7th February marks the bicentenary of the birth of one of England's most famous novelists - Charles John Hoffman Dickens.

Born in Portsmouth in 1812 to John and Elizabeth Dickens, Charles would go on to become the greatest writer of the Victorian period, with most of his literature published in serial format and often using the cliffhanger technique to enthrall his readership.

Such is the continuing worldwide popularity of his novels, short stories and iconic characters that his books have never gone out of print.