The Man Who Saved Christmas

Charles Dickens is often credited with saving Christmas as well as many of its traditions and celebrations. Some would even say he accomplished this feat singlehandedly with his little novel A Christmas Carol. So who was this man who left his mark on civilization itself?

Charles Dickens is one of the most well-known authors of all time, but did you know his story was just as interesting as those he penned? It is an account of rags to riches, social activism, and a passion for stories. While he may seem irrelevant to us today, Dickens’ influence on modern-day literature, and the world, cannot be overlooked. This is the story of Charles Dickens’ life and rise to fame.  

Charles Dickens was an English author born on February 7th, 1812. He was the second of 8 children and began school at the age of nine. In a delightful turn of events for any schoolboy, he had to leave school after only three years. At least “delightful” is what he would have said before realizing he left to work long hours in a factory. This all came as a result of his father’s incarceration in debtor’s jail.  After his father's release, to young Dickens’ relief, he was allowed to continue his schooling. Later he decided to drop out, to support his family’s income and started working as an office boy. It was here that he realized his passion for writing.

He went on to work as a journalist, illustrator, and editor. During this time he wrote the vast majority of his works, including many novels and short stories. Some of his most notable works are A Christmas Carol, Great Expectations, Oliver Twist, and David Copperfield. These writings, among many others, garnered Dickens much fame.

In addition to his writing, Dickens was an avid performer. He put on multiple plays, and after some convincing from a partner,  wrote and directed some of his own. As his career continued, Dickens gave public readings of his books and short stories, which continued to bolster his popularity. 

Dickens used his fame to aid in fights for social reform. In his stories he critiqued many different aspects of the society of the day, revealing the harsh realities of poverty, social inequality, and child labor. He even traveled to America where he gave a five-month-long lecture tour opposing slavery. He later went on what one could call an apology tour responding to the backlash he received after criticizing the US on his first tour.

Charles Dickens died of a stroke on June 9th, 1870 at the age of 58. He left behind his stories, which have since been adapted for the entertainment and teaching of many generations; his great wealth, which swiftly became the subject of controversy and conspiracy, (but that is a story for another day); and finally, Charles Dickens left behind a legacy, being remembered as one of the greatest authors in the Victorian era if not one of the greatest authors of all time.