Dickens, Charles: - Charles Dickens (1812-1870) was an English writer known for his vivid portrayals of late nineteenth-century London, and he's widely considered the greatest Victorian novelist. His literary career began with 'The Pickwick Papers' serial (1836) and led to the resounding success of 'Oliver Twist' (1838), 'A Christmas Carol' (1843), 'David Copperfield' (1850), and 'Great Expectations' (1861). The prolific writer authored a total of five novellas, 15 novels, and hundreds of short stories and articles.