Charles Dickens called his sister-in-law Georgina Hogarth his \'best and truest friend\'.
Why did Georgina betray her once much-loved sister? Why did she fall out with her family and risk her reputation in order to stay with Dickens? And why did the Dickenses\' daughter Katey say it was \'the greatest mistake ever\' to invite a sister-in-law to live with a family?.
There were several occasions when he misused her in order to protect his public reputation.
Georgina\'s commitment to Dickens was unwavering but it is far from clear what he did to deserve such loyalty.
He left her the equivalent of almost 1 million and all his personal papers in his will.
Georgina\'s refusal to leave Dickens and his desire for her to remain in his household led to rumours of an affair and even illegitimate children.
What began as a father-daughter Relationship blossomed into a genuine rapport, but their easy relations were fractured when Dickens had a mid-life crisis and determined to rid himself of Catherine.
The sister of his wife Catherine, the sharp and witty Georgina moved into the Dickens home aged fifteen.
They lived together for twenty-eight years, during which time their Relationship constantly changed.
Georgina saw Dickens as much more than a friend.
Charles Dickens called his sister-in-law Georgina Hogarth his \'best and truest friend\'
