<DIV>Born in Portsmouth in 1812, Dickens rose to fame within his lifetime and, to the present day, has never been out of print. In this highly accessible biography, Dickens scholars Melissa Valiska Gregory and Melisa Klimaszewski examine the fascinating life of this hugely popular literary figure, exploring such classics as <I>Great Expectations</I> and <I>David Copperfield</I> against the backdrop of Victorian England.</div>