His novels are notable for their satirical humour and treatment of contemporary social problems, including the plight of the urban poor and the corruption and inefficiency of the legal system. Memorable characters such as Scrooge and Mr Micawber contributed to his work’s popular appeal. Some of his most famous novels are Oliver Twist (1837-8), Nicholas Nickleby (1838-9), A Christmas Carol (1843), David Copperfield (1850), Bleak House (1852-3), and Great Expectations (1860-1)