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7 Feb 1812
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Birth of Charles Dickens
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1817
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Charles Dickens enjoys a happy childhood in Chatham, England.
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1822
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Charles Dickens living and working in London
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1824
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Charles Dickens' father is sent to prison for debt; Charles is withdrawn from school to work in a factory
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1832
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Drawn to the theater, a young Charles Dickens nearly becomes a professional actor. Later in life, he will satisfy his passion for performing with hundreds of animated public readings of his own books.
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1833
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Charles Dickens begins to contribute stories and essays to magazines and newspapers.
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1834
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Charles Dickens is working as a journalist for the Liberal Benthamite Morning Chronicle, an experience that greatly affects his political outlook.
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1836
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Dickens resigns from newspaper job to edit Bentley's Miscellany
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1836
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Charles Dickens writes two plays and a pamphlet arguing that the poor should be allowed to enjoy the Sabbath.
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Apr 1836
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Charles Dickens marries Catherine, the eldest daughter of a respected Scottish journalist George Hogarth.
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1837
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Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
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1838
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Charles Dickens publishes Nicholas Nickleby in 20 serial installments.
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1840
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Charles Dickens publishes The Old Curiosity Shop in short weekly installments.
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1841
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Charles Dickens publishes Barnaby Rudge in short weekly installments.
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1841
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Charles Dickens vacations in America; is received as celebrity
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1842
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American Notes published by Charles Dickens.
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1843
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Martin Chuzzlewit by Charles Dickens
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1843
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While working on Martin Chuzzlewit, Charles Dickens writes A Christmas Carol on the side in just a few weeks. It is published the same year and becomes one of his most popular and beloved works.
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1844
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In the New Spirit of the Age, R.H. Horne describes Charles Dickens as "in private, very much what might be expected from his works.... His conversation is genial.... [He] has singular personal activity, and is fond of games of practical skill. He is als
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1844
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Charles Dickens travels in Italy.
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1846
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Charles Dickens publishes Dombey and Son in serialized form.
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1846
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Charles Dickens writes Dombey and Son.
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1846
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Charles Dickens is traveling in Switzerland and France.
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1849
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David Copperfield by Charles Dickens