a competent amateur actor on the stage. He was also a prominent periodical editor. When he died ‘Times’ obituary paid a glowing tribute to him by saying “Irrespective of his literary genius, he was an able and strong-minded man.” Despite all his commitments, Dickens loved home and family life as a devoted husband and a beloved father.
With a string of novels to his credit, Dickens tried his hand at poetry writing. Here is one of his best-loved poems written at the height of his fame:
These things shall never die
The pure, the bright, the beautiful
That stirred our hearts in youth,
The impulses to wordless prayer,
The streams of love and truth
The longing after something lost,
The spirit’s yearning cry
The striving after better hopes-
These things shall never die.
The timid hand stretched forth to aid
A brother in his need
A kindly word in grief’s dark hour
That proves a friend indeed,
The plea for mercy softly breathed
When justice threatens high,
The sorrow of a contrite heart –
These things shall never die.
Let nothing pass for every hand
Must find some work to do,
Lost not a chance to waken love,
Be firm and just and true
So shall a light that cannot fade,
Beam on thee from on high,
And angel voices say to thee –
‘These things shall never die.’
