Legacy Encore: Charles Dickens | A Very Dickens Christmas | 3
Dec 25, 2025
Explore the captivating rise of Charles Dickens as he becomes an international celebrity with A Christmas Carol. Delve into his philanthropic pursuits, including Urania Cottage for homeless women. Discover the societal pressures and personal tensions within his marriage, particularly influenced by the actress Nellie Ternan. The podcast highlights how Dickens influenced Christmas traditions and critiques Victorian societal issues in Bleak House, all while battling financial pressures and public scrutiny.
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Christmas As Social Argument
- A Christmas Carol fused social critique with festive warmth to reach the public heart instantly.
- Dickens used Christmas imagery to make poverty and reform emotionally resonant for readers.
Documentary Horror Became Fictional Fire
- A 1842 Royal Commission on child labour deeply influenced Dickens' portrayal of suffering.
- He transformed documentary horror into a supernatural narrative that publicised social abuses.
Dickens As Party Magician
- Afua describes Dickens rehearsing magic for his children's Twelfth Night party at Devonshire Terrace.
- He performed tricks like turning bran into a guinea pig and boiling a plum pudding in a hat to delight guests.