By:  Cindy Wilson

Charles Dickens was one of the most prolific and popular English novelists of the Victorian era. His novels are known for their social commentary, humor, and memorable characters. Dickens's works continue to be widely read and adapted today.

Early Works (1836-1841)

• The Pickwick Papers (1836-1837): Dickens's first novel is a picaresque tale that follows the adventures of a group of middle-class gentlemen. The novel is known for its humor and its vivid depiction of London life.

• Oliver Twist (1837-1838): This novel tells the story of an orphan who is forced into a life of crime. Oliver Twist is one of Dickens's most famous novels, and it has been adapted into numerous films and television series.

• Nicholas Nickleby (1838-1839): Nicholas Nickleby is a bildungsroman that follows the life of a young man who must support his family after his father's death. The novel is known for its social commentary and its critique of the British class system.

• The Old Curiosity Shop (1840-1841): This novel is a sentimental tale of a young orphan girl and her grandfather. The Old Curiosity Shop was one of Dickens's most popular novels during his lifetime.

Middle Works (1843-1855)

• A Christmas Carol (1843): This novella is a classic Christmas story that tells the story of a miserly old man who is visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve. A Christmas Carol is one of Dickens's most popular works, and it has been adapted into numerous films and television series.

• David Copperfield (1849-1850): David Copperfield is a semi-autobiographical novel that tells the story of a young man's life from childhood to adulthood. The novel is known for its humor, its insights into human nature, and its realistic portrayal of Victorian society.

• Bleak House (1852-1853): Bleak House is a complex novel that tells the story of a family's struggle to inherit a fortune. The novel is known for its social commentary, its criticism of the British legal system, and its complex plot.

• Hard Times (1854): Hard Times is a novel that explores the social and economic problems of industrial England. The novel is known for its bleak tone and its criticism of utilitarianism.

• Little Dorrit (1855-1857): Little Dorrit is a novel that tells the story of a young woman who is born in a debtor's prison. The novel is known for its social commentary and its critique of the British prison system.

Late Works (1859-1870)

• A Tale of Two Cities (1859): A Tale of Two Cities is a historical novel that tells the story of two families, one in London and one in Paris, during the French Revolution. The novel is known for its suspenseful plot and its exploration of the themes of revolution and social change.

• Great Expectations (1861): Great Expectations is a bildungsroman that tells the story of a young man's journey from poverty to wealth. The novel is known for its complex characters, its exploration of the themes of class and identity, and its atmospheric setting.

• Our Mutual Friend (1864-1865): Our Mutual Friend is a complex novel that tells the story of a group of people who are connected by a mysterious will. The novel is known for its social commentary, its exploration of the themes of greed and inheritance, and its complex plot.

• The Mystery of Edwin Drood (1870): The Mystery of Edwin Drood is Dickens's final novel, and it was left unfinished at the time of his death. The novel is a mystery story that follows the investigation into the disappearance of a young man.

Charles Dickens's literary works are a rich and varied body of work that continues to be enjoyed by readers around the world. His novels are known for their social commentary, their humor, and their memorable characters. Dickens's works have had a profound influence on literature and culture, and they continue to be relevant today.

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