Charles dickens requested that no plaques, statues or memorial would commemorate his life, The £118,000 monument was commissioned by the Dickens Fellowship and will be erected in Portsmouth, thanks to an anonymous benefactor who donated the last £25,000 needed.
It is the second time his wishes have been ignored. He had asked to be buried at Rochester Cathedral in an inexpensive and private ceremony but was laid to rest in Poets' Corner at Westminster Abbey.
He died in 1870 after suffering a stroke. He had asked that no memorial be erected in his honour yet a life-sized bronze statue was cast in 1891 and stands in Philadelphia, in America.
It is thought to be the only statue in existence until now. He was also commemorated on a £10 note in use between 1992 and 2003 in which a portrait appeared on the reverse.
Sculptor Martin Jennings will unveil the monument of Dickens reading in a chair in Portsmouth on June 9th, the 133rd anniversary of the author's death.
The sculpture was initially put on hold after insufficient funding was raised. The Dickens Fellowship, which is backed by members of the late writer's family, said it would "celebrate his ferociously creative, colourful and monumental life."
Dickens spent the first three years of his life in Portsmouth where his father worked in the dockyard, before moving to London and then Kent.
He published over a dozen major novels, a number of short stories and some non-fiction books. His books, including The PIckwick Papers, A Christmas Carol, David Copperfield, Bleeak House, Hard Times and Great Expectations, are still treasured today.
Last month the Charles Dickens Museum re-opened in London after a £3.1m refurbishment. The museum, in his former Bloomsbury home, has been doubled in size and the work was funded through a Heritage Lottery Fund.
The attic and kitchen have been opened to the public for the first time and the Grade 1 listed building has been carefully restored to its Victorian splendour.
The museum holds over 100,000 items including manuscripts, rare editions and personal belongings.
Dickens was born in 1812 and there have been celebrations of his bicentary worldwide.
The Museum of London held Britain's first major exhibition on the author in 40 years in 2012.
It is the second time his wishes have been ignored. He had asked to be buried at Rochester Cathedral in an inexpensive and private ceremony but was laid to rest in Poets' Corner at Westminster Abbey.
He died in 1870 after suffering a stroke. He had asked that no memorial be erected in his honour yet a life-sized bronze statue was cast in 1891 and stands in Philadelphia, in America.
It is thought to be the only statue in existence until now. He was also commemorated on a £10 note in use between 1992 and 2003 in which a portrait appeared on the reverse.
Sculptor Martin Jennings will unveil the monument of Dickens reading in a chair in Portsmouth on June 9th, the 133rd anniversary of the author's death.
The sculpture was initially put on hold after insufficient funding was raised. The Dickens Fellowship, which is backed by members of the late writer's family, said it would "celebrate his ferociously creative, colourful and monumental life."
Dickens spent the first three years of his life in Portsmouth where his father worked in the dockyard, before moving to London and then Kent.
He published over a dozen major novels, a number of short stories and some non-fiction books. His books, including The PIckwick Papers, A Christmas Carol, David Copperfield, Bleeak House, Hard Times and Great Expectations, are still treasured today.
Last month the Charles Dickens Museum re-opened in London after a £3.1m refurbishment. The museum, in his former Bloomsbury home, has been doubled in size and the work was funded through a Heritage Lottery Fund.
The attic and kitchen have been opened to the public for the first time and the Grade 1 listed building has been carefully restored to its Victorian splendour.
The museum holds over 100,000 items including manuscripts, rare editions and personal belongings.
Dickens was born in 1812 and there have been celebrations of his bicentary worldwide.
The Museum of London held Britain's first major exhibition on the author in 40 years in 2012.
