The Man Who Invented Christmas: How Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol Rescued His Career and Revived Our Holiday Spirits

by Les Standiford
The Man Who Invented Christmas: How Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol Rescued His Career and Revived Our Holiday Spirits cover
Good Books rating 3.83
Biography and Memoir
Technical
  • ID: 177
  • Added: 2025-09-03
  • Updated: 2025-09-03
  • Publisher: Crown
  • Published: 2008-01-01
  • Reviews: 3
Reviews
barnesandnoble.com · Unknown · 2025-09-18
intriguing 3.50

The reviewer discusses how Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol' has had a lasting impact on popular culture, influencing everything from holiday traditions to language. They also explore the historical context of Christmas celebrations and the role Dickens played in shaping modern perceptions of the holiday.

The reviewer delves into the enduring influence of Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol,' noting how its characters and themes have become ingrained in popular culture. They highlight the novel's impact on holiday traditions, such as the shift from goose to turkey as a festive meal, and the introduction of a jolly St. Nick. The reviewer also contextualizes Dickens' work within the broader cultural shifts of the 19th century, including the secularization of Christmas and the role of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in popularizing the Christmas tree. While acknowledging Dickens' significant contribution, the reviewer dismisses the notion that he single-handedly invented Christmas, attributing the holiday's evolution to a combination of cultural and historical factors.

Quick quotes

    The Man Who Invented Christmas is a good title, too catchy to resist, perhaps, as Standiford admits that the public's embrace of Dickens's short novel is but one evidence of the 19th century's changing attitude toward Christmas.

    A writer and his era's zeitgeist may be animated by the same energy and faith, as Peter Ackroyd observes in his 1990 biography of Scrooge's creator, but the idea of Dickens's responsibility for what has become an orgy of spending is one he dismisses as humbuggery.

    Scrooge and his edifying ghosts are so much a part of Christmas that the idea their creator might actually have invented the holiday as we know it is neither new nor original to Les Standiford.

app.thestorygraph.com · Unknown · 2025-09-18
enlightening 4.50

The Man Who Invented Christmas by Les Standiford offers an enlightening look at the background of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, exploring Dickens' life, writing process, and the cultural context of Christmas during the Victorian era. The reviewer found the book highly educational and enjoyable, recommending it to those who love the holiday season and Dickens' work.

The Man Who Invented Christmas by Les Standiford provides a fascinating exploration of the story behind Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. The reviewer found the book to be highly educational, offering insights into Dickens' life, his writing process, and the cultural significance of Christmas during the Victorian era. Standiford's account is praised for its ability to entertain and educate simultaneously, making it a great companion piece to Dickens' classic tale. The reviewer particularly enjoyed learning about the evolution of Christmas traditions and how Dickens' story contributed to the holiday's modern celebrations. They also appreciated the book's short chapters and the wealth of interesting information it provides, making it a great read for those interested in the context and background of A Christmas Carol.

Quick quotes

    Standiford uses this contrast when discussing the creation of A Christmas Carol, which would not be as long as these other pieces, but had to be completed over a shorter time period.

    While there are portions of the book that are quasi-textbook, the information garnered from the pages of Standiford’s book is second to none.

    Kudos, Mr. Standiford, for a wonderful piece that entertained and educated in equal measure.

goodreads.com · Unknown · 2025-09-18
informative 3.50

The book provides extensive context on Dickens' professional life and the publishing industry during the Victorian era, but some readers found it lacking in personal details about Dickens' family life. The reviewer enjoyed learning about the cultural context of 'A Christmas Carol' and its impact on Christmas traditions, but felt the author was overly favorable towards Dickens.

The book delves deeply into the professional and creative development of Charles Dickens, particularly his role in the nascent book publishing, distribution, and sales business. It offers a wealth of historical context about Dickens' relationships with publishers and the business practices of the time. However, some readers felt that the book lacked depth in exploring Dickens' personal life and family dynamics. The reviewer appreciated the insights into the cultural context of 'A Christmas Carol' and its influence on modern Christmas traditions, such as the ubiquity of the story, the dominance of turkey for dinner, Christmas cards, and trees. They also noted that the author seemed overly favorable towards Dickens, sometimes to the point of excusing his behavior. Overall, the book is informative and engaging, but it may not be as compelling as other biographies of Dickens.

Quick quotes

    He proclaimed his belief that with the pursuit and accumulation of knowledge, man had the capacity to change himself and his lot in life. With learning, said Dickens, a man “acquires for himself that property of soul which has in all times upheld struggling men of every degree.” The more a man learns, Dickens said, “the better, gentler, kinder man he must become. When he knows how much great minds have suffered for the truth in every age and time.. he will become more tolerant of other men’s belief in all matters, and will incline more leniently to their sentiments when they chance to differ from his own.” (p 64)

    And, for the most part, the only place where readers consume fictions that do not stir their emotions is in a high school or college classroom. (p 224)

    It's an interesting holiday read (and nicely printed in the hardback or paperback edition), though I agree with some of the criticism that it can be a bit dry in parts.

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