Mary Hogarth beautiful and light-hearted". When Robert Story visited the Hogarth household in 1836, he described Hogarth as "the fairest flower of spring". Dickens showed particular affection to Hogarth, and described her as "a close friend, an exceptional sister, a companion at home." It is believed that Hogarth was the first person to read "The Pickwick Papers" and "Oliver Twist", as Dickens valued Hogarth's input and feedback more than his wife's. In the early hours of 7 May 1837, after Hogarth had returned from a showing of "Is She His Wife?" at the St James's Theatre with the Dickens couple, she collapsed
Mary Hogarth time, the chief solace of his labours". He wore Hogarth's ring for the rest of his life, and also requested a locket of her hair. Eight months after Hogarth's death, Charles and Catherine Dickens' second child and first daughter was born. Charles demanded that the child be named Mary, in memory of Hogarth. Hogarth is believed to influenced a number of Dickens characters. She is seen as the inspiration for Rose Maylie in "Oliver Twist", which was publishing serially when Mary died. In the book, Maylie suffered a sudden illness, although unlike Howarth, Maylie did not die. Robert Douglas-Fairhurst, an