According to Edgar Johnson, in the novels of British writer Charles
             Dickens (1817-1870) "there is evidence that his troubled childhood left its
             mark upon the man and his works. The sense of power and the self-assertion,
             combined with an inadequacy for self-criticism, were perhaps compensations
             for the frustrations of his early years" (26). Generally considered as one
             of the greatest writers of the Victorian era, Charles Dickens' novels "are
             characterized by attacks on social evils, injustice and hypocrisy" (Books
             and Writers, Internet) which may be a reflection of his lower middle-class
             upbringing. In addition, Dickens is "probably the best known and most
             popular of British 19th century novelists," due to not only "the quality of
             his writing. . . but also to the widespread adaptation of his work for the
             stage and screen" (Catharton Authors, Internet).
             Though born on the South coast of England, Dickens was quite young
             when his parents brought him to live on the outskirts of London. His father
             was an ineffectual person with much debt that landed him in prison; his
             mother Elizabeth taught him to read early in life and some of the popular
             novels which he read were Tom Jones, The Vicar of Wakefield, Don Quixote
             and Gil Blas, some of which inspired him to write his first tale "Misnar"
             that was loosely based on the "Tales of the Genii" (Golden Books,
             Internet). At nine years of age, Dickens was apprenticed in a warehouse
             which was a very humiliating experience for such a sensitive, intelligent
             boy. After two years, better family fortunes enabled him to continue his
             schooling, but his real education came from his readings and wanderings in
             London along the Thames River. In 1827, Dickens was placed to a solicitor
            
             (a lawyer) and mastered shorthand and attended various sessions of the
             English court. He later became a re...