Charles Dickens: A Life

by Claire Tomalin

  No. 34 Keppel Street: Dickens installed John Dickens in a doctor’s house here, and was present at his father’s death in 1851.

  No. 58 Lincoln’s Inn Fields: John Forster lodged here from 1834, expanding steadily into more rooms to take his growing book collection. He left on his marriage in 1856.

  Lyceum Theatre, Strand: theatre well known to Dickens. A Tale of Two Cities played here in 1860, Dickens’s friend Fechter was the lessee in 1864, Mrs Ternan made her last stage appearance here in 1866.

  No. 70 Margaret Street: Dickens lodged here with parents early in 1831.

  Marylebone Workhouse: a very large group of buildings, where Dickens served on a jury in 1840.

  No. 46 Montagu Square: John Forster lived here after his marriage in 1856.

  No. 10 Norfolk Street (now Cleveland Street): Dickens lodged here with parents 1815–16 and again in 1829.

  No. 9 Osnaburgh Terrace: Dickens rented a house briefly here in 1844 when Devonshire Terrace was let to a tenant. His children were moved to No. 25 Osnaburgh Street during his American trip in 1842.

  Piazza Coffee House in Covent Garden: meeting place for Dickens, Forster and friends. Dickens also put up here, e.g., in December 1844.

  St James’s Hall: Dickens did most of his London readings here. He started in St Martin’s Hall in Longacre, which burnt down in 1860, and also gave readings in Hanover Square rooms.

  Somerset House: John Dickens worked here in the Navy Pay Office 1805–9 and 1822–5.

  Strand: the Morning Chronicle, for which Dickens wrote, was at No. 332, and his publishers Chapman & Hall at No. 186.

  Tavistock House: bought by Dickens in 1851, intending to remain for life, but he sold it in 1860.

  Verrey’s Restaurant: Dickens’s favourite London restaurant from the 1850s.

  No. 16 Wellington Street: Dickens’s office for Household Words from 1850, with private rooms for himself above. It was handy for theatres, and he entertained here a good deal. In 1858, when he started All the Year Round, he moved along the street to the larger No. 26, furnishing the private rooms comfortably and employing a housekeeper

  DICKENS IN NORTH LONDON

  Ampthill Square: Dickens found a house for his widowed mother here in 1851.

  No. 16 Bayham Street: John and Elizabeth Dickens moved here from Rochester with their family in 1822.

  Euston Station was built in 1837, King’s Cross in 1852, St Pancras in 1868.

  No. 70 Gloucester Crescent: Catherine Dickens lived here after the separation until her death.

  No. 4 Grafton Terrace: Dickens installed his widowed sister-in-law, Helen, with her children in 1860, and then his mother, who remained here until her death.

  No. 2 Houghton Place (Ampthill Square): the house bought for Fanny and Maria Ternan in 1859 and transferred to Ellen (Nelly) Ternan on her majority in 1860. There can be little doubt that it was paid for by Dickens.

  No. 29 Johnson Street: John and Elizabeth Dickens and family lived here from December 1824 to March 1827.

  No. 27 Little College Street: John and Elizabeth Dickens and family lived in lodgings here in 1824.

  No. 17 The Polygon: John and Elizabeth Dickens lived here from March 1827 to 1829.

  Wellington House Academy: Charles Dickens went to school here 1825 to 1827.

  Dickens rode and walked regularly for years in the countryside north of London, and he stayed in Collins’s Farm (now Wylds) on Hampstead Heath in 1837. In 1843 he rented a ‘lonely Farm House’, Cobley’s Farm, in rural Finchley, for three months: it is all built over now. He also thought of buying a house in Highgate; and in Highgate Cemetery he buried his sister Fanny and her eight-year-old son, Harry, his father, his own baby daughter, Dora, and his mother.

  Immediately north of this map are Highgate and Hampstead, where John Dickens occasionally moved to escape his creditors and also took his family in the summer, to No. 32 North End in May 1832.

  Cast List

  Abbreviations

  AYR All the Year Round

  Catherine D Catherine Dickens

  D Charles Dickens

  F John Forster

  GH Georgina Hogarth

  HW Household Words

  The Dickens Family

  D’s grandmother Elizabeth Dickens, née Ball (1745–1824), a ladies’ maid, then housekeeper to Crewe family at Crewe Hall and Mayfair (John Crewe raised to peerage 1806).

  D’s grandfather William Dickens (c. 1720–85), butler to the Crewe family.

  Their son William (1782–1825), London coffee-stallkeeper, was D’s uncle, married, childless.

  Their second son was D’s father, John Dickens (1785–1851), Navy Pay Office clerk, married 1809 Elizabeth née Barrow (1789–1863), D’s mother, one of ten children of Charles Barrow (1759–1826), also employed by the Navy Pay Office, and his wife Mary (1771–1851). For significant Barrow children, D’s uncles and aunts, see below.

  Of the eight children of John and Elizabeth Dickens, two died in infancy (Alfred Allen and Harriet), the others being:

  Frances Elizabeth (Fanny) (1810–48), musician, married 1837 singer Henry Burnett, two sons.

  Charles John Huffam (1812–70), married 1836 Catherine Hogarth q.v., ten children.

  Letitia Mary (1816–93), married 1837 Henry Austin q.v.

  Frederick William (1820–68), clerk, married 1848 Anna Weller q.v.

  Alfred Lamert (1822–60), engineer, married 1846 Helen Dobson (1823–1915), three sons, including Edmund (1849–1910), two daughters.

  Augustus Newnham (1827–66), accountant, married 1848 Harriet Lovell, one child, abandoned 1858 for Bertha Phillips, Bertram and five other illegitimate children in Chicago.

  Catherine Thomson Hogarth, later Dickens (1815–79), eldest of the ten children of George Hogarth (1783–1870), Edinburgh lawyer and musician turned journalist, and his wife Georgina née Thomson (1793–1863), married in 1814. Younger children included Mary Scott (1819–37), Georgina (1827–1917), Helen, George, Robert, William.

  The Children of Dickens and Catherine née Hogarth

  Charles Culliford Boz (Charley) (1837–96), businessman, married 1861 Bessie Evans (1838–1907), six daughters one son, Ethel, Charles Walter, Sydney Margaret, Dorothy, Beatrice, Cecil Mary, Evelyn.

  Mary (Mamie) (1838–96).

  Kate Macready (Katey) (1839–1929), artist, married [1] 1860 Charles Collins q.v. [2] 1874 Carlo Perugini (1839–1918), one son died in infancy.

  Walter Landor (1841–63), Indian Army 1857.

  Francis Jeffrey (Frank) (1844–86), to India 1863, Bengal Mounted Police, to Canada 1871, North West Mounted Police.

  Alfred D’Orsay Tennyson (1845–1912), to Australia 1865, station manager, etc., married 1873 Augusta Jessie Devlin (1849–78), two daughters.

  Sydney Smith Haldimand (1847–72), naval officer.

  Henry Fielding (1849–1933), lawyer, married 1876 Marie-Thérèse Roche, seven children.

  Dora Annie (1850–51).

  Edward Bulwer Lytton (Plorn) (1852–1902), to Australia 1868, married 1880 Constance Desailly.

  The Ternan Family

  Mrs Frances née Jarman (1802–73), admired actress, married actor Thomas Teman 1834, widowed 1846, three daughters.

  Ternan, Frances Eleanor (1835–1913), child actress, opera singer, married T. A. Trollope q.v. 1866, lived in Italy, first novel published by D, wrote many more.

  Ternan, Maria Susanna (1837–1904), child actress, singer, married Rowland Taylor 1863, left him 1873, became artist, journalist, traveller, writer.

  Ternan, Ellen Lawless (Nelly) (1839–1914), child actress, gave up career, married George Wharton Robinson 1876, son Geoffrey born 1879, daughter Gladys 1884.

  Ainsworth, William Harrison (1805–82), novelist, met D 1835, introduced him to publisher Macrone, illustrator Cruikshank. Friendship dwindled by 1850.

  Andersen, Hans Christian (1805–75), writer, admirer of D, stayed at Gad’s Hill 1857.

  Austin, Henry (?1812–61), architect, engineer, good f
riend of D from early 1830s, married D’s sister Letitia 1837, became Secretary to London Sanitary Commission.

  Barrow, Mary (?1792–1822), D’s aunt, known as Fanny, married [1] naval officer Allen [2] army surgeon Matthew Lamert, father of James Lamert, who finds job for D in blacking factory.

  Barrow, Thomas Culliford (?1793–1857), D’s uncle, employed by Navy Pay Office from age of eleven, leg amputated 1823, Head of Prize Branch, married 1824, son John Wylie Barrow (1828–85), settled New York.

  Barrow, John Henry (1796–1858), D’s uncle, married Kitty Collins 1817, left her to live with Lucina Pocock from 1828, ten children. Novelist, reporter, employed young D, who in 1845 sent him to India for Daily News. Daughter Emily known to D.

  Barrow, Edward (1798–1869), D’s uncle, parliamentary reporter, joined in theatricals with D, artist wife Janet Ross painted D. Member of Newspaper Press Fund from Jan. 1859.

  Barrow, Frederick, D’s uncle, daughter Rebecca born 1817, known to D, other Barrow daughters Jane, Sarah, Maria.

  Beadnell, Maria (1810–86), third daughter of George Beadnell, senior clerk in City bank, met D 1830, romance ended 1833, married Henry Winter 1845, renewed friendship with D 1855. Model for Dora in David Copperfield and Flora Finching in Little Dorrit.

  Beard brothers: Sussex born. Thomas (1807–91), journalist, met D 1834, best man at his wedding, godfather to Charley, lifelong friend; Francis (1814–93), physician, became D’s doctor 1859.

  Bentley, Richard (1794–1871), printer then publisher, magazine proprietor, D was editor of Bentley’s Miscellany in which Oliver Twist was serialized, disputes over contracts for various books throughout 1838, parted company.

  Berger, Francesco (1834–1933), Charley’s Leipzig friend, wrote music for The Frozen Deep.

  Berry, Mary (1763–1852), and her sister Agnes, learned ladies and protégées of Horace Walpole, entertained D at their Twickenham house, Little Strawberry Hill, 1 July 1839.

  Black, John (1783–1855), editor Morning Chronicle, Liberal paper, employed D 1834, appreciated his outstanding gifts.

  Blanchard, Samuel Laman (1804–45), Liberal journalist, early friend, committed suicide.

  Blessington, Marguerite, Countess of (Marguerite Gardiner) (1789–1849), beauty, novelist, journalist, companion of Count D’Orsay q.v., D met 1840. Her niece Marguerite Power protégée of D.

  Boyle, Mary (1810–90), well-connected literary lady, amateur actress, devoted to D from first meeting in 1850.

  Bradbury, William (1800–1869), with partner Frederick Evans q.v., known to D from 1830s as printers for Chapman & Hall, became publishers of Punch 1842, Daily News 1846, D’s publishers 1844 to 1858 (Christmas books and novels) and part-owners of HW.

  Brown, Mrs William, née Hannah Meredith (?1805–78), companion to Miss Coutts q.v., married Dr Brown 1844 (he died 1855), continued as Miss C’s companion.

  Browne, Hablot Knight (‘Phiz’) (1815–82), artist, fine illustrator of D’s work from 1836 to 1859, after which he was dropped and the friendship ended.

  Buckstone, John (1802–79), comic actor, playwright, lifelong friend of D, manager of Haymarket Theatre 1853–77, employed Ternans.

  Bulwer Lytton, Edward George Earle Lytton, first Baron Lytton (1803–73), hugely successful, prolific novelist, playwright, known to D from 1837, worked with him and F to set up Guild of Literature and Art to assist writers. Changed his name from ‘Bulwer’ to ‘Bulwer Lytton’ 1844.

  Burgess, Eliza (1816–?), servant girl, brought up in workhouse, accused of infanticide, helped by D, tried at Old Bailey June 1840 and freed.

  Carlyle, Thomas (1795–1881), D met 1840, revered, dedicatee of Hard Times. Also his wife, Jane Welsh Carlyle (1801–66), cheerfully attended D’s Christmas parties.

  Cattermole, George (1800–1868), Norfolk squire’s son, antiquarian painter, illustrated The Old Curiosity Shop, lost touch with D in the 1850s, son Leonardo remembered D as the best of storytellers.

  Céleste, Madame (?1814–82), French actress, dancer, manager of Adelphi Theatre from 1844, well known to D, put on dramatized A Tale of Two Cities. (See Webster)

  Cerjat, W. W. F. de (?–1869), Swiss friend of D from 1846, to whom he sent informative annual letters.

  Chapman, Edward (1804–80), publisher and bookseller with William Hall q.v., published Pickwick Papers, bought back copyright of Oliver Twist from Bentley, continued with D until 1844, when D broke with firm, returning 1859.

  Chapman, Frederic (1823–95), cousin of Edward, knew D from 1845, took over Chapman & Hall in 1864 when Edward retired.

  Charlton, Charles William, and his wife Elizabeth Culliford (1781–1853), she D’s great-aunt, lodging-house keeper, he clerk at Doctors’ Commons, both helpful to D in youth.

  Chateaubriand, François-René de (1768–1848), writer, diplomat, visited by D in Paris 1847.

  Chesterton, George Laval (?–1868), Army officer, then reforming Governor Coldbath Fields Prison in Clerkenwell 1829–54. D met him in 1835, respected, later worked with.

  Chorley, Henry (1808–72), music critic, general reviewer, wrote for AYR, became family friend.

  Church, Mary Anne (1832–?), robbed employers 1850, sent by Tracey q.v. from Tothill Fields Prison to Miss Coutts’s Home 1851, caused ‘consistent botheration’, ejected April 1852; in 1855 she was well known as a prostitute, charged with stealing from a brothel.

  Collins brothers: Wilkie (1824–89), writer, from 1851 collaborated, acted, travelled with D; Charles (1828–73), artist, invalid, married Katey Dickens 1860.

  Compton, Emmeline, née Montague (?–1910), actress, D saw her debut as Juliet 1839, friend for many years, acted with him, left recollections.

  Cooper, Louisa, enters Miss Coutts’s Home from Magdalen Asylum April 1853, stayed two years, sent to Cape, returned 1856, bringing D ostrich egg, engaged to be married to an English gardener.

  Coutts, Angela Burdett (1814–1906), heiress, philanthropist, dear friend of D, who advised her on many charitable projects from early 1840s until 1858, when her disapproval of his treatment of Catherine ended their close association. Martin Chuzzlewit dedicated to her. Created Baroness 1871.

  Cowden-Clarke, Mary, née Novello (1809–98), Shakespeare scholar, writer, met D 1848, acted with and adored him, moved abroad 1856.

  Cranstone, Frances (1836–58), entered Miss Coutts’s Home 1853, expelled for trouble-making April 1854, died in Shoreditch Workhouse.

  Cruikshank, George (1792–1878), artist, friend of D, superb illustrator of Sketches by Boz and of Oliver Twist, the plot of which he later claimed to have originated, without any justification.

  De La Rue, Emile, Swiss banker working in Genoa, and his English wife, Augusta, née Granet, friends of D in Genoa in 1844. De La Rue invited D to treat his wife for psychological disorders, and he agreed to do so by mesmerism, with only partial success.

  Dilke, Charles Wentworth (1789–1864), colleague of John Dickens at Navy Pay Office, saw D working blacking factory circa 1824. Editor Athenaeum 1830s, D sent him Sketches by Boz for review.

  Dolby, George (1831–1900), managed D’s reading tours from 1866, true friend.

  D’Orsay, Count Gédéon Gaspard Alfred de Grimaud (1801–52), artist, gambler, dandy, illegitimate son of Napoleonic general, while living in London with his step-mother-in-law, Lady Blessington q.v., met D 1836, to mutual delight. D’s fourth son named for him (and Tennyson). Debts obliged him to move to Paris 1849.

  Dostoevsky, Fyodor (1821–81), visited D in London 1862, recalled conversation in 1878.

  Dumas, Alexandre (1802–70), novelist, playwright, D supped with in Paris 1847, kept in contact.

  Egg, Augustus Leopold (1816–63), son of Piccadilly gun-maker, studied Royal Academy School, fine genre and historical painter. Friend of D from late 1840s, acted in theatricals, travelled abroad with him. Died in Algiers.

  Eliot, George (Marian Evans) (1819–80), novelist, admired from very first by D, cordial contact although she never wrote for his magazines. />
  Elliot, Frances, née Dickinson (1820–98), heiress with rackety marital history introduced to D by Collins, persuaded D to intervene in her difficulties in 1860s, questioned him in vain about his private life.

  Elliotson, John (1791–1868), physician, a founder of University College Hospital, forced to resign 1838 after mesmerism displays, known to D from 1837, became his doctor, godfather to his son Walter.

  Elton, Edward William (1794–1843), actor, chairman Theatrical Fund, widower, drowned, leaving seven children. D raised large sums for their education and training, particularly impressed by eldest, Esther, who became teacher.

  Evans, Frederick (?1803–70), printing partner of Bradbury q.v. from 1830. Family friendship broken by D 1858. Daughter Bessie married Charley Dickens 1861, to D’s disapproval.

  Fechter, Charles Albert (1822–79), actor in France, then London from 1860, D praised him as ‘Anti-Humbug’, formed intimate friendship, assisted in his career.

  Felton, Cornelius (1807–62), Professor of Greek, later President of Harvard, D’s firmest American friend in 1842 – he rated D with Shakespeare – then regular correspondent.

  Fields, James T. (1817–81), Boston publisher, met D 1842, became friend 1860 on London visit with wife Annie, entertained him on US reading tour, saw much of him in England 1869.

  Fitzgerald, Percy (1834–1925), Irish lawyer turned jobbing writer, contributor to AYR, D protégé.

  Fletcher, Angus (1799–1862), eccentric Scottish sculptor, met D 1830s through Macrone, made marble bust of D 1839, with him Scotland, Broadstairs, Italy.

  Fonblanque, Albany (1793–1872), radical journalist, editor of the Examiner 1830, friend of Carlyle, Macready, D’Orsay, early admirer of D, wrote political leaders for his Daily News.