Mr. Dickens and His Carol
CHARMING...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
GRACED BY THE GHOSTLY PRESENCE OF MR. DICKENS HIMSELF...PROMISES TO PUT YOU IN THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT. --USA TodayA beloved, irresistible novel that reimagines the story behind Charles Dickens' Christmas 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.
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Community Reviews
I really enjoyed this story - a classic unto itself. The author does an excellent job of giving us a fantastical glimpse into the muses and catalysts for some of the greatest stories ever written.
Enjoyable quick read that leads to discussion of the actual Christmas carol, the Dickensian age and how to write historical fiction.. Fun for book club.
Was kinda slow in the beginning but after part 2 I absolutely loved this one. Definitely worth the read.
Reading this book at Christmas time when "A Christmas Carol" is always a must to either read or watch, really set provided some lovely, though fictional, context to how the individuals in Dickens life came to play a part in "A Christmas Carol". We get to see how to Dickens Christmas is a time of extravagance given that his wife Catherine is planning an enormous party laying out the start of the inspiration for Ebenezer Scrooge character.
I found it humorous that Dickens based Jacob Marley on a young man with the same name who mistakenly took Dickens for William Makepeace Thackeray, who is know for his novel Vanity Fair. Dickens vows to ensure to use this young man as a character in his book and ensure he is dead.
Dickens young brother Fred is the inspiration for Scrooge's nephew, and we see the young son of a woman called Eleanor that Dickens has an affair with, become Tiny Tim.
The style of writing in this book is brilliant and flows so easily for the author. I could hear the british accent in my head as I was reading the book. Also, the detailed descriptions of the poverty and gray world that London was at the time comes through very vividly.
I enjoyed this book immensely even though Christmas is not my favorite time of year, Mr. Dickens and His Carol has become my favorite Christmas story.
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