Charles Dickens was an English writer born in 1812 who lived in several places in London during his early life. He became famous in the 1830s for his novels and short stories which were popular during his lifetime and criticized social issues. Some of his most famous novels include Pickwick Papers which brought him widespread fame when it was published in 1836. Dickens was considered one of the greatest novelists of the Victorian era and is still renowned today for his distinctive characters and social commentary in his works. He wrote over 30 novels during his lifetime before passing away in 1870.