In Charles Dickens's warm, lively novels, readers get some sense of the author's personality, but who was he, really? Featuring dozens of rare Victorian photographs and images from Dickens's personal archive, this biography follows Dickens from early childhood, including his time as a child laborer, and his journey to becoming the greatest celebrity of his age. A direct descendant of Dickens, Lucinda Dickens Hawksley takes an intimate look at what he was like as a husband, father, friend, and employer; his longing to be an actor; and his travels across North America and Europe.