Charles Dickens Statue, Portsmouth

In 2014, two hundred years after his death, Charles Dickens' statue was unveiled in Guildhall Square, Portsmouth. Dickens was born in Portsmouth, but what he might think of the statue is anyone's guess. He specifically stated the only memorial he might crave is his readership. More than 100 invited guests, including 40 members of the Dickens family, attended the ceremony.

The bronze statue is the first of Charles Dickens in England. Its unveiling took place on his birthday, February 7. The image is of the author, book in hand, reclining, and with a stack of books by his side. He seems to be staring into space, perhaps imagining his characters.

The statue was created by sculptor Martin Jennings. Jennings said of the pose, "I wanted to suggest he is about to jump to his feet and begin one of the readings of Oliver Twist that had people weeping and fainting in the aisles." Whether Jennings succeeded in his effort to portray this image is debatable, but the Dickens family approved.