As a child, Charles Dickens worked in a shoe polish factory where his
gritty surroundings inspired some of the most memorable characters and
settings in literary history. Known for his masterful storytelling in
books like Oliver Twist, Great Expectations, and A Christmas
Carol, Dickens toured the globe as one of the most famous people of his
era. Widely considered the greatest writer of the Victorian age,
Dickens's literary masterpieces continue to amuse and inspire writers
and readers alike.