In October of 1843, the literary genius Charles Dickens sat down to embark on what was in its original intent a cold, calculated business venture, intended to offset impending financial losses. While his previous works, The Pickwick Papers and The Old Curiosity

Shop had risen to meteoric levels of sales and positive critical acclaim, other works like Barnaby Rudge and Martin Chuzzlewit had conversely registered numbers far less in magnitude than the author had originally expected. This left Dickens slightly bewildered and uncomfortable--and somewhat compromised—as his business partners of the day were tightening the pressure on him to produce a palatable work. And one that would make it to press by that December. He had absolutely no idea how deep an emotional chord his little story would strike with the ordinary citizen—a simple story of r ...