Victorian Bullshit and Co.

A hand-colored carte-de-visite of Charles Dickens, 1860s. 

Anthony Trollope's brother, Tom, with his mother Fanny, daughter Beatrice (Bice), and wife Theodosia in their Florentine villa.

After the death of his wife, Tom married his daughter's governess, Fanny Ternan. Fanny was the half sister of Charles Dickens' mistress, Ellen Ternan.  

Charles Dickens and his two daughters riding in a basket phaeton led by his horse, Newman Noggs.

A portrait of Charles Dickens' eldest daughter, Mamie, by John Everett Millais, 1860s.

Charles Dickens' daughters Kate (left) and Mamie, late 1850s.

Dickens at the age of 26, from a Pencil drawing by Priscilla Horton.

This sketch was made in 1838 when Dickens was writing Nicholas Nickleby. It bears a general resemblance to the Maclise portrait which was used as the frontispiece to the first edition of that novel.

The Homes and Haunts of Charles Dickens, from water colors by Paul Braddon. 

Gad's Hill Place, where Dickens lived from 1856-1870, and where he died on June 9, 1870.

The Eastgate, Rochester, "All my early readings and early imaginations dated from this place."

Tavistock House, where Bleak House was written.

Rochester Castle, and the graveyard where Dickens wished to be buried.

House of the Six Poor Travellers, Rochester, a 16th century charity house that inspired Dickens' short story "The Seven Poor Travellers."

No. 1, Devonshire Terrace, Regent's Park, where David Copperfield was written.

Landport, Portsmouth, where Dickens was born February 7, 1812. 

The Old Curiosity Shop, the antique shop that was thought to have inspired the Dickens' novel of the same name. It was so named after the release of the book in 1841.

Charles Dickens reading.

A selection of carte-de-vistes showing Charles Dickens in 1863.

Photographs of Charles Dickens taken in a New York studio during his second trip to the United States, 1867.

Charles Dickens with his daughters Mamie (seated) and Katey, 1865. 

Photographer Herbert Watkins shows Dickens preparing for one of his famous staged readings, 1858.

Charles Dickens' eldest daughter, Mamie and his sister-in-law, Georgina Hogarth, 1860s.

Of all the Dickens children, Mamie was the most devoted to her father. She never married and lived with Dickens until his death. Georgina was also very close to Dickens and lived with the family and attended to the household, even while Dickens was still married to Catherine. She continued to live with Dickens after his separation from her sister in the capacity of housekeeper and adviser. Dickens left her a generous sum and all his personal papers in his will.

After Dickens' death, both women moved in with Mamie's brother Henry and together edited the first edition of Dickens' letters. 

Charles Dickens driving a carriage with his family.

Sketches of Charles Dickens by George Cruikshank from 1836 and 1837. Cruikshank illustrated Sketches by Boz and Oliver Twist.