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The Life of Our Lord: Written for His Children During the Years 1846 to 1849
Charles Dickens , and Gerald Charles Dickens Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster ProductGroup: Book Binding: Hardcover Similar Items:
ASIN: 0684865378 |
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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
Spiritual Side of a Genius.......2001-11-12
"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
Dickens as a dad.......2001-08-31
A tender treasure.......2000-07-14
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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 ASIN: B000ONBRSC |
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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 ASIN: B000KRX68G |
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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 ASIN: B000KJBBZ4 |
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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 ASIN: B00085GHQ8 |
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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 ASIN: B000NYIEH4 |
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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 ASIN: B000UZTO34 |
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J.D. Robb Manufacturer: Berkley ProductGroup: Book Binding: Mass Market Paperback Similar Items:
ASIN: 0425210626 |
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Interlude in Death.......2007-09-22
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Excellent.......2007-07-19
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J.D. Robb Manufacturer: Brilliance Audio on CD Unabridged ProductGroup: Book Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
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Kurt R. A. Giambastiani Manufacturer: Fairwood Press ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Similar Items: ASIN: 0974657336 |
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Suspense, Science, Mystery, and Romance.......2004-09-09
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Aging: Fight it w/ the Blood Type Diet (Eat Right 4 Your Type Health Library)
Peter J. D'Adamo , and Catherine Whitney Manufacturer: Putnam Adult ProductGroup: Book Binding: Hardcover Similar Items:
ASIN: 0399153101 |
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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.Customer Reviews:
Tough to eat when you are aging.......2006-07-04
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