CharlesDikensCharlesDikenswasborninPortsmouthin1812
ThesecondsonofaclerkintheNavyPayOffice
Hischildhood,likemanyofthoseportrayedinhisnovels,wasnotparticularlyhappy,mainlyduetohisfather\'sinabilitytostayourofdebt
Thisledin1824,tohisfather\'simprisonmentinMarshaleaPrisonandDikensbeingsenttoworkinablackingwarehouse,labellingbottles
Memoriesofthistimehauntedhimfortherestofhislife
Indefianceofhisparent\'sfailuretoeducatehim,Dikensworkedhard,teachinghimselfshorthand,studyinghard;becomingfirstaClerkinasolicitorsoffice,thenafreelancereporterforthecourtofDoctors\'Commons
Around1830hehadfalleninlovewithMariaBeadnell,abanker\'sdaughter,howeverby1833thiswasover
HebecameareporterofparliamentarydebatefortheMorningChronicle
ItisfromherethatDicken\'stalentforportaitsandcaricaturestemmedandhisSketchesbyBoz