Dickens, universally and invariably known as a great man over his years in tackling tyranny of inequality caused by those “knaves and fools” of society. But before reading this biography, I never knew so much about Dickens charity work outside his literary works. He once worked with Elizabeth Gaskell (a famous Victorian writer too, handling social phenomenon in her novels) in sexual injustice, and even with the well-known female philanthropist Miss Coutts (do some research on her, she is an incredible woman!) in establishing and running a care home called Urania Cottage in 1846-1857 to assist the young women sinners (e.g. prostitutes, murderers, thefts) to seek refuge and emigrate to other countries. What a great novelist in dealing with then destitution of women of the time.
He also rambled around streets at night in London areas. I actually read an article of how much he spent on strolling to seek inspirations. On the other hand, just as what Claire Tomalin said, ” A man who chronicled and chartered so much of the life of his generation and protested against so many of its wrongs, his failures or omission seem all the more striking”.
Reading & Roaming 