Charles John Huffam Dickens was born on 7 February 1812 in Landport, England, and died on 9 June 1870. Due to the poor circumstances of his parents' home, Dickens had to help out in a warehouse in London as a child in order to support his family. During his professional years, Dickens rose to become a respected journalist and independent editor of the Daily News newspaper. Dickens is one of the most widely read writers in English literature. His most important works include Oliver Twist (1837), A Christmas Carol (1843), David Copperfield (1849), Tale of Two Cities (1859) and Great Expectations (1860-1861).