Writing Made Them Rich #2: Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens is one of the most renowned writers in history, known for his vivid storytelling, complex characters, and social commentary. His novels have continued to be popular since their publication, and many have been adapted into movies, television shows, and theatrical productions. But what many people don't know is that Dickens was not only a literary genius, but also a savvy businessman who used his writing to build an empire and become one of the richest men in Victorian England.
Dickens was born in Portsmouth, England in 1812 and grew up in a middle-class family. His father, a clerk in the Navy Pay Office, was incarcerated for debt when Dickens was twelve, and the young Dickens was forced to leave school and work in a blacking factory to support his family. The experience had a profound impact on him and would later influence his writing.
Despite his setbacks, Dickens was a determined young man, and he eventually landed a job as a law clerk and court reporter. He also began writing short stories and sketches for various newspapers and magazines, eventually publishing his first novel, The Pickwick Papers, in 1836 at the age of 24.
The novel was an immediate success, and Dickens quickly became a literary sensation. He went on to write a series of novels, including Oliver Twist, Nicholas Nickleby, David Copperfield, and Great Expectations, that captured the imagination of the reading public and earned him a loyal fan base.
But Dickens wasn't content to just write novels. He was a shrewd businessman who understood the power of his brand, and he leveraged his popularity to build a literary empire that included magazine publishing, dramatic adaptations of his works, and public readings of his novels.
One of Dickens's most successful ventures was the publication of his own magazine, All the Year Round. The magazine, which launched in 1859, featured serialized stories by Dickens and other popular writers of the day. By publishing his work in his own magazine, Dickens was able to control the distribution of his stories and retain the rights to their publication, which allowed him to earn more money from their adaptation into other formats.
In addition to magazine publishing, Dickens also capitalized on the popularity of his novels by adapting them for the stage. He worked closely with theater producers to create well-crafted adaptations of his novels, which were immensely popular with theater-goers and helped to further cement his literary reputation.
But perhaps the most lucrative aspect of Dickens's literary empire was his public readings. Starting in the 1850s, Dickens began to perform public readings of his novels to audiences all across England and the United States. At first, he was hesitant to take the stage, but he was eventually persuaded by friends and colleagues that it would be a lucrative venture.
Dickens's readings were an immediate hit, and he quickly became one of the most popular performers of his day. His readings were not simple recitations of his novels, but rather elaborate performances that included costumes, props, and sound effects. He would often spend months preparing for a single reading, perfecting his delivery and adding new elements to the performance.
The readings were a significant source of income for Dickens, allowing him to earn several hundred pounds for a single performance. But they were also physically and emotionally taxing, and Dickens suffered from exhaustion and illness as a result of his grueling performance schedule.
Despite the challenges, however, Dickens continued to perform readings throughout his life, even after a dramatic collapse on stage during a performance in America in 1868. His readings were hugely popular with audiences, and he was able to earn a considerable amount of money from them.
By the time of his death in 1870, Dickens had amassed a considerable fortune from his writing and other literary ventures. His estate was valued at over £93,000, a massive sum for the time, and he had left behind a literary legacy that would continue to captivate readers for generations.
In many ways, Charles Dickens was the first modern celebrity author, a literary figure who understood the potential of his brand and was willing to leverage it to build an empire. He was a gifted writer, but he was also a savvy businessman who used his writing to become one of the richest men of his time.
Today, Dickens's legacy continues to inspire and captivate readers all over the world. His novels have become literary classics, and his influence can be felt in countless works of literature, film, and television. But his success as a writer and businessman is also a testament to the power of talent, determination, and hard work, and a reminder that even the most difficult circumstances can be overcome with persistence and dedication.