Charles Dickens was born on February 7, 1812, the son of John and Elizabeth Dickens. John Dickens was a clerk in the Naval Pay Office. He had a poor head for finances, and in 1824 found himself imprisoned for debt. His wife and children, with the exception of Charles, who was put to work at Warren's Blacking Factory, joined him in the Marshalsea Prison. When the family finances were put at least partly to rights and his father was released, the twelve-year-old Dickens, already scarred psychologically by the experience, was further wounded by his mother's insistence that he continue to work at the factory. His father, however, rescued him from that fate, and between 1824 and 1827 Dickens was a day pupil at a school in London. At fifteen, he found employment as an office boy at an attorney's, while he studied shorthand at night. His brief stint at the Blacking Factory haunted him all of his life -- he spoke of it only to his wife and to his closest friend, John Forster -- but the dark secret became a source both of creative energy and of the preoccupation with the themes of alienation and betrayal which would emerge, most notably, in David Copperfield and in Great Expectations.
In 1829 he became a free-lance reporter at Doctor's Commons Courts, and in 1830 he met and fell in love with Maria Beadnell, the daughter of a banker. By 1832 he had become a very successful shorthand reporter of Parliamentary debates in the House of Commons, and began work as a reporter for a newspaper.
In 1833 his relationship with Maria Beadnell ended, probably because her parents did not think him a good match (a not very flattering version of her would appear years later in Little Dorrit). In the same year his first published story appeared, and was followed, very shortly thereafter, by a number of other stories and sketches. In 1834, still a newspaper reporter, he adopted the soon to be famous pseudonym "Boz." His impecunious father (who was the original of Mr. Micawber in David Copperfield, as Dickens's mother was the original for the querulous Mrs. Nickleby) was once again arrested for debt, and Charles, much to his chagrin, was forced to come to his aid. Later in his life both of his parents (and his brothers) were frequently after him for money. In 1835 he met and became engaged to Catherine Hogarth.
Howard Burnham was born in 1946 in Bournemouth, England. His father was a professional soldier - a Brigadier General in the British Army (One Star General). His Grandfather was an American Mining Engineer. His Great Uncle, Major Frederick Russell Burnham, served with the British Army under Lord Roberts in South Africa, was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO), and was a distinguished scout and explorer who rated an article in the American Dictionary of National Biography. Howard Burnham is directly descended from the emigrant Thomas Burnham of Potunke and Hartford, Connecticut, a 17th century attorney-at-law. The previous Howard Burnham in the family was a First Lieutenant of the Union artillery killed at Chickamauga. David Cody, Associate Professor of English, Hartwick College
Mr. Burnham was educated at Clayesmore, a private school
in Dorset, England, where he became Head of House. In 1965 he matriculated
(enroll as a member of a body and especially of a college or university) at
University College in the University of Durham, to major in Modern History. He
graduated with honors three years later and went on to take his "PGCE"
(Post-Graduate
Certificate in Education)
{Master of Education}. In 1972, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of
Arts, London.
He is the author of a humorous work, “Grones Dictionary of Music: Misleading
Lives of the Great Composers” (Emerson Edition: 1978), as well as several more
accurate and scholarly pamphlets on theater history, published by London’s
Victoria and Albert Museum in 1976. This was the result of his year of working
at the British Theater Museum , then in Leighton House and now in Covent Garden
.
In 1981, he began his very successful career as a writer and performer of
one-man shows with his Beforre the Civille Warres – an evening with John
Aubrey in the Tudor range of Helmsley Castle , one of the great medieval castles
of North England , as part of the first Rydalle Arts Festival.
Subsequent characterizations have featured Charles Dickens, Lewis Carroll,
General John Burgoyne at Saratoga, Edward Lear, the French romantic
poet Theophile Gautier, Laurence Sterne, “The Unfortunate Doctor
Dodd” (Shakespeare’s first anthologist – a royal chaplain to George
III who was hanged for forgery!), Lord Cornwallis, and Thomas Hardy.
These have played all over England and the States. Several have been televised
or audio recorded by the BBC. His role Doctor Dee, "Elizabeth-I"
necromancer and astrologer aired recently on The Learning Channel.
He adapted, and directed, three Victorian melodramas – Lady Audley’s
Secret, The Ticket of Leave Man, and East Lynne – with great success. He has
written more than fifty plays for children, as well as three adult texts.
NL-ENG.K-12.1 READING FOR PERSPECTIVE
Students read a wide range of print and non-print texts to build an understanding of texts, of themselves, and of the cultures of the United States and the world; to acquire new information; to respond to the needs and demands of society and the workplace; and for personal fulfillment. Among these texts are fiction and nonfiction, classic and contemporary works.
NSS-WH.5-12.7 ERA 7: AN AGE OF REVOLUTIONS, 1750-1914
Same as National Standards
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Gen. John Burgoyne Lord Cornwallis Lt. Col. Ban Tarleton Thomas Pane Wm. Shakespeare
Content, Grade Levels and Subjects this Living Historian is best suited for.
Name of Program: Various Historical Personalities
Description of Programs: A first-person, historical characterization.
1. He shares life stories, his experiences as a leader in the Revolutionary War as General John Burgoune at Saratoga, or Lord Cornwallis and their involvement in the founding of our country.
2. Shakespeare and his childhood and his writings He also fields questions from the audience.
3. Charles Dickens and his childhood and his writings He also fields questions from the audience.
4. Lewis Carroll, Edward Lear, and Theophile Gautier, and their childhood and their writings. He also fields questions from the audience.
Does this program come with pre or post activities for the Teacher and/or Student? Yes.
Is there a specific topic the Teacher could or should cover before participating in this videoconference? A basic knowledge of the particular historical personality.
Typical Length: 35-60 minutes each
Grade Levels this is most appropriate for: 6 - 12
Would this be a good program for members of the community to participate in? YES
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Contact
Jim Spence
Virent Broadcasting Co.
1320 Glenview Street
Reynoldsburg, OH 43068
Phone: (614)
860-9558
Email: Virent@att.net