Mr. Dickens And His Carol

Mr. Dickens and His Carol is a 2017 historical fiction novel written by Samantha Silva. The novel depicts Charles Dickens’s journey of finding the right inspiration to write A Christmas Carol. The novel also explores how this creative journey transforms him as a person and helps him to heal his strained family relationships and friendships as well as his own trauma. Ultimately, he regains his appreciation for the Christmas spirit while befriending and forming a new bond with the kind and mysterious Eleanor Lovejoy, who becomes his artistic inspiration.

This study guide refers to the 2017 Flatiron Books e-book edition.

Content Warning: The novel contains depictions of classism, stalking, and mentions of forced imprisonment. It also describes relationships that could be interpreted as toxic.

Plot Summary

Charles Dickens writes his latest Martin Chuzzlewit story while his wife Catherine is in labor. When his publishers, Chapman and Hall, visit, they tell him that Martin Chuzzlewit is severely underperforming, so they tell him that he must write a Christmas book to avoid any deductions in his pay. Dickens refuses and goes for a walk to collect himself.