Things you never knew about Charles Dickens

By Megan Hills
Last updated: June 26, 2026
a Charles Dickens feature carved into a building

Beloved for his unflinching view of London during the Industrial Revolution and simultaneously feared by anybody who's ever had to do an English Literature exam, Charles Dickens remains a popular novelist. Famous for the likes of Oliver, A Tale of Two Cities, David Copperfield, and Great Expectations, perhaps his most timeless novel is A Christmas Carol - a story that has been adapted too many times to count, including by The Muppets. 

But what do you know about the man behind the name? Test your Charles Dickens knowledge - and hopefully find out some interesting tidbits, with our deep dive into Charles Dickens lore. Below, you'll discover:

  • His difficult childhood
  • His work as a journalist 
  • Where he lived
  • His love of the paranormal
  • Where he's buried
  • and more!

Charles Dickens featured over 100 London locations in just one book.

While many of Dickens' novels feature London heavily, there's one book that features an astounding number of London sites. It's not Great Expectations or Oliver Twist, it's actually Barnaby Rudge - one of Dickens' early historical novels set against the backdrop of London's anti-Catholic Gordon Riots.

Charles Dickens had a difficult childhood

The author was born to John and Elizabeth Dickens in 1812 in Portsmouth and had several siblings. They were a poor family, and after failing to pay his debts, Charles' father was sent to prison for six months - forcing 12-year-old Charles to work at a boot polish factory for three years and forming the backdrop for his characters' experiences of child labour in Oliver Twist. As they say, write what you know. And thankfully, it wasn't just for fame, success, and money, as this work also helped to influence the repeal of child labour laws in the UK.

 

Dickens also worked as a journalist before dedicating himself to novels

Before penning some of Britain's greatest literary works, Dickens actually worked as a journalist for a number of years for the likes of The Mirror of Parliament and The True Sun. He even worked as a parliamentary reporter in 1833 for The Morning Chronicle before his writing career took off in 1836 with The Pickwick Papers. He later became a newspaper editor.

 

You can still visit Dickens' home in London.

While Dickens moved around a bit, his former home, 48 Doughty Street, is still standing - and it's been converted into the Charles Dickens Museum. The esteemed writer lived there for a few years in the 1830s and is said to have written three of his famous works there: Oliver Twist, The Pickwick Papers, and Nicholas Nickleby.

He had ten children and later divorced his wife, Catherine Hogarth

After over 22 years of marriage and ten children, Charles Dickens and his ex-wife separated in 1858. He once called Catherine 'fat and boring' and alleged that she was mentally unstable and unfit to be a mother to their children. In reality, a year before they divorced, he had met and fallen in love with Ellen Ternan, a young actress. So, was Charles Dickens a nice person? Clearly not. But was he a good husband? On this evidence, also no. But did he write some of the most famous English language novels of the 19th Century? Hard to argue there. 

 

Dickens used the word 'kangaroo' during his literary career

Dickens had a vast vocabulary, but even the word 'kangaroo' was an unusual one for authors of his age. He used it exclusively in his novel David Copperfield, where he writes, "Shall I ever forget how, in a moment, he was the most sanguine of men, looking on to fortune; or how Mrs. Micawber presently discoursed about the habits of the kangaroo!" Little Dickens fact for you, there. Surely a great icebreaker at your next party.

 

Dickens was fascinated by magic and the paranormal

Charles Dickens was something of an amateur magician and even performed professionally at places like Bonchurch and Rockingham Castle. His tricks had names such as 'The Leaping Card Wonder' and 'The Loaf of Bread Wonder' and his love of performance is apparent in his books, where he describes magicians and illusions in detail in books such as Nicholas Nickleby and The Old Curiosity Shop. He was also a member of The Ghost Club.

 

Charles Dickens had a secret bookcase door

Before James Bond ever graced our screens, Charles Dickens was living his best espionage life in his Kent home. He had a door installed that was designed to look just like a bookshelf and even chose the book titles himself, which showcased his trademark wit. These included a nine-volume Cats Lives book set and Socrates on Wedlock.

Dickens' life was forever changed by a horrific train crash

In 1865, a terrible train accident called the Staplehurst Rail Crash took place and Charles Dickens was unfortunately caught up in it with his lover Ellen Ternan. While he didn't face any life-threatening injuries and even helped save many passengers, he was very shaken and was never quite well afterwards.

 

He is buried in Westminster Abbey

After Dickens had a day-long writing marathon working on his unfinished novel Edwin Drood, he suffered from a stroke and passed away in 1870. He was granted one of Britain's highest honours and buried in the Poet's Corner at Westminster Abbey alongside legends like Geoffrey Chaucer and William Shakespeare.

 

And there you have it, some fun facts about Charles Dickens you may not have known! And, if you want to get up close with city he called home for decades, why not check out all the other best views in London, and why not join a walking tour to get up and close with London's cultural side? 

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Megan Hills
London Travel Expert

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