A great book to read during Christmastime. Packed full of information and details for Dickens fans. Christmas is Dickens as much as Dickens is Christmas.

Actually a 3.5 star.
Book received from NetGalley

A Christmas Carol has been a been a part of my life since I was small. I never knew it was a book, until I was much older, for years it was the movie that my Dad watched over and over during the lead up to Christmas. For me, Charles Dickens will always be a part of Christmas, and multiple versions of A Christmas Carol still show up on my television to this day. However, I had no clue just how much the story influenced how we celebrate the holiday. Until this short little novel came to be, Christmas was a much different creature in England and definitely in the United States. This book gives you some of that background and you'll likely be shocked at just what Dickens and his work influenced in how you celebrate today. I want a copy of this for my history shelves, I just wish it had been longer.

I have read the Christmas Carol, The chimes this yeas so reading about the author of those iconic stories a must for any fan. The history behind the stories and his life as well the beginning of Christmas as we know of it now is a fascinating insight of life in Victorian England at the time.

A very good overview of Dickens in terms of bio and contemporary goings-on during his writing of his Xmas tales. Unlike many books, its focus lies on ALL of his Christmas stories, not just A Christmas Carol, so it provides a broader depth and introspection on what Dickens attempted to do with his fictions both at that moment of writing/publishing but also over the course of his career/lifetime. Excellent read.

I enjoyed this book it was well written and a joy to read. The authors gives insight to the subject matter that I felt was compelling and would recommend this book to a friend.

In Dickens and Christmas, Lucinda Hawksley presents the reader with the social history of Christmas along side the personal history of Charles Dickens. The book explains where many of are modern festive traditions originated from we also learn where Dickens inspiration for many of his festive tales come from. This book would make a ideal Christmas gift for the love one who love Christmas and Charles Dickens.

This book takes us back to Christmas and its celebrations in the Victorian era. Queen Charlotte imported Christmas trees from Germany in the 1800s, Queen Victoria made them popular and "traditional". The Victorian Christmas typical of the popular imagination is a creation by Charles Dickens, which distils the elements in his Christmas stories. Then Coca-Cola dressed Santa Claus in red (before he was dressed in green, like the Ghost of Christmas Present in "A Christmas Carol"). The book includes many quotes, from Dickens and others that often may seem too long or "stifling". A touch of class - one of my opinions - is to quote the recipes of the cake of the "Twelfth Night" of Mrs Beeton from the "Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management".

A Christmas Carol has been my favorite book since childhood. Something about the images of Cratchit skipping home to be with his family and Scrooge skulking along the darkened streets seeing ghostly funeral carriages and his dead partner just created such magic in my imagination. I have reread the book many times, watched many movies based on the story and enjoyed multiple theater productions (except the one I'd really really really love to see.....Patrick's Stewart's one man show as Scrooge). I love this book. I love its message. I love its humor. I love its dark portrait of the cruelty of man and the struggle for joy to remain where hope is fading. But most of all, I think I revere the message that redemption is possible. If even the most unemotional, greedy and covetous old geezer can be turned into a generous, happy and joyful person.....then all of us have a chance, right?

I have a degree in literature. I read every novel, every short story, every grocery list Dickens ever wrote and was forced to expound voluminously on the merits or disappointments of each. It wasn't like when I was growing up and enjoyed reading about Oliver Twist and the rest of his scores of characters just for the joy of reading. As an adult I had to read, examine and dissolve my brain into the story. It's a much more dismal trip when it's done for learning rather than imagination. Dickens' writing is dark, gloomy and mostly depressing....usually with some happy twist at the end, for a main character at least. Most side characters get left chin deep in their own mess or dead. As an adult A Christmas Carol still shone bright through the darkness for me. A beacon among the other writings of Dickens. It has the most joy, the most hope and the most kindness of anything I was forced required to read from Dickens. A classic book that can withstand the requirements of higher learning and adulting is truly a classic book. :) And it's still my favorite. That must be distinctly understood, or nothing wondrous can come of the book review I am about to relate.

Dickens and Christmas. I knew I was going to love this book before I even started reading. And I wasn't disappointed.

This book is a wonderful mix of information about Dickens' life, Christmas traditions in his lifetime, and impressions of the holiday from his personal writings and novels. It also includes snippets from newspaper articles from the time, biographical information from family letters and his daughter's book. Everything from Twelfth Night cakes to house parties. :) I understand much more about how Dickens' rough childhood, his life experiences and his anger at how the poor were treated colored his writing, but yet made him love the Christmas season. And he made others love it, too.

Wonderful book!! Well-written, interesting and enjoyable to read! I loved how the book didn't focus only on A Christmas Carol but also included his Christmas stories and mentions of the holiday season from his other books as well. Quotes from his personal correspondence, diaries and family writings were wonderful to read. I didn't realize his daughter wrote a biography of her father in the late 1800s. I need to find a copy of that book, or a scan online, and read it. :)

I read an advance copy for this review, but I will be buying a copy for my keeper shelf. Beautiful book!

God bless us..every one!

"There is a strangely prevalent belief that the British did not celebrate Christmas in any memorable way until ... the arrival of Charles Dickens' Christmas Books. Contemporary accounts ... show this to be untrue."

There are several new media about Charles Dickens and Christmas out this year, this one and a fiction entrée, as well as a film called THE MAN WHO INVENTED CHRISTMAS. I'm not certain why, as it doesn't appear to be a Dickens' anniversary of any kind, unless we are considering the 180th anniversary of OLIVER TWIST. But it's our gain. This book is the nonfiction entry of the two and is my favorite of the pair, and is literally what the title states: Christmas celebrations over the years during Charles Dickens' lifetime, starting with how Christmas would have been celebrated when Charles was a boy (greenery in the home, great feasting on a Christmas porridge, gifts—but more commonly gifts at New Year—and a big cake and an even larger celebration on Twelfth Night that included a cake which has now been transferred to the Christmas festivities). The writing of Dickens' "Christmas Books" (some not taking place at Christmas at all, but just called that because the books were intended as Christmas gifts) and his celebrations with his family follow, with festive food and plays put on by Dickens and his children.

As with any family, the Christmases were not always merry. One year the Dickens' oldest child was very ill. Later Dickens and his wife separated as he carried on an affair with young actress Ellen Ternan, and the plays and feasts came to an end. Dickens spent his last few years doing readings of his work and pretty much working himself to death.

I enjoyed reading about how the family celebrated Christmas and how Christmas celebrations changed over the years, but it was also sad how Dickens' bright youthfulness turned sour and his family life collapsed. The book is liberally illustrated with period etchings and woodcuts.

Lucinda Hawksley is a direct descendant of Charles Dickens, so she is uniquely placed to write about his life. Her book relates an abbreviated biography of Dickens, with emphasis on how he himself celebrated Christmas, how England in general celebrated, and his works of fiction about Christmas.

A Christmas Carol is the one piece by Dickens that nearly everyone in the English speaking world knows. Even if they have never read it, pretty much everyone has seen one or more of the many film, TV, or cartoon versions. Everyone associates Dickens with Christmas, even more than they associate him with orphans and grim poverty. That didn’t start recently; it started as soon as he published Carol. He wrote four more Christmas stories, which cemented his position as the king of Christmas. The people of England came to expect his Christmas stories, which became a huge burden on him. He wanted to write other books, books that shined a light on the horrors of poverty. He solved the problem by creating a monthly magazine, and hired others to write stories for the Christmas edition.

Hawksley tells Dicken’s story in calm prose, and doesn’t spare him from examination. His childhood poverty, his perpetual money problems (most of them created by his large family), his marital problems, are all examined. I found it a very interesting look into his life. I also liked that the author related how the celebration of Christmas was changing, due both to the Industrial Revolution and Prince Albert’s bringing German customs over to England. Hawksley weaves all the strands together well.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL is by FAR my favorite of holiday tales. Be it the book, the musical, the plethora of movies or the cartoons; there is just something so special about this classic work of literature. So when I saw this book available for request I knew I had to have it to add to my collection.

I enjoyed this one a lot. It could be a little dry reading at times but since I read a few chapters here and there between other books I wasn't too bothered by that. It's packed full of interesting information about Charles Dickens. The history and traditions of the time are brought to life through writings and letters and quotes. We not only get an insight into the times and history but also into the man himself (his social reform leanings) and how his writings (especially the Christmas ones) had a profound effect on how the nation thought about Christmas. This was just a fascinating and educational read and a perfect gift for any Charles Dickens fan. Two thumbs up from yours truly.

"Dickens and Christmas" is a biography of Dicken's life with a focus on Christmastime--how his family celebrated Christmas at various times in his life, what books he released, and even changes during his lifetime in how people celebrated Christmas (partly due to the influence of his Christmas stories). The author quoted from books, articles, and Dicken's personal letters to show what Christmas was like for his family and in general.

The main focus was on Dicken's life and included details about his writing. We get summaries and extensive quoting from his first five Christmas releases (A Christmas Carol, The Chimes, The Cricket on the Hearth, The Battle of Life, and The Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain) and excerpts of the Christmas scenes from his other novels and short stories. Mixed in with the biographical details were tidbits about traditional Christmas foods, decorations, presents, and activities. You couldn't create your own Dicken's-style Christmas from this book, but you can get an idea of what it was like.

"A Christmas Carol" is my absolute favorite Christmas story and I will watch any and all versions airing during the Christmas season. I have acquired numerous kindle and hardcopy versions of the book; yet, curiously enough, I have never finished reading them past a few pages. Based on my love of "A Christmas Carol", I also acquired every other Charles Dickens classic such as "Great Expectations" , "Oliver Twist", and "A Tale of Two Cities". Again, I still have yet to read these tomes. However, the thought of a Victorian London winter with cobblestone streets, golden glowing windows, and plum pudding on Christmas still warms my heart and harkens to mind Charles Dickens. As such, I was drawn to this book about Charles Dickens the man and his association with Christmas.

The book had revelations about how London celebrated the Christmas season in the mid 1800s. For instance, the bigger celebration was "Twelfth Night" or January 5-6th (the end of Christmas) rather than Christmas Day itself. It was delightful to read about the enormous and grandly decorated Twelfth Night cakes, in addition to the parties and celebrations that went along with them. However, it wasn't until Charles Dickens authored "A Christmas Carol" that the British focused primarily on Christmas Day with its associated meanings of being kind and generous to the less fortunate. "A Christmas Carol" was a breakthrough in Charles Dickens' literary success and he was expected to produce a Christmas story every subsequent December afterward. The tidal wave of Christmas spirit unleashed by the book sparked the invention of the Christmas Card and Queen Victoria's use of a decorated Christmas tree with lit tapers and small gifts weighing down its boughs.

The book also tells the story of Charles Dickens' life in conjunction with his writing career, with a particular focus on his Christmas stories which in fact took precedence in the buying public's expectations. We learn about his father's stint in debtors' prison and how Charles had to work in a factory at the age of twelve. It was a traumatic experience that robbed him of his youthful innocence and provided the basis for his writings.

There were short excerpts culled from his books and letters woven into this biography, and also from his eldest daughter Mamie with her reminiscences of Dickens' family Christmas celebrations. The author is a descendant of Charles Dickens which lends a special touch. This all culminated in telling a life story of an iconic British author and his impact on Christmas celebrations in England and around the world.

As a longtime lover of both Dickens and Christmas, there couldn't have been a better book than this tailor-made to my interests! I love the framework of the evolution of Christmas through Dickens own personal Christmases - from childhood through to his last. I already had a good background knowledge of Dickens as a person, so the family dynamics the author delves into (Mamie Dicken's writings, Dicken's letters to friends) weren't new, but will add an interesting context for people who haven't read into that story before.

A side effect of finishing this book was finding myself getting REALLY excited for this coming Christmas - all the historical info about Twelfth Cakes and decorations and games and food really made me start to anticipate my own celebrations this year! I think it would be interesting to try out some of the older English traditions discussed in this book, and have already started putting the feelers out for more books on the subject!

Charles Dickens is the great great great grandfather of author Lucinda Hawksley. I discovered Hawksley on social media and learned about her newest book Dickens and Christmas. I knew I had to read it!

A Christmas Carol has been a favorite story since Third Grade when I was Martha in a elementary school play. I memorized all the lines by heart watching rehearsals.

Our school play of A Christmas Carol, 1962
Growing up I watched every movie version every year. Later my husband and I read the story out loud and together watched our favorite movie versions. (I even wrote a paper about A Christmas Carol for my Studies in the Victorican Age course at university!)

Dickens and Christmas is a biographical history of Christmas in Dickens's personal and professional life, and a social history of the celebration's evolution in England in the Victorian Age. The celebration underwent a huge transformation to become the holiday we know today. We learn about the Twelfth Night celebration of Dickens's youth and the joyful celebrations he shared with his family.

Hawksley draws from writings by family members, letters, and the Christmas texts to create a vivid portrait of Dickens as family mann writer, and social reformer.

Few readers today know about Dickens's other best-selling Christmas stories. They were so popular that he was required to write a new one every year, which became a source of great stress, requiring six months work while also writing his novels. The early novellas became short stories published in his magazines, Household Words and All the Year Round.

One of the aspects of the Christmas stories I love best of all is Dickens's desire to improve social conditions for the poor and most vulnerable in society. Dickens was a 'resistance' writer of his time, intending to bring awareness and sow seeds for legal and social change. I

Because of Dickens's Christmas writings, the season has become one of charity and good will.

God bless us, every one!

I received a free ebook from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

Dickens and Christmas

by Lucinda Hawksley

Pen & Sword

Pen and Sword History
History

Pub Date 30 Oct 2017

I am reviewing a copy of Dickens and Christmas through Pen and Sword and Netgalley:

In 1812 at Christmas Frances (known as Fanny) was two and Charles was only ten months. John and Elizabeth Dickens young family lived in the town of Portsmouth located on the south coast of England. John Dickens was a clerk at the Navy’s Payroll office. An ironic job for a man who had a terrible time controlling his own finances. The Christmas of 1812 was a difficult time for many.

For many centuries Christmas was not celebrated the way it became celebrated during the Victorian era.

By the time Charles first Christmas came around, the winter of 1813-14 went down as one of London’s coldest winters in memory.

Charles was one of eight children, two who died in infancy.

In 1836 Dickens met John Forster who would later become his first biographer, The Life Of Charles Dickens was published 1872-1874.

In 1823 Charles was spending much of his time running errands for his parents and visiting his disabled uncle Thomas Barrow (His Mother’s Brother) whose leg had been amputated after a bad break.

In 1827 when John was fifteen and Fanny seventeen John Dickens was arrested again, though not imprisoned.

On April.02.1936 Charles and Catherine were married. There first child was conceived on their honeymoon and on January.06.1937 Charles Culliford Boz Dickens was born.

Dickens also paid particular attention to injustices such as Child Labor in factories in England. He believed too in the importance of educating working men and women.

During Christmas of 1843 Charles Dickens gave friends advanced copies of A Christmas Carol, a book that in many ways would become iconic.

Like his Father Charles Dickens would suffer with financial difficulties. After Catherine gave birth to their fifth child, they would go into debt due to medical expenses.

I found Dickens at Christmas to both be entertaining and educational.

Five out of five stars.

Happy Reading!