Home School Heartbeat Radio Program

Michael Farris:
Born in 1812, Charles Dickens would become one of the world's most celebrated novelists by his early 20s. It is recorded that his first years of education were received from his mother. In his own words, Dickens gives her the credit for teaching him to read and write.

Although he later attended school, there is no doubt that his mother’s influence had a profound effect on Dickens’ life. When you read Dickens, his emphasis on family relationships is immediately noticeable. His characters were often formed by the impression he received from his parents, grandparents, and other relatives.

Charles Dickens died at the age of 58, ending a very prolific writing career. All told, he created over 2,000 characters and personalities in stories like David Copperfield, Oliver Twist, and A Tale of Two Cities, in books which grace the libraries of homes everywhere. In fact, my older daughter Jayme reads the well-known story, A Christmas Carol, from Dickens, aloud to her younger siblings each Christmas Eve as a family tradition.

Charles Dickens was a literary genius, and yet another example of the influence that parents can have when they are committed to directing the education of their children.

I’m Michael Farris.