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Monday 6 February 2012

Google doodles for Charles Dickens


It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. And now it's two hundred years later. So Google's giving you a little treat. Google doodles today for one of the most prolific British authors we know of, Charles Dickens. We've all read or watched a Dickensian film at some point or the other in our lives, or have at least been called Scrooge. Dickens was born on the 7th of February, 1812 in Portsmouth, England and he was raised in Kent. Up until the age of 10, Dickens' family lived comfortably and he spent the most part of his childhood outdoors and reading. After the age of 10, the Dickens family fell into considerable debt with Charles' father imprisoned in a debtor's prison. The whole family joined him in prison, except for Charles, who was sent to live with his inspiration for Mrs. Pipchin in his book, Dombey and Son.
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times


Dickens was sent to work at a blacking warehouse where he worked for 10 hours a day and dropped out of school in the process. After his family came into some money and was released from jail, Dickens' mother kept him in the blacking warehouse, while sending him to school. His mother's decision was said to be the reason for Dickens' dissatisfaction with women seen in his novels, particularly in Great Expectations. Dickens is known for his portrayals of the working class in the Victorian era, particularly their hardships. His novels were relatable to the working class and therefore readable for them. His most famous works included Great Expectations, Oliver Twist, A Tale of Two Cities, Nicholas Nickleby, the Pickwick Papers and of course, A Christmas Carol. Dickens died on the 8th of June, 1970 of a stroke.

The Google doodle is reminiscent of Victorian England and when you click on the Doodle, you're taken to a "Books" search for Charles Dickens. The Doodle features characters from his works, including Ebenezer Scrooge, Oliver Twist, and Philip Pirrip.

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