text: He saw Joseph Grimaldi perform in Christmas pantomimes in 1819 and 1821, which helped inform his only biography: a performer whose craft was proportional to his suffering.
full_question: He saw Joseph Grimaldi perform in Christmas pantomimes in 1819 and 1821, which helped inform his only biography: a performer whose craft was proportional to his suffering. Doctors stood offstage during his popular readings and took his pulse afterward, registering alarm after he recreated the murder of Nancy by Bill Sykes. One of his characters had to perform after death "captive bound and double-ironed" to warn others against greed. For 10 points, name this author who created Jacob Marley and Oliver Twist.
first_sentence: He saw Joseph Grimaldi perform in Christmas pantomimes in 1819 and 1821, which helped inform his only biography: a performer whose craft was proportional to his suffering.