Charles John Huffman Dickens was born in Portsmouth on the south coast of England in 1812. During his early years, he was a keen student, reading extensively. However, at the age of twelve, his formal education ended. His father was sent to prison because he owed money, and Charles was made to work to help pay it back. In spite of his lack of formal education, Charles went on to become one of the UK's best-known authors, writing fifteen novels, five novellas and hundreds of short stories. One of his most famous novellas, "A Christmas Carol," is as popular today as it was when it was first published in 1843. It has been transformed into numerous stage plays, films, and cartoons enjoyed by families around the world every year at Christmas.Charles died in 1870 at the age of 58. He was buried in the Poets' Corner of Westminster Abbey.