by Les Standiford
Flap Copy Description:
Just before Christmas in 1843, a debt-ridden and dispirited Charles Dickens wrote a small book he hoped would keep his creditors at bay. His publisher turned it down, so Dickens used what little money he had to put out A Christmas Carol himself. He worried it might be the end of his career as a novelist. The book immediately caused a sensation. And it breathed new life into a holiday that had fallen into disfavor, undermined by lingering Puritanism and the cold modernity of the Industrial Revolution. It was a harsh and dreary age, in desperate need of spiritual renewal, ready to embrace a book that ended with blessings for one and all.
My Thoughts:
What motivated me to purchase The Man Who Invented Christmas, was the fact that I'd seen the movie last year with my critique group. Knowing that screenwriters must leave so much out from what is in a book, I was curious. I'm so glad I picked up this little book; it's full to the brim with interesting tidbits, especially for writers! In addition to the origin of Dickens's inspiration for A Christmas Carol (his challenging childhood), Standiford's book delves into the issues of Christmas during the Victorian Era, as well as the world of publishing at that time. Did you know that Charles Dickens wrote his classic tale in six weeks? Or that the book was self-published? I found the path to publication of A Christmas Carol fascinating, as was the aftermath of the book's success. (Like Ebenezer Scrooge, Charles Dickens was full of joy and generosity the Christmas of 1843.) I highly recommend The Man Who Invented Christmas to all writers, and to fervid fans of Charles Dickens!
Click here to learn about the author, Les Standiford.
By the way, if you've not yet seen the movie, it's great too!
