Charles Dickens and Victorian literature

Study note

Charles Dickens was one of the most popular writers of the Victorian period, the time of Queen Victoria's reign. His novels were widely read and remain famous today, and they often described the lives of poor people and the social problems of the age.

Two of his best-known novels are Oliver Twist and Great Expectations. These are the works to link with Dickens, rather than The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer, the books of Rudyard Kipling or the poems of Robert Burns, who were all different writers from other periods. Dickens created many memorable characters and used his stories to draw attention to poverty and injustice. Remember Charles Dickens as the Victorian author of Oliver Twist and Great Expectations.

Memory tip: Dickens = Victorian novels about the poor: 'Oliver Twist', 'Great Expectations'.