Charles Dickens and social criticism. On the other hand, Oscar Wilde, Henry James, and Virginia Woolf complained of a lack of psychological depth, loose writing, and a vein of saccharine sentimentalism. The term "Dickensian" is used to describe something that is reminiscent of Dickens and his writings, such as poor social conditions or comically repulsive characters. Charles John Huffam Dickens was born on 7 February 1812, at 1 Mile End Terrace (now 393 Commercial Road), Landport in Portsea Island (Portsmouth), the second of eight children of Elizabeth Dickens (née Barrow; 1789–1863) and John Dickens (1785–1851). His father was a clerk in the
Victorian Railways 'Old' V class Victorian Railways 'Old' V class Victorian Railways 'Old' V class were the first government goods steam locomotives on Victorian Railways, built by George England & Co. The four engines were 0-6-0 configuration tender engines built in 1857-8 with builders numbers 142-145. The engines arrived in Port Phillip in September 1858 along with a passenger locomotive of 2-2-2 tender configuration. The passenger loco, the first Victorian government passenger loco, had the builders number 146. The small 2-2-2 passenger engine was quite successful over easier runs and five more were ordered in May 1860. During 1871 it was converted to 2-4-0 configuration