Even if you aren’t an avid reader, when someone brings up the topic of famous writers, who comes to mind? Most people think of a popular author discussed in school or maybe the person who wrote a book that was eventually turned into an epic movie that they really enjoyed. If given the title of a book, it might be easy to come up with the name of the author; likewise, if you are told the name of a writer, you might know what he/she wrote, even if you have never read the book, simply because the individual is so well known. But, do you know anything about the person that was the inspiration behind your favorite movie, or wrote the book that you just can’t put down and have read more than once. Well, here are a couple that might be just a little bit interesting.
Charles Dickens
Even if you don’t like to read classical fiction, you have probably heard of one of his most famous works, A Christmas Carol. The book has been made into several different adaptations of the same theme, from the time of silent films until the most recent animated movie starring Jim Carey. But, did you know that he also wrote four other Christmas stories, each darker than the previous one?
If you have ever taken a writing class, one of the first things you will be taught is to write about things you know. It will give your piece credibility. If you try to write about things you don’t really understand, it will show in your finished work.
Most people know that Charles Dickens wrote about the society of his day. The rich were very rich, and the poor were very poor. But, what you might find interesting is the fact that he and his family were actually put into debtors’ prison, just like the characters in David Copperfield or Great Expectations. Although the stories are definitely a work of fiction, the foundation is based in part on some of the facts of his own life.
Dickens actually got his start as an editor for a paper. Many of his works were published in the paper in serial form. Readers would have to wait for the next installment. He suffers a stroke and dies, before the last installment of his final book is written.