Dickens at Christmas
Dickens Invented Christmas
Many claim Charles Dickens invented Christmas. And there’s a reason why.
In England, even before Dickens’s time, Christmas had long been associated with the supernatural. During the Victorian era, however, this “Christmas and the supernatural” connection developed into the ghost story. Much of this was Dickens’s influence; he published ghost stories in the magazines he edited.
Essentially then, Dickens created the image of everyone gathering around a warm fire after dinner on Christmas Eve, anticipating a good ghost story, cozying up while a cold wind wailed outside.
The Story That Never Grows Old
A Christmas Carol is the famous ghost tale almost everyone knows. Truly, it is a brilliant ghost story. No matter how many times I’ve read it, it never fails to disappoint. In fact, my family has made it our annual tradition.
A few years ago, I collected all the movie adaptations of A Christmas Carol I could find. Starting Thanksgiving weekend, my family began making our way through, watching a few each weekend while at our lake house in the Colorado mountains, and finishing up right before Christmas. (I suppose this is the nerdy type of thing that happens when your mom has an English Literature degree).
The Battle of the Christmas Carols
As we watched we judged, deciding which adaptation we liked best. And before long we gave our little movie nights a name: “The Battle of the Christmas Carols.”
I believe that first year the 1951 version, the one with Alastair Sim, won. The next year the Muppets, followed by the rendition starring Patrick Stewart.
Every subsequent year, we’ve continued this tradition, delighting in the apparitions, breaking our hearts at Tiny Tim’s affliction, disgusted by Scrooge’s selfishness and greed, only to celebrate when his heart finally softens.
The story never grows old.
Why I Recommend Dickens at Christmas…
First of all, you’ll want a physical copy of this one. Why? Quite simply because it is beautiful! Definitely one for your bookshelf. For me, the cover art evokes time travel. Just a glance at that window scene transports me to Victorian England.
This hefty book (almost 600 pages) includes a tale from the Pickwick Papers, five selections from “The Christmas Books” including, yes, yours truly, A Christmas Carol and concluding with eight short stories, which Dickens wrote for periodicals.
A Little Bit About Dickens
Finally, here’s a little bit about Dickens, if you’re not familiar with him, or his writing.
Dickens was born in England in 1812. His father had a knack for getting the family into financial trouble, which landed young Dickens, at the tender age of twelve, in a blacking factory, to work, since his father was in a debtor’s prison.
Dickens wrote during the period scholars have termed “the first wave of Victorian literature” which encompassed the years of 1830-1850. Writers during this period were primarily concerned with social problems. As a result, Dickens stories are not always lighthearted or chipper; however, his subject matter is real, coming from his own life experiences as well as what he witnessed living in Victorian England.
Authentic stuff. Storytelling gold.
As for his style, Dickens stories are not often told in chronological order, with happenings of earlier events being told at a later time, and by other characters; a structuring device I’ve found influences my own storytelling.
When I pulled Dickens at Christmas from my bookshelf this month, in order to write-up this review, I immediately thought of my favorite little French restaurant here in Durango, Colorado, Jean Pierre. Just look at that window! Don’t you agree it resembles the book’s cover art? By the way, if you happen to find yourself in town, consider breakfast here. You will not be disappointed. They have one of the best brunches around (no small feat in this foodie town). I highly recommend the Eggs Benedict.
