The Friends of Charles Dickens

Ellen Ternan - In 1857 Ellen, her mother and her sister were hired to act in a benefit presentation of The Frozen Deep. The event was sponsored by their co-star, Charles Dickens. This first meeting lead to an affair that would last until his death in 1870.

Wilkie Collins - Although twelve years younger than Dickens, Wilkie Collins became one of Dickens best friends. Collins was a popular novelist who helped to develop the mystery novel genre. The Moonstone is one of his best. He and Dickens wrote The Frozen Deep.

For More Information:

• Quotes by Wilkie Collins

John Forster - John Forster was a biographer and historian. His close friendship with Dickens began when Forster critiqued his work. Later Forster wrote a book about his famous friend, Life of Dickens.

William Makepeace Thackeray - This author wrote Vanity Fair. He was also a friend of Charles Dickens.

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• Quotes by William Makepeace Thackeray

Edgar Allan Poe - Poe was an American author best known for his poems and short fiction. The Fall of the House of Usher and The Murders in the Rue Morgue are two of his most popular works.

Dickens met Edgar Allan Poe in Philadelphia while Dickens was on his first tour of the United States. They talked about literature and seemed to enjoy one another's company. However two years later Poe broke off the relationship because he was angry about an article on American poetry. The article was written by Thackarey, but Poe believed that Dickens was behind the article.

For More Information:

• Quotes by Edgar Allan Poe