The Man Who Invented Christmas: How Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol Rescued His Career and Revived Our Holiday Spirits [Deckle Edge] [Hardcover]

Les Standiford (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 4, 2008

As uplifting as the tale of Scrooge itself, this is the story of how one writer and one book revived the signal holiday of the Western world.

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.

With warmth, wit, and an infusion of Christmas cheer, Les Standiford whisks us back to Victorian England, its most beloved storyteller, and the birth of the Christmas we know best. The Man Who Invented Christmas is a rich and satisfying read for Scrooges and sentimentalists alike.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Charles Dickens was almost 32 in late 1843, and his career trajectory was downward. Since the megasuccess of The Old Curiosity Shop, dwindling sales of his work and problems with his publisher left little doubt in his mind: he would support his growing household as a travel writer on the Continent. As the disappointing Martin Chuzzlewit continued its serialization, A Christmas Carol appeared in a richly illustrated edition. Although initial sales were brisk, high production costs coupled with spotty advertising and a low retail price made the book unprofitable. But, says Standiford, this modern fable had a profound impact on Anglo-American culture and its author's career. If Dickens did not precisely invent Christmas, his ghost story created a new framework for celebrating it. Standiford (The Last Train to Paradise) covers an impressive amount of ground, from the theological underpinnings of Christmas to Dickens's rocky relations with America, evolving copyright laws and an explanation of how A Christmas Carol became responsible for the slaughter of more turkeys than geese in the months of November and December. (Nov.)
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Review

“In this small but remarkable book, Les Standiford offers readers a gift for all seasons. Carefully researched and written in a stately, lucid prose, this book will be cherished by those who love Dickens, enjoy Christmas, or ponder the endless mysteries of human behavior.”
—Roland Merullo, author of American Savior

“A wonderfully absorbing and revealing account, full of things I did not realize about A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens, and the world of publishing. Once I started reading this book, truly, I could not put it down.”
—Dan Wakefield, author of New York in the Fifties

“The Man Who Invented Christmas is destined to be a classic about a classic. As Tiny Tim might say, ‘God Bless Everyone,’ in this case Standiford, for creating such a delightful and engaging gem—part history, part literary analysis, and all heart, just like the book that inspired it.”
—Madeleine Blais, winner of the Pulitzer Prize and author of Uphill Walkers

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Crown; First Edition edition (November 4, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0307405788
• ISBN-13: 978-0307405784
• Product Dimensions: 5.9 x 1 x 7.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #334,034 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A enjoyable read, but not without flaws, December 27, 2008

By 

Herbert T. Moskovitz "Herbphilly" (Philadelphia, PA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Man Who Invented Christmas: How Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol Rescued His Career and Revived Our Holiday Spirits (Hardcover)

A friend sent The Man Who Invented Christmas to me as a holiday gift. The title intrigued me as I had been told by Dickens scholar David Parker that the popular belief that Dickens revitalized Christmas is false. Parker had presented lots of information to back up his assertion. I glanced through the bibliography and saw that Standiford listed David Parker as one of his sources. He also listed two other Christmas Carol scholars I respect - Michael Patrick Hearn and Fred Guida. That was promising.

However when I read on page 24 about "the memorable scene of Oliver, gruel bowl in hand, innocently asking the poorhouse's Mr. Bumble for `more,'" and on page 28 about the misbegotten waif Nell Humphrey in Old Curiosity Shop, my hopes sank. (For those reading this with fuzzy memories, Oliver asked the workhouse master for "more" and Little Nell's last name is Trent.)

But the book was very readable. I soon found myself eagerly turning pages. Despite the title of his book, Standiford doesn't claim that Dickens invented Christmas though he does say Dickens re-invented it. Then he presents lots of evidence that prove the opposite. He points out the history of many Christmas icons have no relevance to Dickens's A Christmas Carol, such as Christmas trees, Christmas cards, Santa Claus and the giving of gifts. He does claim that the turkey replaced the goose as the center of Christmas dinners as a result of Scrooge choosing a turkey to send the Cratchits.

Most likely the title came from someone in the publisher's marketing department.

It is not a scholarly work, and it is clear that Standiford relied solely on the works listed in the bibliography and did no research from original sources, but since it is appearing in bookstore windows throughout Philadelphia I figure it is going to be a good seller, if not a best seller. And perhaps the more people who read The Man Who Invented Christmas, the more people who will be inspired to read Charles Dickens's works.

(And maybe Les Standiford will read them and learn that Little Nell's last name is Trent and that Bumble is not in the room when Oliver asks for more.)

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Joyous and Informative Read, November 15, 2008

By 

Ronald W. Szudy - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Man Who Invented Christmas: How Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol Rescued His Career and Revived Our Holiday Spirits (Hardcover)

Mr. Standiford's new book is a worthy contribution to the Dickens literature. In a concise way, we learn of the influences on Dickens' life and career. We join Dickens in the creation of the timeless CAROL. In the end, Dickens' achievement appears to be even more of an enduring miracle, This book should please all who read and love Dickens and who look forward to more visits with Scrooge and his immortal ghosts.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A True Christmas Gift, November 13, 2008

By 

Carolyn Haines (Mobile, AL) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Man Who Invented Christmas: How Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol Rescued His Career and Revived Our Holiday Spirits (Hardcover)

In this jewel of a book, Les Standiford gives us a true holiday gift. It's the perfect Christmas book--to give or simply to curl up with and sip a cup of eggnog. Fascinating facts told wonderfully. The highest recommendation.