The former Kent home of Charles Dickens will be opened to the public for the first time in celebration of the author's 200th birthday. Dickens penned classic novels such as Great Expectations and A Tale of Two Cities during his time in the Grade I listed Georgian property. In Gad's Hill Place, he lived, wrote, threw wonderful parties, and raised his numerous children.
 www.telegraph.co.uk |  www.thisiskent.co.uk |
The original living rooms have been used as classrooms since the 1920s. However, the aging building didn't meet modern requirements for teaching. A new school has been built on the grounds and Dickens' original home has been restored.
Now, we need to refresh ourselves about the writer's life.
Charles Dickens lived from 1812 - 1870.
Charles Dickens made a great contribution to classic English literature. The quintessential Victorian author, his epic stories, vivid characters and depiction of contemporary life are unforgettable.
Now, we need to refresh ourselves about the writer's life.
Charles Dickens lived from 1812 - 1870.
Charles Dickens made a great contribution to classic English literature. The quintessential Victorian author, his epic stories, vivid characters and depiction of contemporary life are unforgettable.
 www.bbc.co.uk |  www.bbc.co.uk |
His own life consists of rags to riches. He was born in Portsmouth on 7 February 1812, to John and Elizabeth Dickens. The good fortune of being sent to school at the age of nine was short-lived because his father, inspiration for the character of Mr Micawber in 'David Copperfield', was imprisoned for bad debt. Separated from his family at that time, Charles was sent to work in Warren's blacking factory where he endured appalling conditions, loneliness and despair. After three years he returned to school, but he never forgot the experience, which became fictionalized in two of his better-known novels 'David Copperfield' and 'Great Expectations'.
As a theatre enthusiast, he wrote plays and performed before Queen Victoria in 1851. His energy was inexhaustible and he spent much time abroad. He lectured against slavery in the United States and toured Italy with two writing companions.
He was estranged from his wife in 1858 after the birth of their ten children, but maintained relations with his mistress, the actress Ellen Ternan. After his death from a stroke in 1870, he was buried at Westminster Abbey.
I should think his wife would have been exhausted while raising the children, and felt belittled and rejected by his behavior away from home. Why does fame go to most people's head? Instead of living a sensible life, supporting his children and acting as the leader of his household, he abandoned them and ran off to live a high life. You'd think he would have learned from his own experiences. No sooner did he get the pain out of his system by writing about his early life, than he cast the lesson aside.
It seems to me that fame and fortune are very hard task-masters. We should count ourselves lucky not to have the yoke of wealth around our shoulders.
As a theatre enthusiast, he wrote plays and performed before Queen Victoria in 1851. His energy was inexhaustible and he spent much time abroad. He lectured against slavery in the United States and toured Italy with two writing companions.
He was estranged from his wife in 1858 after the birth of their ten children, but maintained relations with his mistress, the actress Ellen Ternan. After his death from a stroke in 1870, he was buried at Westminster Abbey.
I should think his wife would have been exhausted while raising the children, and felt belittled and rejected by his behavior away from home. Why does fame go to most people's head? Instead of living a sensible life, supporting his children and acting as the leader of his household, he abandoned them and ran off to live a high life. You'd think he would have learned from his own experiences. No sooner did he get the pain out of his system by writing about his early life, than he cast the lesson aside.
It seems to me that fame and fortune are very hard task-masters. We should count ourselves lucky not to have the yoke of wealth around our shoulders.
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