Charles Dickens is one of the best English writers. He was born on 7 February 1812. Although his family was not poor by the standarts of the time, his father was arrested for debt.

Little Charles began to work in a blacking warehouse. When his father was set free the boy was sent to school, where he did well, and at the age of fifteen began to work in a lawyer's office.

Dickens was 19 when he became a reporter. While he was working for the newspaper "Morning Chronicle" he began to write novels. In 1837 "The Pickwick Papers" was published, the book brought him fame and money.

He worked very hard and produced many novels. His masterpieces are: "Oliver Twist", "David Coperfield", "Little Dorrit". All his writings, whether sad or happy, serious or gay are about ordinary people whose life he knew very well.

Dickens died in 1870 and was buried in Westminster Abbey. As he had wished on the stone over his grave was nothing but his name: "Charles Dickens".