“An Inimitable Storyteller”
Dickens’s style was defined by witty dialogue, detailed descriptions, caricature-like villains, and critiques of the treatment of those in poverty.
At a time when explanations of current events were often available only to the wealthy, he wrote both to entertain his audience and help them understand the issues that
would impact their lives. He
often drew from his own
experiences—for example,
David Copperfield was
semi-autobiographical,
and he sometimes based
characters on real people.
His international fame was
unexpected, but has been
impressively consistent for
over 150 years. Check out
the links below to learn
about his larger-than-life
persona!
Dickens reading to an American audience, sketched by C. A. Barry.
Charles Dickens at a reading in New York
Dickens as a performer
English actor Simon Callow talks about the writer’s unique performances and his resulting fame.
