Charles Reade was an English novelist who wrote during the Victorian era. He is best known for his novel 'The Cloister and the Hearth' which was published in 1861. He also wrote several other novels, including 'Peg Woffington' and 'Hard Cash'. His works often focused on social issues such as poverty and injustice. He was a strong advocate for reform and was a major influence on the development of the English novel.