is born (6 January). Moves to 48 Doughty Street (April). Death of Mary Hogarth (7 May). First visit to Europe (July). Oliver Twist serialized in Bentley's (February 1837-April 1839).

1838 Edits and publishes Memoirs of Joseph Grimaldi. Nicholas Nickleby serialized (April 1838-October 1839).

1839 Resigns editorship of Bentley's Miscellany (31 January).

1840 Sketches of Young Couples (10 February). Old Curiosity Shop serialized in Master Humphrey's Clock ( 25 April 1840 - 6 February 1841 ).

1841 Barnaby Rudge serialized in Master Humphrey's Clock (13 February-27 November).

1842 Visit to America (January-June). American Notes published (19 October).

1843 Martin Chuzzlewit serialized (January 1843-July 1844). A Christmas Carol published (19 December).

1844 Lives one year in Italy with his family (from July). The Chimes published (16 December).

1845 Returns to London . Directs and acts in Jonson's Every Man in His Humour. The Cricket on the Hearth published (20 December). Begins composition of the autobiographical fragment (c. 1845-48).

1846 Edits The Daily News (21 January-9 February) and lives part of the year in Switzerland and Paris. Pictures from Italy published (18 May). Dombey and Son serialized (October 1846-April 1848).

1848 The Haunted Man published (19 December).

1849 David Copperfield serialized (May 1849-November 1850).

1850 Founds and edits the weekly journal Household Words (until May 1859).

1851 Dickens family moves to Tavistock House (November).

1852 Bleak House serialized (March 1852-September 1853).

1854 Hard Times serialzed in Household Words (1 April-12 August).

1855 Meets Maria Beadnell (now Mrs. Winter) again. Lives in Paris (October 1855-April 1856). Little Dorrit serialized (December 1855-June 1857).

1856 Purchases Gad's Hill Place , near Rochester in Kent .