Charles Dickens (1812-1870) British author. Dickens was the most popular English novelist of the Victorian era, and he remains popular, responsible for some of English literature's most iconic characters. He grew up in poverty, and it shows in his writing: he is known for his orphans and urchins, rogues, shopkeepers, stuffed shirts, widows, and other colorful characters pulled from the sooty streets of London. 4 ¼" x 6 ¼" (exposed) autograph letter signed, May 2, 1857, (place unreadable). "…I have no doubt that I expressed myself imperfectly in my former note, since it conveyed a wrong impression to you. I meant that it should 'quite say NO', and I must ___ beg to excuse myself from sitting…." Matted with an engraving and framed to 13 ¼" x 11". The mat shows some toning.