... . The time in the lawyers's office ... Dickens left school at the age of fifteen and became a clerk in a lawyers' office. Deciding to become a parliamentary reporter, he taught himself shorthand at night, while continuing to work in the office. In 1828, during his sixteenth year, he became a free-lance reporter at Doctor's Commons Courts. For several years he alternated reporting, exploring the ... many of the social evils of this time. In 1842 he toured America and took it by storm. His six-month trip bore literary fruit: the controversial and unflattering American Notes (1842) and the ...

• Word Count: 5240
• Approx Pages: 21
• Grade Level: High School

... was the true gentleman in the first place once again brings him back onto his feet. Lonely because of isolation from the everyday outside world and "normal family-ties" (Coles Notes 101), Pip often visits his parents in the churchyard and explores the marshes. Upon one of these visits he runs into a convict who aggressively demands " a file" and " wittles" to which ... for the reason that I mistrusted that if I did, he would think me worse than I was. The fear of losing Joe's confidence, and of thenceforth sitting in the chimney corner at night staring dreamily at my for ever lost compa...

• Word Count: 656
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School