Charles Dickens was an English author and social critic who is highly regarded as a literary genius. Charles Dickens created some of the most popular characters in his popular works The Pipwick Papers, Oliver Twist, Nicholas Nickleby, and A Christmas Carol. Charles Dickens never received a formal education, but gained experience by editing a journal for 20 years throughout which he wrote 15 novels, 5 novellas, and hundreds of short stories. He gained success after his 1836 serial publication of The Pickwick Papers which featured his character, Sam Weller. Charles Dickens died on June 9, 1870 at the age of 58.