Britain celebrates 200th anniversary of birth of Charles Dickens

Feb 7, 2012, 16:35 GMT

London - Commemorations took place in Britain Tuesday to mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens, the English novelist whose acute social analysis is seen by many as ringing true even today.

In London, Prince Charles took part in a thanksgiving for Dickens at Westminster Abbey, where wreaths were laid at his grave in what is known as Poet's Corner.

During the service, contemporary authors and actors, biographers and descendants of Dickens' read from his works.

Celebrations also took place in Portsmouth, in southern England, where Dickens was born on February 7 1812. His parents later moved to London, where Dickens died in June, 1870.

In a message to mark the bicentenary celebrations, Prince Charles hailed Dickens as 'one of the greatest writers of the English language.'

'Despite the many years that have passed, Charles Dickens remains one of the greatest writers of the English language, who used his creative genius to campaign passionately for social justice,' he said.

'The word Dickensian instantly conjures up a vivid picture of Victorian life with all its contrasts and intrigue, and his characterization is as fresh today as it was on the day it was written.'

Dickens' works, from Oliver Twist to David Copperfield, Great Expectations, A Christmas Carol and Nicholas Nickleby, enjoy worldwide fame and have never been out of print.