The Life of Our Lord

This book, the last work of Charles Dickens to be published, is peculiarly personal to the writer. The manuscript was entirely handwritten and kept in his home solely for the use of his own children. It was never intended for publication, but rather written in a form which Dickens thought most suitable for his own youngsters, and they might have a permanent record of their father's thoughts.

After his death the manuscript passed into the possession of his sister-in-law, Miss Georgina Hogarth, and when she died in 1917 it passed to Sir Henry Fielding Dickens, who was Charles Dickens' son. Sir Henry was averse to publishing the manuscript in his own lifetime, but saw no reason why it should be withheld from the world's children after his death.

The Life of Our Lord first appeared in serial form in 1934. In this book, Charles Dickens tells the story of the life of Jesus Christ in a beautiful and simple way, so that it can be understood by young children. He combines his own skillful wordsmanship with a deep understanding of how the child's mind works. He is at pains to explain words which might be unfamiliar, but which he wishes his children to learn, such as parable and Saviour. He also pauses to describe locusts and camels and other creatures which his London-bred children might not recognise.

Particularly impressive is his retelling and interpretation of the parables, which he makes accessible in language which today's child will easily understand. The world's most beloved stories, retold by the world's greatest storyteller, to the people he loved the most.