Charles Dickens wasn’t just a brilliant storyteller—he was also a man full of eccentricities and fascinating habits that helped shape his incredible body of work. Here are a few interesting facts about the legendary author that might surprise you:

Midnight Walker
Dickens was known for his restless energy, and whenever he had writer’s block, he would take long walks through the streets of London—sometimes covering up to 15 miles in a single night! He felt the city’s sights and sounds helped inspire his vivid descriptions of life in Victorian England.

Obsessed with Order
Despite the chaotic worlds he created in his novels, Dickens had some peculiar habits when it came to organization. He was a stickler for neatness and demanded that objects in his study be arranged just so. The famous author had a habit of always sleeping facing north, and made sure his writing desk faced north believing it improved his creativity. He also made sure his desk faced north. He also carried a navigational compass with him to ensure he was always correctly oriented.

Obsession with the Number Seven

He had a unique obsession with the number 7. Dickens believed that the number held a special significance, so much so that he would often arrange his daily life around it. For instance, he would walk precisely seven miles in the morning, and even during his writing, he sometimes used seven as a guiding principle.

A Christmas Revolutionary
Dickens is often credited with shaping our modern idea of Christmas. Before A Christmas Carol, Christmas wasn’t the major holiday it is today. His story helped popularize the themes of charity, goodwill, and festive celebration that have since become central to the holiday.

Serial Thrills
Much of Dickens’ work was published as serialized novels, meaning chapters were released in weekly or monthly installments. This meant his readers were often left hanging on cliffhangers, eagerly awaiting the next episode—kind of like a 19th-century Netflix binge!

Multitasking Master
Dickens didn’t just write novels. He was also a passionate performer! He would often give public readings of his works, acting out the characters with such enthusiasm that it sometimes left him physically drained. His reading tours were wildly popular, and he was known to leave audiences spellbound.

Social Justice Warrior
Many of Dickens' novels highlighted the social injustices of his time, such as poverty, child labor, and the harsh conditions of industrial England. Through characters like Oliver Twist and Tiny Tim, Dickens became an advocate for the poor and a voice for reform.