Today marks 200 years since the birth of one of the greatest English novelists of all times, a certain Mr Charles Dickens. Born in Portsea, Hampshire and raised in Kent, the young Dickens enjoyed a happy childhood full of outdoor adventures and inspiring literature to read. This was all to change though, when the family fell on hard times and Dickens’ father John was sent to a debtor’s prison. Young Charles was forced to leave full time education and take a job working long, hard hours in a blacking warehouse.
Though these were not the happiest times in Dickens’ life, they would prove invaluable inspiration for the stories and characters he would later come to write. When an inheritance saw the family fortunes improve once more, Dickens was able to go back and finish his education. On leaving school, Dickens first began working as a law clerk and then quickly moved into journalism. And so, the career of one of the nation’s greatest authors began.
With his amazing skill at creating interesting characters and fascinating story lines, Dickens’ popularity has not waned in the 200 years since his birth and his books are still enjoyed by young and old alike. You can even download the full works of Dickens for free onto your ebook reader. Dickens’ works have also proven rich pickings for stage, television and film adaptations, the most recent of which was a fantastic production of Great Expectations shown on television in the UK over Christmas. The musical adaptation of Oliver is still a favourite with children the world over, and is often staged in schools and theatre clubs.
If you need children’s costumes for an upcoming Dickens’ production, or you’re looking for a great costume for World Book Day (March 1st), then we’ve got some fantastic fancy dress ideas. Your little budding actors will really look the part strutting their stuff on stage in these Dickens-inspired Victorian Boy and Victorian Girl costumes.
By Jennie Humes
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