If I voted for the best writer of English literature, I would vote for Charles Dickens. His writings about orphans enlightened and changed the way people perceived homeless children and brought about great positive change for them. The photo is Dickens as a boy.
Dickens had to quit school and go to work in a factory after his father went to debtors’ prison. He had very little formal education, but he became one of the greatest writers of English literature. He enjoyed more popularity and fame than any writer of his time.
One reason his writing is so good is that he published novels on installments. That means he published a little each week and eventually the writings made up a complete novel (similar to blogging today). He got feedback regularly and changed his writing accordingly.
Many believe his extreme poverty as a child drove him to succeed even though the odds were against him. He had not been trained in writing skills, but apparently learned them as he went. He mailed many transcripts in the dark of night to publishers because of his embarrassment of being constantly rejected. Fortunately for the world, his bulldog determination and faith motivated him to keep trying over and over again even though he failed constantly.
Dickens’ work was read aloud for small sums of money so that illiterate people could enjoy it. The cruel conditions he endured working ten hours a day for little money in a factory as a child no doubt gave him a special appreciation for poor people. Many of his characters and essays were influenced by those difficult years in his life.
Dickens is another example of rags to riches. People who have faith in their abilities and are willing to work very hard seem to end up prospering. But it all starts with belief that the goals and dreams really can be achieved.
More ideas like these in my books. Writing these books changed my life for the better. I hope they help you too. my books
Ideas for success 
[…] Charles Dickens changed the world […]
Reblogged this on The Right Word Makes All The Difference and commented:
12 Days of Christmas Blessings is now at day 10. Today I’m sharing a post from a fellow-blogger, Brad Stanton, who wrote this article about Charles Dickens. Many thousands of people connect Dickens with “A Christmas Carol,” which has become world-famous as the quintessential Christmas story and has been portrayed in a hundred different ways all over the world. But Brad shares another aspect of Charles Dickens’ life in this article and another way in which the author affected the whole world with many other novels that he wrote. I hope you enjoy the post.
Reblogged this on Hangin' Out With God and commented:
12 Days of Christmas Blessings is now at day 10. Today I’m sharing a post from a fellow-blogger, Brad Stanton, who wrote this article about Charles Dickens. Many thousands of people connect Dickens with “A Christmas Carol,” which has become world-famous as the quintessential Christmas story and has been portrayed in a hundred different ways all over the world. But Brad shares another aspect of Charles Dickens’ life in this article and another way in which the author affected the whole world with many other novels that he wrote. I hope you enjoy the post.
[…] Charles Dickens changed the world […]
Hello, Brad. I discovered your blog through Lee at Lee’s Birdwatching Adventures. I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve read here, and I’m so glad to see your efforts to point people to the positive, faith-centered perspective on life.
I agree that we owe Charles Dickens a great debt. As a writer and a teacher of literature and creative writing, I naturally spend a good deal of time thinking about and talking about Dickens, and what you’ve said is so true. The Lord used him mightily in helping alleviate suffering for a whole generation of people. He also used Dickens when he wrote A Christmas Carol.
Dickens struggled a lot with that book, but eventually it became a masterpiece that the world has been drawn to and has tried to re-portray in every single medium available to man. It’s true that some of those re-portrayals are a little far out, but the point is that the story touches the heart of the fact that love is the focus of Christmas and we can truly celebrate it only if we love. And the entire world, for generations, has been effected by that book. I’ve prayed more than once that the Lord would allow me to write something that could touch the world the way Dickens’ work has. Thanks for sharing this article.
Wow, thanks a lot for your agreement. I’m so glad you are praying to help people, I do the same thing. It is amazing how possible it is today to reach a lot of people on Facebook, blogs, Twitter, etc. I used to spend 20-30 hours a week writing and promoting my work on social media. Maybe we can work together to reach a lot of people. May I know some of the books you have written?
Certainly. One of the most sought after books the Lord has allowed me to write is “Healing Is For You!” I use it regularly when I teach healing schools throughout the year, and it is offered online on two of my blogs for free reading.(Click the link to my “Hangin’ Out With God” site on this reply to get to one of those ministry sites. There are also links in the sidebar of that blog to my “Healing From Jesus” blog and my writing blog as well. The healing book will be on Kindle in February.
Several of my Christian novels are already available on Kindle. I’ll give you the link to my Amazon author’s page here, and if you’re interested, you can see the short explanations of those books online. That’s probably the easiest way to see what they’re about. One of my other teaching books (The Lord Giveth; The Devil Taketh Away: Looking At Job Through Jesus) is also offered on my ministry blog for free reading. Most all of my books are published in print format by St. Ellen Press and can be seen on that website as well, but you’ll probably find it easiest to check them out on the Amazon Kindle site.
I’ll be glad to encourage people to visit your blog and find out about your books. They sound very helpful. In fact, I thought I’d “share” your Dickens article on my Facebook page and two of the blogs as part of my 12 Days of Christmas celebration. Every year I celebrate all 12 days and usually give individual gifts to people, along with encouraging scriptures. But this year, I’m sharing things online instead. I’m using some of my own work but also sharing some articles and videos from others who are encouraging and faith-building.
Here’s the link to my Kindle books as I promised:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00XQDPNHS
God bless you and Happy New Year
[…] Charles Dickens changed the world […]
[…] Charles Dickens changed the world […]
I would love to know where you got your evidence from 🙂
from iss.schoolwires.com Dickens’s tragic – yet incredibly popular – novels evoked a deep sympathy for society’s most vulnerable. Wealthy readers were moved to call for reforms. In 1870, the year that Charles Dickens died, England passed a sweeping reform called the Education Act, which made it possible for all kids to go to school.
if you google this idea, you will find many sources showing this is true
I haven’t read a lot of Dickens as I tend to read non-fiction but he’s cropped up a bit lately. I have been researching the Irish Famine through the eyes of my ancestors. This is a broader focus than just my family tree. Anyway, found out that one of my ancestors was one of the Irish Famine Orphans sent out to Australia. She was illiterate as was her soon to be husband. As a well-educated person myself, am a writer, reader it is hard for me to understand what it meant to be an illiterate adult back in the 1850s and keep an open mind. I am now picturing them being read the likes of Dickens. You have added a new string to their bow. Best wishes,
Rowena
I have not read anything of Dickens; I have only heard of him, seen some interpretations of his Christmas Carol and read some comments about him…like I am doing now because of this post. I have never asked any questions about his rise as a writer nor that his upbringing was that poor as you have written. As a saying goes; if you know the half, you know what to ask…and now, because of you, I am starting to know the half so I can ask some question about Dickens. I hope you can answer them or maybe direct me to some good sources where I can read the answers.
First; what gave him hope and dreams? Where did his urge to write stems from? Where did he get his willpower to write from? How did he learn that dreams can be achieved?
Thank you for a post that made me ask these questions…
Those questions you asked are good ones, i don’t really know the answers to them. I ask myself the same questions about myself and others.