Dickens' Christmas: A Victorian Celebration [Hardcover]

Simon Callow (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2003

To Victorian England, Dickens was Christmas. His hugely successful book A Christmas Carol was published in 1843, when he was already the most famous novelist in England. Throughout the 1850s and 1860s Dickens wrote several other Christmas books, sketches, and short stories, and the holiday plays a part in many of Dickens' novels. Dickens' public, it seemed, couldn't get enough of Christmas.

This beautifully illustrated anthology of the Christmas that fascinated Dickens contains the entire text of A Christmas Carol, as well as excerpts from other writings that vividly describe houses decorated with greenery and lighted candles, mistletoe in the hall and holly wreaths on the door, and lavish, waistcoat-popping dinners. Also featured are authentic recipes for such 19th-century treats as plum pudding, mince pies, and gingerbread men, along with the words and music for some of the most popular carols of the time. Selected by Simon Callow-who, as one of Britain's leading actors, has brought Dickens' writings to audiences worldwide-this lovingly compiled volume celebrates the Victorian Christmas in all its warmth and charm, making it the perfect holiday gift.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Simon Callow delights in a traditional Dickensian celebration - with all the jollity that it entailed. --Good Book Guide --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Simon Callow is a highly acclaimed actor, director, and author. In addition to his theater and television work, he has appeared in the films Shakespeare in Love, Four Weddings and a Funeral, A Room with a View, and Amadeus. His award-winning one-man show, The Mystery of Charles Dickens, was presented in Britain and the United States. His books include biographies of Charles Laughton and Orson Welles and, most recently, a personal memoir, Love Is Where It Falls.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams; 1St Edition edition (October 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810945347
• ISBN-13: 978-0810945340
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 7.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,252,242 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #72 in Books > Literature & Fiction > History & Criticism > Movements & Periods > Victorian

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Welcome to 1843, November 11, 2003

By 

Ken Roberts "social historian" (Michigan United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Dickens' Christmas: A Victorian Celebration (Hardcover)

Nothing says Victorian more than Christmas, and this excellent book by Simon Callow presents a Victorian Christmas as seen through the eyes of the most popular of the Victorian era authors. Charles Dickens unintentionally reinvented the way we celebrate that glorious holiday by one short novel he wrote in 1843 called 'A Christmas Carol.' At the time of writing, the Christmas celebrations he described in his little book were virtually non-existant, but it was Mr. Dickens' descriptions of the way he felt that Christmas should be celebrated that took England, then America, by storm. The party at Fezziwig's, nephew Fred's gathering of friends and family, the Cratchit's meager only in sight celebration. All in descriptive detail. And it's because of Dickens' view on the matter that we celebrate the holiday the way we do now.
Mr. Callow's book gives the reader a full view of an early Victorian Christmas celebration in a number of ways. First and foremost, the complete as it was written novel of 'A Christmas Carol' is here so one can read how it all began. Callow's book goes on to explain the holiday feasts that the celebrants partook in as the Christmas Season grew in popularity, as well as the many traditions - old and new - that became popular. One very old tradition that is still carried on today is wassailing - that is, the singing of Christmas Carols for money or hot chocolate, although in days of old, the waites sang for money or a fruity rum-laced drink!
There are plenty of original 19th century drawings and paintings throughout to give the book the look of Dickens' time.
As this book rightfully states, the only images of Christmas that owe nothing to Dickens are those of the Nativity and of Father Christmas/Santa Claus. Well...ok...the Christmas Tree was introduced to the English through Prince Albert.
I love the Christmas Season and, besides the original Biblical account of the birth of Christ, 'A Christmas Carol' in its many movie versions as well as, of course, the original Dickens writing, is the epitome of the spirit of the holiday. This book by Simon Callow will help anyone who desires to have a Dickens Christmas celebration of there own, either through thoughts while reading it or, if you would like to take it a step further, by having your own Victorian/Dickens Christmas party.
This book by Simon Callow, by the way, is well worth your hard earned dollar.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Holiday Cheer, November 20, 2009

By 

Barbara Williams "willbjt" (Clarksville, TN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Dickens' Christmas: A Victorian Celebration (Hardcover)

A perfect mood-setter for a Victorian Christmas. This book is one to browse through the day after Thanksgiving to get in the spirit for the holidays. I get the same feeling from it that I get from watching A CHRISTMAS CAROL. The illustrations are beautiful and the text is both informative and entertaining. Anyone who loves old-fashioned, romantic Christmases will enjoy this book.