Lucinda Hawksley

Won a hardback copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway!

Really, really enjoyed this read. I especially appreciated the historical context provided for all of the sections. I learned a ton and found every bit of it fascinating. The color photos and illustrations were lovely and demonstrated just how much time and effort had gone into this book's making; the level of research was top-notch. The vegan and vegetarian versions were not only spot-on for me as a vegetarian who eats a bunch of show more vegan food, but in keeping with the Victorian period—in this way, the book's content and focus were in alignment, which was a nice parallel and inclusive to boot! The sections all included more basic and more complicated options (e.g., more extensive decorations and some very easy to make, quick carols and longer ones), which was wonderful to see depending on one's mood, availability, energy, etc. I've always wondered about facts like why Santa is generally dressed in red and white (hint: coca-cola) and who wrote what poems, stories, etc. (hint: a famous one was actually submitted anonymously, so it's impossible to say for certain!), and this book didn't disappoint in providing satisfactory answers. I could have read even more in fact, and wouldn't hesitate to pick up a volume two if ever Hawksley decided to write one.

Love this book and will likely happily gift multiple copies to friends. What a unique, fun and beautiful addition to the holidays! show less

I love and I am fascinated by the sheer beauty and detail of Pre-Raphaelite art.
I abhor self-centered, egotistical men, manipulative, conniving women, and the hypocritical Victorian era.
This book combined a tale of some of the things I love and some of those I detest.

From the poorer socioeconomic scale, the former hat shop girl Lizzie Siddal was hauntingly beautiful. Hers was the face used by many of the Pre-Raphaelite artists. Waif like and mesmerizing, Lizzie captured the hearts of many, show more but loved only one.

From the higher echelons, Dante Gabriel Rosseti, was talented, handsome and egotistical.

Both were highly creative and self destructive. Enmeshed in a very unhealthy relationship, theirs was a downward spiral of laudanum and alcohol. Victorian norms frowned upon marriage beneath ones social standard. Thus, Rossetti willingly lived with Lizzie, keeping her as a mistress, but hid her from his family.

When philandering Rossetti strayed into the arms of two of his models, namely Jane Burden Morris and Fanny Cornforth, Lizzie cunningly manipulated Rossetti with her self-imposed illness.

While at times the writing seemed to drag, this is a well researched and interesting snap shot of the Victorian era and the incredible art that was produced during the time. show less

A Christmas Carol has been my favorite book since childhood. Something about the images of Cratchit skipping home to be with his family and Scrooge skulking along the darkened streets seeing ghostly funeral carriages and his dead partner just created such magic in my imagination. I have reread the book many times, watched many movies based on the story and enjoyed multiple theater productions (except the one I'd really really really love to see.....Patrick's Stewart's one man show as show more Scrooge). I love this book. I love its message. I love its humor. I love its dark portrait of the cruelty of man and the struggle for joy to remain where hope is fading. But most of all, I think I revere the message that redemption is possible. If even the most unemotional, greedy and covetous old geezer can be turned into a generous, happy and joyful person.....then all of us have a chance, right?

I have a degree in literature. I read every novel, every short story, every grocery list Dickens ever wrote and was forced to expound voluminously on the merits or disappointments of each. It wasn't like when I was growing up and enjoyed reading about Oliver Twist and the rest of his scores of characters just for the joy of reading. As an adult I had to read, examine and dissolve my brain into the story. It's a much more dismal trip when it's done for learning rather than imagination. Dickens' writing is dark, gloomy and mostly depressing....usually with some happy twist at the end, for a main character at least. Most side characters get left chin deep in their own mess or dead. As an adult A Christmas Carol still shone bright through the darkness for me. A beacon among the other writings of Dickens. It has the most joy, the most hope and the most kindness of anything I was (forced) required to read from Dickens. A classic book that can withstand the requirements of higher learning and adulting is truly a classic book. :) And it's still my favorite. That must be distinctly understood, or nothing wondrous can come of the book review I am about to relate.

Dickens and Christmas. I knew I was going to love this book before I even started reading. And I wasn't disappointed.

This book is a wonderful mix of information about Dickens' life, Christmas traditions in his lifetime, and impressions of the holiday from his personal writings and novels. It also includes snippets from newspaper articles from the time, biographical information from family letters and his daughter's book. Everything from Twelfth Night cakes to house parties. :) I understand much more about how Dickens' rough childhood, his life experiences and his anger at how the poor were treated colored his writing, but yet made him love the Christmas season. And he made others love it, too.

Wonderful book!! Well-written, interesting and enjoyable to read! I loved how the book didn't focus only on A Christmas Carol but also included his Christmas stories and mentions of the holiday season from his other books as well. Quotes from his personal correspondence, diaries and family writings were wonderful to read. I didn't realize his daughter wrote a biography of her father in the late 1800s. I need to find a copy of that book, or a scan online, and read it. :)

I read an advance copy for this review, but I will be buying a copy for my keeper shelf. Beautiful book!

God bless us..every one! show less

Charles Dickens is the great great great grandfather of author Lucinda Hawksley. I discovered Hawksley on social media and learned about her newest book Dickens and Christmas. I knew I had to read it!

A Christmas Carol has been a favorite story since Third Grade when I was Martha in a elementary school play. I memorized all the lines by heart watching rehearsals.

Our school play of A Christmas Carol, 1962
Growing up I watched every movie version every year. Later my husband and I read the story show more out loud and together watched our favorite movie versions. (I even wrote a paper about A Christmas Carol for my Studies in the Victorican Age course at university!)

Dickens and Christmas is a biographical history of Christmas in Dickens's personal and professional life, and a social history of the celebration's evolution in England in the Victorian Age. The celebration underwent a huge transformation to become the holiday we know today. We learn about the Twelfth Night celebration of Dickens's youth and the joyful celebrations he shared with his family.

Hawksley draws from writings by family members, letters, and the Christmas texts to create a vivid portrait of Dickens as family , writer, and social reformer.

Few readers today know about Dickens's other best-selling Christmas stories. They were so popular that he was required to write a new one every year, which became a source of great stress, requiring six months work while also writing his novels. The early novellas became short stories published in his magazines, Household Words and All the Year Round.

One of the aspects of the Christmas stories I love best of all is Dickens's desire to improve social conditions for the poor and most vulnerable in society. Dickens was a 'resistance' writer of his time, intending to bring awareness and sow seeds for legal and social change. I

Because of Dickens's Christmas writings, the season has become one of charity and good will.

God bless us, every one!

I received a free ebook from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review. show less