Charles Dickens was one of the most popular writers of his age and is still considered to be one of the world's greatest novelists. This study surveys his unusual and prolific life, relating his fiction writings to his concerns and active involvement with social conditions of early Victorian England. An entire chapter is devoted to works such as "David Copperfield", "Hard Times", and "Christmas", as well as early novels like "The Pickwick Papers" and "Martin Chuzzlewit", analyzing plot, style and character development. This companion to Dickens will aid students in understanding the social context and literary impact of the author. The biographical chapter traces Dickens's life from his childhood through to the development of his multi-faceted literary career. This volume surveys all of Dickens's work and provides readings of five of his novels and his "Christmas" works, and the selected bibliography and reviews cover both original and contemporary sources.