The Life of Our Lord: Written for His Children During the Years 1846 to 1849

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Charles Dickens wrote The Life of Our Lord around the same time he was finishing up David Copperfield, but to readers raised on a diet of Dickensian wit and indignation, his rendering of Jesus' life may come as something of a surprise. You won't find even the shadow of a Micawber or a Mrs. Gamp anywhere in this brief volume; no Pecksniffs, Podsnaps, or Mulberries, either. Instead, Dickens approaches his subject with simple reverence, retelling the New Testament in a manner suitable for his own young children--who were, in fact, his only intended audience. Indeed, he strictly forbade publication of The Life during his lifetime and begged his sister to make sure that they "would never even hand the manuscript, or a copy of it, to anyone to take out of the house." It wasn't until the death of Dickens's last living son that the manuscript was finally published in 1934. Though he left his trademark comedy behind, Dickens's liberal social conscience is still evident in what he chooses to emphasize about Jesus: "My Dear Children," he begins,

I am very anxious that you should know something about the History of Jesus Christ. For everybody ought to know about Him. No one ever lived who was so good, so kind, so gentle, and so sorry for all people who did wrong, or were in any way ill or miserable, as He was.

This is a simple, straightforward account of Jesus' life and teachings, with an occasional touch of whimsy: "You never saw a locust, because they belong to that country near Jerusalem, which is a great way off. So do camels, but I think you have seen a camel. At all events, they are brought over here, sometimes; and if you would like to see one, I will show you one." Occasionally, Victorian attitudes and prejudices creep through--Dickens writes that the Jewish Sabbath was Sunday, that Jews were "very ignorant and passionate," and also that "they were very proud, and believed that no people were good but themselves." Fortunately, such comments are few and far between, and for the most part the author focuses on the miracles Jesus performed and on the lessons in charity, forgiveness, and compassion that Christians can take away from them. This may not be among the greatest of Charles Dickens's literary accomplishments, but it is certainly one of his most heartfelt. --Sheila Bright

Book Description

Charles Dickens's other Christmas classic, with a new introduction by Dickens's great-great-grandson, Gerald Charles Dickens.

Charles Dickens wrote The Life of Our Lord during the years 1846-1849, just about the time he was completing David Copperfield. In this charming, simple retelling of the life of Jesus Christ, adapted from the Gospel of St. Luke, Dickens hoped to teach his young children about religion and faith. Since he wrote it exclusively for his children, Dickens refused to allow publication.

For eighty-five years the manuscript was guarded as a precious family secret, and it was handed down from one relative to the next. When Dickens died in 1870, it was left to his sister-in-law, Georgina Hogarth. From there it fell to Dickens's son, Sir Henry Fielding Dickens, with the admonition that it should not be published while any child of Dickens lived.

Just before the 1933 holidays, Sir Henry, then the only living child of Dickens, died, leaving his father's manuscript to his wife and children. He also bequeathed to them the right to make the decision to publish The Life of Our Lord. By majority vote, Sir Henry's widow and children decided to publish the book in London. In 1934, Simon & Schuster published the first American edition, which became one of the year's biggest bestsellers.

Customer Reviews:

The Life of Our Lord : Written for His Children During the Years 1846 to 1849.......2005-09-28

I liked it because you can tell that it wasn't proofed and edited before printing. It gave me an insight to Charles Dickens that I had not had before. It would be best not to sit down to "read" the book in one setting. Really enjoyed it.

Spiritual Side of a Genius.......2001-11-12

"[A Christmas Carol] is Dickens's widely acclaimed masterpiece of Christmas. But his The Life of Our Lord, written in a very personal way, without adornment or flights of fancy, and written for the children he loved, carries with it not only a beautiful narrative but a compelling admonition: 'Remember!--It is Christianity TO DO GOOD always--even to those who do evil to us.'"

"Such is the simple telling of a beloved author. In his time and during the generations that have followed, his great novels have been read by millions upon millions. But his story of Jesus' life, written with Dickens's own pen, and without editing of any kind, was for 85 years a family treasure and secret. Printed with all of the editorial mistakes of the original writing, it has delighted many others beyond his family."

President Hinckley, Ensign, December 1994

I have heard Pres. Hinckley, world leader of the Church of JEsus Christ of Latter-day Saints, talk about this book, and believing that there is some merit in reading the same books that the president of the Church reads, I picked it up.

This book may be considered a follow-up to his immortal classic "A Christmas Carol," where, instead of an allegory dealing with three spirits working on the Scrooge-of-all-Scrooges, he retells the story of the life of our Lord.

The book was geared for his children, so it is a quite easy read. Having read "A Tale of Two Cities," "Hard Times," and "A Christmas Carol," I was impressed with Dickens's flexibility. In fact, it is almost as if we are reading a transcript of a fireside chat. So this book is very readable for anyone of any age. It would be an ideal gift for a child between five and ten years old, or helpful to someone with a learning/reading disability. You could conceivably kill two Goliaths with one stone: get them familiar with the life of the Savior AND expose them to great literature!

The only drawback with the book is the theology, but that is understandable since we are of different faiths. Dickens focuses mainly on the ethical aspects of Christ's life, which is good, but incomplete. Another presdeint of the Church of Jesus Christ, President Howard W. Hunter, once gave a talk called, "Ethics Alone is not Sufficient." If you remember in "A Christmas Carol," Scrooge makes a conversion to ethical ideal, but not a conversion to Christ. He is going in the right direction, but not far enough. But it is a great book nonetheless.

The cover is stellar! It looks as important as its contents. The internal organizing and lay are also up to the stature of the author. It is nice to see that books are returning to their former glory of being both functional and beautiful. It would makes a great gift book, or a beautiful addition to any Postum table.

This book had been submerged for a long time due to Dickens's desire to keep his beliefs uncommercialized. I am glad that his estate has published this book, so we see the complete man.

A sweet little book.......2001-09-17

Though not entirely scripturally acurate, this is a nice little book. Read Matthew, Mark, Luke and John first so that you can catch the errors in Dickens story before you read it to your children.

Dickens as a dad.......2001-08-31

This is a wonderful summary of the Gospels by Charles Dickens. Basically he tells the story with a few of his own instructive comments inserted for the benefit of his children's benefit. It was never pulished in his lifetime and he never really intended for it to be published and in part because of this it is quite different from his other works. It is a easy and quick read (very different for his other works). The reader is also given great insight into the character of Charles Dickens particularly his love for the Savior and his children. The work is both touching and warm hearted.

A tender treasure.......2000-07-14

This slight book is Charles Dickens' written interpertation of the Gospels, a gift ment for his children. It was only to be published after his death. In the retelling of Christ's life Dickens gives his children the most precious gift...his testimony. This is a treasure of a book,a witness to the beliefs Dickens held dear.

The Life of Our Lord written for his children during the years 1846 to 1849

Average customer rating:

The Life of Our Lord written for his children during the years 1846 to 1849
Charles Dickens
Manufacturer: Simon and Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

The Life of Our Lord, Written for His Children During the Years 1846 to 1849, and Now First Published

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The Life of Our Lord, Written for His Children During the Years 1846 to 1849, and Now First Published
Charles DICKENS
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

The Life of Our Lord. Written for His Children During the Years 1846 to 1849 By Charles Dickens and Now First Published

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The Life of Our Lord. Written for His Children During the Years 1846 to 1849 By Charles Dickens and Now First Published
Charles Dickens
Manufacturer: Simon and Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

The life of Our Lord;: Written for his children during the years 1846-1849,

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The life of Our Lord;: Written for his children during the years 1846-1849,
Charles Dickens
Manufacturer: Simon and Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

The LIFE Of OUR LORD. Written during the Years 1846 - 1849 By Charles Dickens for his Children And now first published.

Average customer rating:

The LIFE Of OUR LORD. Written during the Years 1846 - 1849 By Charles Dickens for his Children And now first published.
Charles [1812 - 1870]. Dickens
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster,
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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The Life of Our Lord: Written for his Children During the Years 1846-1849
Charles DICKENS
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Customer Reviews:

Interlude in Death.......2007-09-22

I was somewhat disappointed in the book because it has less than 100 pages, but it was delivered as promised.

This is a rip off.......2007-09-15

This book has only 88 pages but was portrayed as a novel, rather than the novella that it truly is. I returned it unread so as to get my money back. If Amazon wants to keep their customers happy, they should practice more truth in their book summaries. I was completely disappointed with Amazon as well as with the author (why collude in such a sham?). Better to pay full price at Borders than to go through the hassle of a return.

Good, but short.......2007-09-11

I really love J D Robb and this series but this one was way to short. Still a very good read.

Good Reading.......2007-07-19

From the start, I knew this book was originally part of an anthology from the "Out of this World" series Out of this World. I still say even 88 pages of a JD Robb story is worth the price. In this installment, Eve has been given orders by her Commander to attend an off-planet conference and give a talk on homicide. The conference of course is held at the Olympus Resort, one of Roarke's many properties, and most of the gang from Cop Central are in attendance. Seems the big attraction, one Commander Douglas R. Skinner, a police veteran with a 50-year, spotless record is very interested in Eve, mostly because he wants to take her husband down for all the evil doings he had committed in his former life. When Eve is approached by Commander Skinner, she does what you would expect; she tells him to get lost! So begins the adventure of a settling of scores between the police commander and our favorite lieutenant, going head-to-head to balance the scales of justice. Whether you purchase the book by itself for $2.99 + tax or buy it as part of the "Out of this World" series of stories, it IS worth the money!

Excellent.......2007-07-19

Nora Roberts Rocks! what more can I say. Lt. Eve Dallas makes the best protagonist.

Midnight in Death/Interlude in Death 2-in-1 Collection (In Death)

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Midnight in Death/Interlude in Death 2-in-1 Collection (In Death)
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ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

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Book Description

Midnight in Death:
Nora Roberts, writing as J. D. Robb, propels you into the darkest night of Lieutenant Eve Dallas's life - when a killer comes to call…Eve's name has made a Christmas list, but it's not for being naughty or nice. It's for putting a serial killer behind bars. Now the escaped madman has her in his sights. With her husband, Roarke, at her side, Eve must stop the man from exacting his bloody vengeance - or die trying…

Interlude in Death:
In early spring of 2059, Lieutenant Eve Dallas is called off planet to face a grueling ordeal - giving a seminar at the largest police conference of the year, to be held in a swanky resort. Even though Eve can't quite see it that way, it's supposed to be at least partly a vacation. But work intrudes in the form of a bloody homicide, and Eve is off and running. The case is complicated by Eve's personal history with the victim - and by the killer's history with Roarke. Eve must find a way to stop the cycle of violence and revenge, and shove the past back where it belongs.

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TALES TO SEND CHILLS DOWN YOUR SPINE: Bottle of Wine; Glass Bridge; Luck is No Lady; Exit Was a Wall; Interlude for Murder; Peephole; Death Overdue; Best Friend Murder; With a Smile for the Ending; Running Man; Sparrow on a String; Man Bites Dogs
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Customer Reviews:

Suspense, Science, Mystery, and Romance.......2004-09-09

From the back cover of my new book:

In Jerusalem, city of peace and strife, three people struggle to protect their lives, their loves, and their future.

David Fineblum, son of an American senator and student of ancient languages, hears a young woman speak an ancient tongue scholars thought dead for a thousand years. Following her-and her secret-takes him deep into the world of danger and brings him face to face with the politics of the Judean Desert.

Rivka Danilovitch, a lieutenant in the Israeli military, is caught between her love for David and her duty to her country. Her superiors are not concerned for David's safety, but she is.

Ghazayil, a woman of the Sulubba Bedouin, holds the secret that draws David deep into the wilds of Judea, but it is not the secret he thinks it is. What she finally reveals threatens to shake not only his world, but the world at large.

With this book, Kurt R. A. Giambastiani, author of the acclaimed Fallen Cloud Saga, now turns his talents to the secretive and volatile Middle East, creating a tale of love, intrigue, and possibility.

Book Description

From the author of the 2 million-copy-selling Eat Right 4 (for) Your Type series, which has helped millions of people lose weight and stay healthy using the Blood Type Diet(r), come two new books to help fight the effects of aging and manage the symptoms of menopause.

Having written books specifically geared toward fighting cancer, diabetes, arthritis, cardiovascular disease, allergies, and fatigue, Dr. Peter J. D'Adamo adds two new volumes to the Eat Right 4 (for) Your Type Health Library. This time he zeros in on aging, addressing the issues of brain decline, hormonal deficiency and loss of vitality, and menopause, focusing on treating hot flashes, loss of libido, osteoporosis, and mood changes.

Dr. D'Adamo offers new information (not included in any of the other Eat Right books) individualized for the four blood types. In addition to the standard food categories of the Blood Type Diet®-Beneficial, Neutral, and Avoid-he provides a fourth category, Super Beneficial, which emphasizes foods that have medicinal properties that help fight the symptoms and signs of aging and menopause.

Self-assessment tests that help determine your status and measure your progress on the diet are included, as well as supplement, lifestyle, and exercise protocols tailored to each blood type. There has never been a better arsenal nor an easier tool for using blood type to fight disease and promote health and longevity.

Customer Reviews:

Tough to eat when you are aging.......2006-07-04

We have found it quite easy to acclimate to the original Blood Type diet regime. We found alternatives to what we had been eating and feeling better is a great incentive to keep it up. BUT - this book changed so much of what we thought was 'okay'. It was like having a completely new set of rules.
If you are a Blood Type O - give up all that is sugar, including honey. The only way to get anything sweet, and stay on the diet, is fruit. What was 'okay' on the regular 'O' diet are now off limits.
We will continue to eat sensibly and increase/alter our supplement intake, but that is it for now.

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