Charles Dickens
Born in Portsmouth, Dickens left school to work in a factory when his father was incarcerated in a debtors' prison. Despite his lack of formal education, he edited a weekly journal for 20 years, wrote 15 novels, five novellas, hundreds of short stories and non-fiction articles, lectured and performed readings extensively, was an indefatigable letter writer, and campaigned vigorously for children's rights, education, and other social reforms.
The Old Curiosity Shop
The Old Curiosity Shop is one of two novels (the other being "Barnaby Rudge") which Charles Dickens published along with short stories in his weekly serial "Master Humphrey's Clock", from 1840 to 1841. It was so popular that New York readers stormed the wharf when the ship bearing the final installment arrived in 1841. "The Old Curiosity Shop" was printed in book form in 1841.