|
The Man Who Invented Christmas: How Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol Rescued His Career and Revived Our Holiday Spirits | 
 enlarge | Author: Les Standiford
Publisher: Crown
Category: Book
List Price: $19.95
Buy New: $11.44
You Save: $8.51 (43%)
New (29) Used (8) Collectible (2) from $11.44
Rating:  9 reviews
Sales Rank: 7780
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 256
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 7.8 x 5.7 x 1.3
ISBN: 0307405788
Dewey Decimal Number: 823.8
EAN: 9780307405784
ASIN: 0307405788
Publication Date: November 4, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand new item. Over 4 million customers served. Order now. Selling online since 1995. Order with confidence. Code: B20090105231050T
| |
| Also Available In:
|
| Similar Items:
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
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.
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 4 more reviews...
 Bah, Humbug!!! January 3, 2009
Do not be fooled by the title of this book into buying it. Dickens is NOT "The Man Who Invented CHRISTMAS." It is truly a pity that Crown Publishers and the author have the guts to emblazon the dustjacket of this trifling book just so that people will dig deep into their pockets and buy it! And I am most sorry that I did. I truly believed that at long last I would read a book and learn much, much more than is told herein of the actual conception and writing of A CHRISTMAS CAROL. I learned more than I needed to about the publishing world back then and about Dickens' other works - but where, oh where, are the juicy details as to where the name Ebenezer comes from or where Dickens came up with the idea of ghosts coming into play in his story (did his meeting with and reading of the works of Poe - who, of course, dealt with the dark-side of the Undead - have any influence? In Poe studies, it is speculated that a raven in Dickens' work influenced the Divine Edgar's own "The Raven.") What of the wondrous elements of Time Travel in the CAROL? Had any books previous to this one had their protagonist experience such trips backwards and forwards in Time? Did Dickens via this time travel element forecast H.G. Wells' first novel? Is there no record of why Dickens' has Marley first appear on a doorknocker - or whence came his notion to have him literally in chains of his own making? Where did the phrase "Bah! Humbug!" actually come from - and what does it truly mean? If geese were the primary feast of the day, why does Scrooge ask for a turkey after his reformation? So many questions and so few answers!
This book is NOT about the actual writing of the book, not much at all. It is mainly about its marketing and the subsequent fame and influence it had on Dickens' pocket - but to declare that he invented - or even re-invented - Christmas is just not proven herein. The book also zips through Scrooge's filmic lives - and, in reference to the Alastair Sim classic and best cinematic treatment of the character posits, ridiculously, that the film didn't become widely popular until TV's repeating airings "likely because of its rather downbeat portrayal of Scrooge." Downbeat!!!!??? It is this book that is downbeat - and dreadful - because it hints and teases with a false yet grandiose title and a lovely jacket design by one W. G. Cookman, yet it does NOT deliver the goods. It is a holiday feast of turkey bones and no meat. Maybe someday someone will write a book about the writing of THE book (unless someone already has and I just haven't come across it.) Until then...all I can say is....God Bless Us, Everyone! And not so that you'll become Scrooge-like, but on this one....save your money. Or at least wait until the paperback edition.
 A enjoyable read, but not without flaws December 27, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
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.)
A "sledge-hammer blow" December 27, 2008
So Dickens called his "Christmas Carol," one of the most-read books in the English language, and he meant it in two senses.
First and foremost, he hoped that its publication would lift his sagging fortunes. Wildly popular a few years earlier but now seemingly on his way out as a celebrity author, Dickens hoped that his 1843 Christmas "ghost story" would fill his depleted bank account and return him to the public eye with the power of a sledge-hammer blow. But secondly, he also wanted to draw the public's attention to the want and squalor endured by so many of England's invisible poor, and to do it in a season which gave at least lip service to compassion and charity for all. This was the other hammer blow Dickens hoped to strike.*
Les Standiford's charming little book explores the story behind the "Christmas Carol" by describing in some detail the context of these two hammer blows. It's a well-written and articulately-presented tale. All those who (like myself) received the volume as a Christmas gift will find it a timely and enjoyable read. Moreover, the paper jacket is lovely, mimicking as it does the original "Christmas Carol's" hard cover. (Dickens financed the publication of the book himself, and spared no expense.)
But the book isn't without flaws. An earlier reviewer noted that Standiford pads his account. I don't know that I'd call it "padding," but it certainly is the case that the final 50 or so pages, in which Standiford explores the evolution of Christmas celebrations in England and the US as well as a breathless rundown of Dickens' post-"Carol" years--seem out of place. They tarnish the glow created by the first two-thirds of the book. There's also no original scholarship here. Standiford relies on secondary sources for all his information--even quotations. To give him his due, though, he makes no claim to breaking new ground.
Three and a half stars.
___________
* If Standiford is correct, Dickens hoped to exorcise some of his personal demons as well, those bred by his memories of his miserable childhood. His later David Copperfield apparently laid them to rest.
 A New Appreciation December 21, 2008
I could never quite get the hang of Dickens's writing. I found it laborious rather than fun, but loved his "A Christmas Carol" so I was excited to read about the man Dickens himself as portrayed by Standiford. This book was so much fun to read. I felt a part of the era and came to appreciate Dickens so much so that I just might try reading his other works again . . . definitely with newfound insight into the man himself. Thank you! Carolyn Dargevics of YourPublishingSource.com
Padded for length December 11, 2008
3 out of 5 found this review helpful
This was a good book about how Dickens (and Prince Albert) almostly single-handedly created the holiday we celebrate today. It was well-researched and well-written.
My only complaint is with the first 1/4 of the book. It seems to be included only to make the book an acceptable length -- the information in that section of the book could easily have been condensed to one page and still had the impact the book has overall.
|
|
|
Domain Registration and Web Hosting provided by SurfZen.
| |
