Charles Dickens (February 7, 1812 - June 9, 1870), pen-name "Boz", was an English novelist. At the beginning of his career, Dickens was not viewed as the literary monolith we know him as today, but rather as a popular entertainer of fecund imagination and comic genius.
Later critics, beginning with George Gissing and G.K. Chesterton, championed his mastery of prose, his endless invention of memorable characters and his powerful social sensibilities, despite continued criticism from his more rarefied readers, like George Henry Lewes, Henry James, and Virginia Woolf.
The popularity of his novels and short stories during his lifetime and to the present is demonstrated by the fact that none have ever gone out of print. Dickens played a major role in popularising the serialised novel. He is remembered by many as the greatest writer of his time. He is frequently referred to by his last name only, even on first reference.