What Christmas is as We Grow Older by Charles Dickens

Author: Charles Dickens | Published: 1851

What Christmas is as We Grow Older Synopsis

"What Christmas is as We Grow Older" is an essay by English author Charles Dickens, published in 1851 in Household Words magazine. In this story, Dickens reflects on how Christmas is perceived and experienced differently as one age. He emphasizes the paradoxical nature of the holiday season, as it brings both happiness and sadness, reminding us of the fleeting nature of time and the inevitable loss of innocence and joy that frequently accompanies maturity.

As the story unfolds, the narrator ponders the gradual fading of Christmas's spellbinding charm and magic amidst life's mounting obligations and trials. He notes how the festive season's once captivating and exhilarating sights and sounds could gradually diminish and lose significance as time passes.

About Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens is one of the most renowned authors of English literature. Born in Portsmouth, England, on February 7, 1812, Charles John Huffam Dickens was the second of eight children from a lower-middle-class family. At twelve, his father had been imprisoned for debt, and Dickens began working long hours as a factory worker to help support his family. Despite these harsh conditions, he became well-educated through self-study and worked as a freelance journalist.

In 1836 he published his first novel, The Pickwick Papers, which skyrocketed him into fame as an author. This was quickly followed by further successes such as Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, and A Christmas Carol, which earned him recognition for his works depicting Victorian society. His novels are known for their social commentary on poverty and crime that were so prevalent during the 19th century period in England. Find out more about Charles Dickens at sevenov.com.