Dickensian Christmas
The Official Magazine Britain|November 2016

Don’t be a Scrooge! Celebrate the spirit and former haunts of Charles Dickens, the Victorian author who shaped our vision of the modern festive season.

- Richard Jones
Dickensian Christmas

On the evening of October 5 1843, Charles Dickens took his place on the stage of the Athenaeum in Manchester – a society for the “advancement and diffusion of knowledge”, which had been founded in 1837 specifically to provide a place of education and recreation for the working men and women of the city. However, thanks to a recent economic recession, the club was heavily in debt and Dickens was about to give a speech that, it was hoped, would help raise much-needed funds.

What few of that night’s audience would have realised was that Dickens himself was a troubled man. The author was 31 and, for the last seven years, the success of his books such as The Pickwick Papers, Oliver Twist and Nicholas Nickleby had seen him rise to become, arguably, the second most famous Victorian, behind only the Queen herself. However, Dickens’ fortunes had taken a downturn in 1843. His latest work, Martin Chuzzlewit, had seen disappointing sales; his wife, Catherine, was pregnant with their fifth child; and he himself, just like the noble institution he was about to address, was heavily in debt.

But, as he rose to his feet that night, Dickens put his personal troubles behind him and, over the course of 12 or so minutes, dazzled his audience with a speech that extolled the virtues of the educational opportunities afforded by the Athenaeum (in a building that today houses part of Manchester Art Gallery).

His speech brought his audience to their feet and, with the applause still ringing in his ears, he headed back through the streets of the city to the house of his sister, Fanny, with whom he was staying. As he walked, an idea began to formulate; an idea for a book that, he hoped, might rescue his ailing fortunes. A book that would come out in time for, and be sold specifically for, Christmas.

この蚘事は The Official Magazine Britain の November 2016 版に掲茉されおいたす。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トラむアルを開始しお、䜕千もの厳遞されたプレミアム ストヌリヌ、9,000 以䞊の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしおください。

この蚘事は The Official Magazine Britain の November 2016 版に掲茉されおいたす。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トラむアルを開始しお、䜕千もの厳遞されたプレミアム ストヌリヌ、9,000 以䞊の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしおください。

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE BRITAINのその他の蚘事すべお衚瀺
Take The High Road
The Official Magazine Britain

Take The High Road

The North Coast 500 is an epic route that takes you past some of the country’s most spellbinding scenery

time-read
5 分  |
Britain 2021 Guide
Where To Stay In 2021
The Official Magazine Britain

Where To Stay In 2021

Whether it’s a country house escape, a rustic bolthole or a sophisticated city stay, you’ll find your perfect getaway on these pages

time-read
10+ 分  |
Britain 2021 Guide
The EMPEROR'S ISLE
The Official Magazine Britain

The EMPEROR'S ISLE

Tresco was once a treeless and windswept island, the haunt of smugglers. Dramatically transformed by one man’s vision, it is now one of Britain’s most beautiful spots

time-read
6 分  |
Britain 2021 Guide
Hidden Cornwall
The Official Magazine Britain

Hidden Cornwall

Discover the beautiful, beguiling and rugged land of West Penwith in the far reaches of Cornwall

time-read
6 分  |
Britain 2021 Guide
Wonders of Wales
The Official Magazine Britain

Wonders of Wales

With its wild cliffs, pretty coves and puffins galore, St Brides Bay holds the best of Pembrokeshire

time-read
5 分  |
Britain 2021 Guide
Yorkshire's MOORS & SHORES
The Official Magazine Britain

Yorkshire's MOORS & SHORES

Equal parts mystical moor and secluded seashore, the Yorkshire coast beats some of Britain’s more traditional summer destinations hands down

time-read
5 分  |
Britain 2021 Guide
PEAK PERFORMANCE
The Official Magazine Britain

PEAK PERFORMANCE

From heathery moors to rolling hills and underground caverns, the Peak District is home to some of the most majestic landscapes in the country

time-read
5 分  |
Britain 2021 Guide
Culture CAPITAL
The Official Magazine Britain

Culture CAPITAL

After a year of stop-start openings, London's museums are welcoming visitors back in 2021 with an array of blockbuster exhibitions

time-read
4 分  |
Britain 2021 Guide
HISTORIC NORFOLK
The Official Magazine Britain

HISTORIC NORFOLK

Spend time exploring this peaceful county, whose stately homes are a grand counterpoint to its unadorned rural landscapes

time-read
6 分  |
Britain 2021 Guide
1066 COUNTRY
The Official Magazine Britain

1066 COUNTRY

England’s sunny south coast has a rich heritage, harbouring ancient castles and evocative landscapes that tell the story of the Battle of Hastings and beyond

time-read
7 分  |
Britain 2021 Guide