Charles Dickens is mainly important today for his radical satire, which he basically pioneered.
His importance can be understood by reading about his early life.
I've composed a brief summary of everything one needs to know because I believe that knowledge should always be backed up by the "Why?".
CHARLES DICKEN'S PERSONALITYAmbitious, prodigious, and a brilliant humanitarian.
Though not without his flaws.
By today's standards, some might judge his marriage to the daughter of Sir Walter Scott's literary publisher as opportunistic. I would say those were different times when marriage often served as a way for young, ambitious men (and women) to leverage their social station.
His father was a debtor, and Dickens spent time as a child in debtor's prison. Forced to work in a boot-strapping factory, he must have determined at an early age not to follow in his father's footsteps.
He wrote constantly, publishing at least 27 novels.
He became so famous on both sides of the Atlantic, both nations held their breath and people RIOTED over the death of Little Nell in The Old Curiosity Shoppe. He was keenly aware of his influence and used it to advance a humanitarian agenda. Politically, he was a progressive, and many consider him an early socialist thinker.
This expresses respect, honor and lessons from his good works.