Charles Dickens's characters come to life – in pictures

Charles Dickens in his study at Gad's Hill Place, his country home in Higham, Kent – a long way from his early life in Norfolk Street, Marylebone.
Photograph: Everett Collection/Rex Features

Still from the 1938 film A Christmas Carol with Leo G Carroll as Jacob Marley's ghost and Reginald Owen as Ebenezer Scrooge. Research by Ruth Richardson found tradesmen named Marney and Goodge worked near Dickens's house.
Photograph: Everett Collection/Rex Features

Jamie Foreman as Bill Sikes in the 2005 film Oliver Twist. A William Sykes sold lamp fuel in Dickens's Marylebone.
Photograph: Everett Collection/Rex Features

One of George Cruikshank's original illustrations for Oliver Twist, showing Bill Sikes' fatal attempt to escape from the law. Photograph: Universal Images/Getty Images

An HK Browne illustration for The Pickwick Papers shows the first appearance of Samuel Weller - a possible echo of Dan Weller, who ran a shoe shop opposite Dickens's home.
Photograph: Universal Images/Getty Images

Sam Weller from The Pickwick Papers
Photograph: Lebrecht/Alamy

A George Cruikshank illustration of Rose Maylie and Oliver Twist. A woman named Mrs Malie was buried in Dickens's local churchyard.
Photograph: Universal Images/Getty Images

Mr Sowerberry depicted in Benjamin Pollock's 1860 work Characters and Scenes in Oliver Twist. Dickens may have derived the name from a publican named Sowerby.
Photograph: Alamy

Frederick Jensen as Mr Micawber in the 1935 film David Copperfield. Micawber is said to be based on Dickens's father.
Photograph: Getty Images

The former workhouse in Cleveland Street, central London, thought to be the inspiration for the one Oliver Twist.
Photograph: Tony Kyriacou/Rex Features