A Dickens Christmas...

Long Live the Dickens...

Victoria and Albert...

When many of us think about Charles Dickens in relation to the holiday season we conjure up images like the one of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert gathered with their children around a grand tree. This type of holiday celebration was far from the reality that a young Charles Dickens would have enjoyed though. In fact, this image is an idealized version of the Christmas celebrations that were far removed from the reality that most British subjects lived during the nineteenth century. This is a reality that Dickens was forced to face at an early age. Born in 1812 during the reign of King George III, Dickens' early years were fairly financially stable. His father John even did a short stint in the Navy Pay Office which afforded young Charles the ability to receive a private education. By the time Charles was eleven though, his father had landed in a debtors prison and Charles found himself hired out to Warren's Blacking Warehouse working 10-hour days for 6 shillings a week which mostly went to pay back what his father owed.

A Life Inspired...

While John Dickens did manage to escape debtors' prison courtesy of an inheritance from his grandmother his stint in the Marshalsea Debtors' Prison would not be the last time he was incarcerated for living beyond his means. In his later life, he would again be arrested for debt and was only released because his son Charles borrowed the money to secure John's release. To say that art mirrored life for Charles Dickens would be an understatement as many of his characters reflect back the relationships that Charles had both with his father and with money. It is hard to tell if Dickens would have been able to create such masterpieces of literary art had he not suffered such hardships as a child. The fact is that he did though, and for that, we have such wonderful works as Great Expectations, Oliver Twist, A Tale of Two Cities, The Pickwick Papers, and of course, A Christmas Carol.

A Christmas Carol...

It is hard to think about Christmas time without hearing the words "Ba Humbug" or "God Bless us every one" running through our heads. Both of these lines come from his indelible classic A Christmas Carol which has been adapted over 135 times for the stage, television, and the big screen. This short story is a classic tale of redemption set during the one time of year that all of us hope to reconcile our differences and be forgiven for our own transgressions. More than that though, A Christmas Carol reminds us that money truly does not buy happiness. Indeed, The Cratchit family straddles the line between lower-middle class and poverty and they are much happier for it than Ebenezer Scrooge who could buy anything his heart desires, but who has let the fear of spiraling into poverty corrupt his heart. When viewed this way, the parallels between Scrooge and his creator seem obvious.

Great Expectations...

As the year draws to a close and a new year dawns, many of us get nostalgic just as Ebenezer Scrooge did when the ghost of Christmas past came knocking. Just like Scrooge, we also reflect on past experiences, missed opportunities, and lost lovers. We then turn our sights to the new year which we meet with great expectations for the adventures, opportunities, and new lovers that it might bring us. Charles Dickens was no different which is why it comes as no surprise that his love life would be reflected in his works. A good case in point is his relationship with Maria Beadell. She is said to have been the inspiration for his character Belle in A Christmas Carol. It is also believed that she was his muse when he was creating the character Dora in David Copperfield and Maria in Little Dorritt. Beadell's family disapproved of Dickens and separated the two young lovers which is why many also see her in the character of Estella in the novel Great Expectations. Just like Pip and Estella, Charles and Maria never got their happily ever after. In fact, she married another person, and years later when she finally saw Dickens again they were both in dissatisfactory marriages, she was older and had gained some weight. Since neither of these things squared with the idealized version of her that he had carried all of his life Dickens was said to be disgusted by her and never saw her again. Great Expectations is still a great story to read during the holiday season though because it reminds us yet again that nostalgia often wears rose-colored glasses and that all things happen for a reason.

Oliver Twist...

Another of Dickens' most iconic works is Oliver Twist. This wonderful story is about an orphan who learns hard lessons on the gritty streets of Victorian London and given its exploration of poverty and criminality, it may not seem like a Christmas story at first. If you look closely though there are lessons about what it means to be a family woven through the interactions of the characters. Since family and coming home are at the heart of the holiday season Oliver Twist is the perfect novel to settle down with and work through this time of year. Its critiques on poverty, orphans, and what drives criminality are also good things to ponder this time of year given that so many are going without as the gap between the haves and the have-nots grows ever wider. Throughout the pages of this novel, Dickens forces us to look at ourselves and ask if criminality is inherent. He then makes us contemplate if it can be lessened through the right applications of social programs that can help uplift those who are made less fortunate either by birthright or through circumstance.

A Tale of Two Cities...

Like Oliver Twist, A Tale of Two Cities may not seem very festive this time of year. The holiday season is about reflecting back on the year that has gone by, working towards forgiveness, and generally learning lessons so that we do not repeat them in the year to come. What better lesson to learn this time of year than things are not always what they seem? This moral lesson is especially important as many of us dig through the social media pages of others and imagine how wonderful their lives must seem. Like the strangers on the internet who seem to have it so much better than you, many family members also find this to be the perfect time of year to fain righteousness while participating in some of the most vicious backbitings imaginable. A Tale of Two Cities also reminds us that no matter what we are going through we are not alone. If we look hard enough we can always find a Carton willing to sacrifice himself for love and who is willing to hold our hand and think better of us when others are thinking the worse.

The Pickwick Papers...

While many of us have idealized the Victorian Christmas, and the Victorian Era in general, the works of Dickens remind us that nostalgia has a way of clouding our judgment. The Victorian Era did give us wonderful interior designs that have stood the test of time. This era also marked a turning point in industry and economics as well as changing our views on children and families were viewed. Let us not forget that it also gave us workhouses, debtors' prisons, air pollution on a mass scale, and mass poverty. When you look at it that way a Dickens Christmas does not seem so appealing. Not everything Dickens wrote had a dark edge to it. One notable exception is The Pickwick Papers. This book does not read like a typical novel which adds to the fun of it all. Since it was Dickens' first book it is also a great place to start if you have never read any of his works before. Like many novels of its day, this work was initially serialized making it easy for any reader who is beginning their foray into the world of dickens to pick up and put down at will. The Pickwick Papers follows the adventures and antics of a group of upper-class gentlemen and, although it has a few sad moments, overall the stories contained within this novel are good-spirited making it a delightful and easy holiday read.

Too Much To Handle...

The life and works of Charles Dickens are by far too extensive a topic to handle in one small blog post, but I do hope that this small sample of what he has to offer will encourage you to check things out for yourself. You can read the specific works mentioned here for free by clicking the links attached to the titles throughout the blog post. With over 15 novels, five novellas, and hundreds of short stories to choose from there really is a Dickens for everyone. Grace Slick and I would just like to remind you that Charles Dickens really was writing during a historical period that was far removed from our own so some of his themes and diction may be hard for contemporary readers to understand at first. Stick with it though and you will definitely be rewarded. As always, Slick and I would love it if you come to visit us on Instagram. All you have to do is click any of the pictures in this post and they will transport you into our world. Until next time friends, Happy Holidays, and remember to always seek joy.