Charles Dickens - A Novelist, A Poet. Dickens is a name that dominates the landscape of English novelists. His works are masterpieces and he is held everywhere in the highest regard. In his fairly short life of 58 years he accomplished an extraordinary number of classic novels, especially in light of his humble and poor beginnings. Here we collect together his slim number of poems. Concise it may be but from the mind of the master it most certainly reveals a facet of great interest. The poems are read for you by Richard Mitchley.