Which of the following best describes Charles Dickens?

The choice that best describes Charles Dickens is that he was a 19th-century British novelist and short-story writer. Dickens is renowned for his literary contributions during the Victorian era, particularly his novels that often highlighted social issues and the lives of the poor in England. His works, such as "A Tale of Two Cities," "Great Expectations," and "Oliver Twist," are celebrated for their memorable characters, intricate plots, and deep social commentary.

He was a central figure in 19th-century literature, and his storytelling often incorporated elements of both realism and melodrama, making his stories accessible and engaging to a wide audience. The other descriptions do not accurately represent his role in literature; he was not an American novelist, nor primarily a playwright or poet, and he certainly was not a contemporary fiction writer as he wrote during a specific historical period that ended long before contemporary literature emerged.