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Shakespeare and Charles Dickens are two writers.
Charles Dickens and William Shakespeare
It's from The Merry Wives of Windsor. It is thought to be a euphemism for "what the devil" - there is no connection with Charles Dickens, who was born some 200 years after Shakespeare died.
Charles Dickens' favorite author was likely William Shakespeare. Dickens had a deep admiration for Shakespeare's works and often quoted or referenced them in his own writing.
Nothing to do with Charles Dickens. Dickens is a euphemism for the word devil, possibly via devilkins. Shakespeare used it.
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Charles Dickens William Shakespeare
Books by Dickens and Shakespeare.
Dickens was a euphamism for the Devil. So "it hurts like the dickens" is another way of saying "it hurts like the Devil". It's a very old phrase that dates back to Shakespeare's day. Shakespeare used the line " I cannot tell what the dickens his name is" in the Merry Wives of Windsor.
The Merry Wives of Windsor
Probably William Shakespeare
The Merry Wives of Windsor.