CHRONOLOGY


 1812 Charles John Huffam Dickens born 7 February at
     Landport (Portsmouth). Father: John Dickens, clerk, Navy
     Pay Office, son of butler and housekeeper, Crewe Hall.
     Mother: Elizabeth Barrow, daughter of senior clerk, Navy
     Pay Office. Brothers and sisters living to adulthood (two d.
     in infancy): Frances ("Fanny"), b. 1810; Letitia, b. 1816;
     Frederick, b. 1820; Alfred, b. 1822; Augustus, b. 1827.
1814-22
     John Dickens transferred to London 1814, to Chatham
     (near Rochester) 1817, back to London late 1822. CD at
     school in Chatham 1821-22. Family settles winter
     1822-23 at Camden Town, northern suburb of London.
1824 Increasing financial difficulty; CD put to work at
     shoe-blacking warehouse February-June. John Dickens
     imprisoned for debt during spring; family (except CD) joins
     him in Marshalsea Prison lodgings.
1824-27
     Day pupil at Wellington House Academy, London.
1827-28
     Solicitor's clerk; studies shorthand.
1829-31
     Free-lance reporter at Doctors Commons courts. Regular
     reader at British Museum from eighteenth birthday for
     several years. Meets Maria Beadnell (1830). Studies
     acting.
1831-32
     Shorthand reporter of Parliamentary proceedings for
     Mirror of Parliament (from 1831 or early 1832).
     Reporter for evening newspaper True Sun March-July
     1832. Bad cold prevents theater audition. Beadnells send
     Maria to finishing school in Paris 1832.
1833 Break with Maria Beadnell in May. First published story,
     "A Dinner at Poplar Walk," December (eight more publ. in
     Monthly Magazine January 1834-February 1835.)
1834 Reporter for Morning Chronicle from August; publishes
     there and elsewhere. Moves to Furnival's Inn, Holborn.
1835 Engaged to Catherine Hogarth, daughter of George
     Hogarth, editor of Evening Chronicle.
1836 Sketches by Boz (first series) publ. February. Pickwick
     Papers begins publication in monthly parts April (continues
     through November 1837). CD marries Catherine Hogarth
     2 April; sixteen-year-old sister Mary Hogarth comes to
     stay with them at Furnival's Inn. Plays produced: The
     Strange Gentleman and The Village Coquettes. Leaves
     Morning Chronicle November, accepts editorship of new
     monthly Bentley's Miscellany. Sketches by Boz (second
     series) publ. December. First meeting with John Forster
     December.
1837 PP continues through November; publ. in 1 vol.
     November (CD's regular practice on completion of serial
     publication; mention omitted hereafter). Son Charles
     Culliford Boz born 6 January (other children and
     birthdates: Mary 1838, Kate Macready 1839, Walter
     Landor 1841, Francis Jeffrey 1844, Alfred Tennyson
     1845, Sydney Smith1847, Henry Fielding 1849, Dora
     Annie 1850 [d. 1851], Edward Bulwer Lytton 1852).
     Oliver Twist begins monthly in Bentley's Miscellany
     February (continues through April-1839). CD moves to
     house at 48 Doughty St. April (now Dickens House, home
     of Dickens Fellowship). Mary Hogarth dies 7 May; PP
     and OT suspended one month.
1838 OT continues in BM. CD travels in Yorkshire February.
     Mary (Mamie) born 6 March. Nicholas Nickleby begins
     in monthly parts April (continues through October 1839).
     OT publ. in 3 vols. November (before completion of serial
     publication).
1839 OT continues in BM through April. NN continues through
     October. CD resigns editorship of BM in January. Planning
     begins July for weekly periodical edited by CD. Kate born
     29 October. CD moves to 1 Devonshire Terrace, York
     Gate, Regent's Park December (family home until1851).
1840 First number of Master Humphrey's Clock 4 April. The
     Old Curiosity Shop begins in MHC 25 April (continuously
     from 16 May through 6 February 1841). MHC, vol 1,
     publ. October.
1841 OCS continues through 6 February. Walter born 8
     February. Barnaby Rudge begins in MHC 13 February
     (continuing weekly through final part 27 November).
     MHC, vol.2, publ. April. CD travels in Scotland with
     Catherine June-July; decides (September) to visit U.S
     . One-vol. editions of                                                                                                                                                                             OCS and BR publ. December (also MHC, vol.3).
     1842 CD travels with Catherine in United States and
     Canada January-June. Catherine's fifteen-year-old sister
     Georgina becomes permanent member of CD household.
     American Notes publ. in 2 vols. October.
1843 Martin Chuzzlewit begins in monthly parts January
     (continues through July 1844). November CD tells Forster
     of intent to go abroad for extended period. A Christmas
     Carol publ. December.
1844 MC continues through July. Francis (Frank) born 15
     January. Early discussions of a new periodical (spring). CD
     family to Italy July, settling in Genoa. CD travels in Italy
     November; in London December to read The Chimes to
     friends. The Chimes (Christmas book) publ. December.
     CD leaves publishers Chapman and Hall for Bradbury and
     Evans.
1845 CD travels with Catherine in Italy January-April; family
     returns to London July. Idea for weekly periodical (title
     The Cricket) July. Manages and performs in amateur
     production of Jonson's Every Man in His Humour
     September. Alfred born 28 October. CD agrees
                                                    November to edit new daily newspaper. The Cricket on  the Hearth (Christmas book), publ. December.

 
 
 
 

                                            1846 First number of Daily News, edited by CD, publ. 21 January; CD resigns 9 February.
                                             Pictures from Italy publ. May. CD family goes abroad May, settling at Lausanne,
                                               Switzerland, moving to Paris November. CD begins writing Dombey and Son June. D&S
                                                  begins in monthly parts October (continues through April 1848). The Battle of Life     (Christmas book) publ. December.
                                            1847 D&S continues. CD family returns to London February. Sydney Smith born 18 April. CD
                                       provides active advice and superintendence for establishment by heiress Angela
                                                Burdett-Coutts of Urania Cottage, for helping prostitutes begin new lives abroad. (CD
                                             collaborates with Miss Coutts in this and many other welfare projects for the next dozen
                                              years.) Cheap Edition of CD's works begun (in weekly numbers and complete volumes).

                                             1848 D&S continues through April. CD directs, acts in amateur theatricals May-June in London,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow. Sister Fanny (Mrs. Henry Burnett) dies of
     TB September. The Haunted Man (last Christmas book) publ. December.
1849 Henry Fielding born 15 January. David Copperfield begins in monthly parts May
     (continues through November 1850). Letters to Times November protesting public
     hangings. The Life of Our Lord written for CD's children (unpubl. until 1934). Thinking
     again of weekly miscellany toward end of year.
1850 DC continues through November. First number of weekly Household Words 30 March.
     Heavy editorial work becomes part of CD's life from now on. (Subeditor W. H. Wills
     manages CD periodicals until ill health forces resignation 1868). Dora Annie born 16
     August. Amateur theatricals November at home of novelist Bulwer-Lytton, with whom CD
     promotes Guild of Literature and Art.
     1851 Amateur theatricals (benefits for Guild of Literature and Art) through August. Catherine in
     poor health from Annie dies April. CD moves to Tavistock House November (family home
     until 1860). Begins writing Bleak House November.
1852 Bleak House begins in monthly parts March (continues through September 1853). Edward
     Bulwer Lytton (Plorn) born 13 March. CD works with Miss Coutts on low-income
     housing. Amateur theatricals.
1853 BH continues through September. CD family in Boulogne summer. CD completes A
     Child's History of England September (running in HW since early 1851). Tours Italy with
     Augustus Egg and Wilkie Collins October-December. Gives first public reading (a benefit)
     from his novels December in Birmingham. CHE publ. complete December.
1854 Hard Times begins weekly publication in HW 1 April (to bolster slipping circulation);
     continues through 12 August. CD family in Boulogne summer and early fall.
1855 Maria Beadnell (now Mrs. Henry Winter) writes CD February; CD disillusioned when they
     meet. CD begins writing Little Dorrit May. Amateur theatrical production of Collins's The
     Lighthouse June. CD family to Paris October. Little Dorrit begins in monthly parts
     December (continues through June 1857).
1856 LD continues. John Forster marries. Negotiations concluded March for purchase of Gad's
     Hill Place near Rochester. CD returns to London April, family to Boulogne in June (until
     August). CD-Collins collaboration on play The Frozen Deep completed October.
1857 LD continues through June. Library Edition of CD's works begun. The Frozen Deep
     performed January in Tavistock House. Gad's Hill renovated; CD family to Gad's Hill for
     summer. Hans Christian Andersen visits CD June-July. Son Walter (age sixteen) to India as
     cadet in East India Co. regiment July. The Frozen Deep revived in July, special
     performance for queen; Ellen Ternan joins cast for August performance in Manchester. CD
     to Scotland with Collins September. Letter to Forster (August/September) discusses
     incompatibility of CD and Catherine. CD considers public readings for pay.
1858 First series of public readings by CD from his own works opens 29 April. Separation from
     Catherine, with considerable publicity and bitterness. Quarrel with Thackeray. First
     provincial readings August-November, more London readings begin 24 December.
1859 London readings continue to February. CD begins new weekly All the Year Round 30
     April, closes HW down 28 May. Breaks with Bradbury and Evans, returns to Chapman
     and Hall. A Tale of Two Cities (begun in AYR opening number) continues weekly through
     15 November. Public readings October and at Christmas.
1860 Essays (The Uncommercial Traveller) in AYR January-October. Son Sydney appointed
     naval cadet January. Daughter Kate marries Charles Collins (Wilkie's brother) 17 July.
     Brother Alfred dies 27 July. September: CD sells Tavistock House, moves to Gad's Hill;
     burns quantities of personal letters; begins writing Great Expectations. Begins publishing
     GE in AYR 1 December to stem fading circulation.
1861 GE continues through 3 August. Public readings in London March-April. Sister Letitia's
     husband (Henry Austin) dies October. Public readings in provinces begin October (some
     readings canceled December on Prince Albert's death). Son Charles marries Bessie Evans
     (daughter of CD's former publisher) November.
1862 Public readings continue through January. Readings in London March-June. CD decides
     against Australian reading tour. To Paris October.
1863 Public readings in Paris January and London March-June. Mother Elizabeth Dickens dies
     13 September. CD agrees late September to begin new novel in the spring. Reconciled
     with Thackeray a week before Thackeray's death December. Son Walter dies in India 31
     December.
1864 Son Frank to India January to enter Bengal Mounted Police. Our Mutual Friends begins
     publishing in monthly parts May (continues through November 1865). CD's health poor;
     suffering from lameness (probably gout) at end of year.
1865 OMF continues through November. Son Alfred emigrates to Australia May. CD and Ellen
     Ternan, returning from Paris holiday, in train wreck 9 June; CD badly shaken up.
1866 Public readings in England and Scotland April-June; CD agrees to another series of fifty.
     Brother Augustus dies in Chicago October.
1867 Charles Dickens Edition begun. Public readings in En-CD unwell but continues. gland and
     Ireland January-May; Agrees September to American reading tour. Farewell dinner in
     London 2 November. CD sails 9 November. American tour opens in Boston December.
     CD's health worsens. Plans another tour in England for fall 1868.
1868 American readings continue through April in major east coast cities. CD's health very bad.
     Profits total nearly19,000. CD returns to England April. Bad health forces subeditor Wills's
     retirement summer; CD takes over AYR duties. Son Edward emigrates to Australia
     September. Son Henry to Cambridge University October. New series of readings begins 6
     October. Brother Frederick dies October. CD gives sensational new reading (death of
     Nancy in OT) to private audience 14 November.
1869 Readings continue in England, Scotland, and Ireland. CD shows symptoms of stroke;
     provincial series discontinued 20 April by doctor's orders. CD draws up will in May.
     Begins writing Mystery of Edwin Drood late summer-early fall.
1870 Final series of readings, all in London, 11 January-15 March. Private audience with queen
     mid-March. Mystery of Edwin Drool begins in monthly parts April (continuing as far as
     written through September). Work and social life as usual in May. CD directs private
     theatrical production late May-early June. Suffers stroke 8 June at Gads Hill after full day's
     work. Dies 9 June. Buried West Minster Abbey 14 June.

                                 This extract is taken from Harland S. Nelson, Charles Dickens [Boston: Twayne
Publishers, 1981]