This is a really great biography about the life and times of one of literature's most valuable contributors. This is a superb narrative, rich in detail and scope, and portrays the shaping of a man faced with all the complexities of a quickly changing society. Having been born in 1812, Dickens was caught in the wave of a changing moral code and in the wheels of the Industrial Revolution as it charged full steam ahead. It was a time of confusion and chaos. Amidst all this were the difficulties inherent in living in uncertain financial circumstances. From the lowest of social spheres to the highest, Dickens experienced them all, uniquely qualifying him to write upon any subject, in any setting, and to set it all brilliantly to life with a rare gift of language, description, characterisation and wit. This book captures him completely. A fascinating read; I highly recommend it. ( )