The Man Who Invented Christmas!

Welcome to a SPECIAL EDITION of the Piece of Advice Newsletter!

Good morning! Today, we’re looking into the amazing book; “The Man Who Invented Christmas” by Les Standiford, who I was lucky enough to ask a few questions to! If you haven’t yet seen the film adaptation, I highly recommend it! Especially during this time of year!

When author and historian Les Standiford set out to write “The Man Who Invented Christmas” in 2008, he wasn’t just revisiting the familiar story of “A Christmas Carol”; he was uncovering the tale of how Charles Dickens saved both his career and, in many ways, the modern celebration of Christmas itself. At the time Dickens wrote his holiday classic in 1843, Christmas was a fading tradition in Victorian England, more about church than cheer. Standiford’s lively account traced how one struggling writer, facing financial ruin and dwindling popularity, poured his desperation and hope into a story that would forever change the season.

The book paints a vivid picture of Dickens’s predicament. With his last few novels underperforming and his finances collapsing, Dickens conceived “A Christmas Carol” in a feverish six-week burst of creativity. Against the advice of publishers, he decided to self-finance the book’s release; overseeing its design, illustrations, and production in time for the holiday market. The gamble paid off: the book sold out its first printing in days, earned him critical acclaim, and helped revive the festive traditions we now take for granted, from family gatherings to gift-giving. Standiford argues that Dickens didn’t just write a story; he reshaped the holiday spirit.

The story of how “A Christmas Carol” came to life proved irresistible to filmmakers. In 2017, director Bharat Nalluri brought Standiford’s book to the screen with “The Man Who Invented Christmas”, starring Dan Stevens as Dickens, Christopher Plummer as Scrooge, and Jonathan Pryce as Dickens’s father. The film blended biography with whimsy, dramatizing how Dickens’s real-life struggles and imagination fused into the tale that continues to define Christmas. Though modest at the box office, it earned praise for its charm, wit, and heart, and introduced a new audience to the story behind the story.

Today, both Standiford’s book and its film adaptation hold a special place in the holiday canon. They remind us that one man’s desperate creative gamble not only resurrected his career but also re-enchanted a world with the values of generosity and compassion. Much like the story it celebrates, “The Man Who Invented Christmas” has become a seasonal tradition for readers and viewers alike; proof that the holiday spirit often comes from the unlikeliest of places.

Bonus Questions:

Giancarlo: Where did your fascination with Charles Dickens begin?

Les: When I read “A Tale of Two Cities in High School.

Giancarlo: What made you want to write “The Man Who Invented Christmas”?

Les: I didn’t think many people knew that the most popular novel ever written almost didn’t get published.

Giancarlo: Did you enjoy the film based on your book?

Les: Very much. I think Christopher Plummer is the best Scrooge ever, and that the invented character of the young nanny is wonderful!

Piece Of Advice:

Giancarlo: What is this best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

Les: Follow your heart in all things.

Check out the book: https://a.co/d/ib4suoF

Thank you for reading! Have an amazing day and we will catch you again soon!

-Giancarlo