Before achieving fame as a novelist, Dickens worked as a court reporter and journalist. He wrote for various newspapers, covering parliamentary debates, court cases, and social scandals. His early journalism exposed corruption, child labor, and the struggles of the poor. This career influenced his novels' realistic depictions of Victorian society. Dickens developed investigative skills, learning how to gather facts and human-interest stories. Some argue his journalistic background gave his fiction authenticity and urgency. His columns sometimes sparked public outrage, proving the power of the pen in the Victorian era. Journalism honed his ability to write compelling dialogue and capture the voice of ordinary people.
Dickens’ journalism shaped the way he portrayed social injustices in novels like "Oliver Twist" and "Bleak House." Readers could trust that his depictions had a basis in reality.
The fact highlights the interconnectedness of literature and societal awareness, showing how writers influenced social reform in the Victorian period.
His reporting sometimes endangered him, yet Dickens never shied from confronting injustice publicly.
[History Extra, historyextra.com]