I still remember the first real grown-up novel I read, when I was 11 or 12. It was “A Tale of Two Cities” by Charles Dickens. I found it a wonderful introduction to the world of classical literature, and it remains one of my favorites. In Dickens’ day, readers awaited each installment of his work with the same avidness shown in recent years by Harry Potter fans. The staying power of Dickens’ writing is evidenced by the fact that none of his novels has ever gone out of print.

Charles Dickens was born 200 years ago today, on February 7, 1812. He lived most of his life in London, receiving a sparse formal education, but observing everything and reading voraciously. He suffered the effects of poverty first-hand, spending a stint working in a factory at the age of twelve to support his family, while his father served a term in debtors’ prison. These experiences influenced his literary work, where he examined class issues again and again. “Hard Times” described the poor working conditions in industrial settings of the day, while “Oliver Twist” showed the lives of characters even further down the economic ladder – workhouse residents and street children.
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