Chapter I: 1812-1822

Pages 21-46.

CHILDHOOD. AET. 1-10.

PAGE
Birth at Landport in Portsea 21
Family of John Dickens 22
Powers of observation in children 23
Two years old 23
In London, aet. 2-3 23
In Chatham, aet. 4-9 23
Vision of boyhood 24
The queer small child 25
Mother's teaching 26
Day-school in Rome Lane 27
Retrospects of childhood 27
David Copperfield and Charles Dickens 28
Access to small but good library 29
Tragedy-writing 30
Comic-song singing 31
Cousin James Lamert 31
First taken to theatre 32
At Mr. Giles's school 32
Encored in the recitations 33
Boyish recollections 33
Birthplace of his fancy 35
Last night in Chatham 35
In London 36
First impressions 36
Bayham Street, Camden-town 36
Faculty of early observation 37
His description of his father 38
Small theatre made for him 38
Sister Fanny at Royal Academy of Music 39
Walks about London 39
Biography and autobiography 40
At his godfather's and his uncle's 41
First efforts at description 42
"Res Angusta Domi" 42
Mother exerting herself 43
Father in the Marshalsea 43
Visit to the prison 44
Captain Porter 44
Old friends disposed of 45
At the pawnbroker's 46