Mr. Dickens and His Carol
| Industrial Age |
|---|
 Mr. Dickens and His Carol |
World History > Industrial Age > Charles Dickens
“A charming, comic, and ultimately poignant story about the creation of the most famous Christmas tale ever written. It’s as foggy and haunted and redemptive as the original; it’s all heart, and I read it in a couple of ebullient, Christmassy gulps.” ―Anthony Doerr, #1 New York Times bestselling author of All The Light We Cannot See
Laced with humor, rich historical detail from Charles Dickens’ life, and clever winks to his work, Samantha Silva's Mr. Dickens and His Carol is an irresistible new take on a cherished classic.
Charles Dickens is not feeling the Christmas spirit. His newest book is an utter flop, the critics have turned against him, relatives near and far hound him for money. While his wife plans a lavish holiday party for their ever-expanding family and circle of friends, Dickens has visions of the poor house. But when his publishers try to blackmail him into writing a Christmas book to save them all from financial ruin, he refuses. And a serious bout of writer’s block sets in.
Frazzled and filled with self-doubt, Dickens seeks solace in his great palace of thinking, the city of London itself. On one of his long night walks, in a once-beloved square, he meets the mysterious Eleanor Lovejoy, who might be just the muse he needs. As Dickens’ deadlines close in, Eleanor propels him on a Scrooge-like journey that tests everything he believes about generosity, friendship, ambition, and love. The story he writes will change Christmas forever.
Emily's Review
I found this novel to be so endearing. This story is so cozy and comforting, like a warm blanket and hot chocolate on Christmas eve. If you are a fan of A Christmas Carol, then this book is for you. It takes everything you love about Carol and makes it better.
Dickens is forced to write a new story, a Christmas story, and fast to save himself from financial ruin. But how can he do that while suffering from writer's block? I adored the way the author paralleled Dicken's life with the story of A Christmas Carol. She wove the tale together seamlessly. The writing was beautiful. It felt very evocative of Dickens's own writing. I felt very much like I was there, in Victorian London, walking the streets during the Christmas season.
I highly recommend this tender tribute to a Christmastime classic.
Other Similar Books
Other suggestions on the subject of the Charles Dickens.
- Dear Mr. Dickens (by: Churnin, Nancy, LE, MG)
- Who Was Charles Dickens (by: Pollack, Pam, Belviso, Meg, MG)
- The Turning Point: 1851 - A Year That Changed Charles Dickens and the World (by: Douglas-Fairhurst, Robert, YA, A)
- Mr. Dickens and His Carol (by: Silva, Samantha, YA, A)
- Becoming Dickens (by: Douglas-Fairhurst, Robert, YA, A)
- Marley: A Novel (by: Clinch, Jon, YA, A)
- The Man Who Invented Christmas (by: Standiford, Les, YA, A)
- The Victorian City: Everyday Life in Dickens' London (by: Flanders. Judith, YA, A)