Charles Dickens was born 7th February 1812 in Portsmouth. He died in 1870 aged 58.
Dickens' father was sent to prison for debt. At the age of 12, Charles was taken from school and was sent to work in a boot-blacking factory to support his family. He earnt about 6 shillings a week (About 30 pence!)
Dickens wrote 15 major novels and countless short stories and articles.
Ebenezer Scrooge's favourite word in a Christmas Carol is 'Humbug', but what does it mean? It is an old word meaning rubbish or nonsense.
