The Life of Charles Dickens

What it is

This biography was written by John Forster, Dickens's close friend and literary adviser, and published in volumes between 1872 and 1874, shortly after Dickens's death. It draws on Forster's personal knowledge, letters and papers.

Why it matters

Because Forster knew Dickens intimately and had access to his letters and private memories, this biography became the foundational source for almost everything later written about Dickens's life, especially his difficult childhood. It shows how a writer's reputation is shaped by those closest to him after death.

Look closer

• Why might a biography written by a close friend be especially valuable, and also especially one-sided?
• What kinds of sources (letters, memories) would Forster have used that we no longer have?
• What might a friend choose not to tell readers about someone they loved?