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God Bless Us, Every One!: The Story Behind a Christmas Carol
As Charles Dickens dipped his pen and began to write the classic tale A Christmas Carol in the autumn of 1843, the spirit
of the story captured his heart and mind in an extraordinary
way. Dwindling sales of his previous books had resulted in a
desperate financial situation for Dickens, who had used much of
his income to support worthy causes and needy family members.
But the book which he had intended as a quick solution to his
problems turned out to be much, much more.
This beautifully illustrated volume tells the story behind the
writing of Dickens's most famous work and reveals how he
discovered the spirit of Christmas for himself with a little
help from his own literary characters. Originally presented
by acclaimed British actor John Rhys-Davies at the Mormon
Tabernacle Choir's 2013 Christmas concert, the book also
includes a DVD with footage from the event.
of the story captured his heart and mind in an extraordinary
way. Dwindling sales of his previous books had resulted in a
desperate financial situation for Dickens, who had used much of
his income to support worthy causes and needy family members.
But the book which he had intended as a quick solution to his
problems turned out to be much, much more.
This beautifully illustrated volume tells the story behind the
writing of Dickens's most famous work and reveals how he
discovered the spirit of Christmas for himself with a little
help from his own literary characters. Originally presented
by acclaimed British actor John Rhys-Davies at the Mormon
Tabernacle Choir's 2013 Christmas concert, the book also
includes a DVD with footage from the event.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published September 30, 2014
46 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
November 7, 2014
This is the kind of book you get in the mail and even a plain orange-tan envelope becomes Christmas wrapping paper. The illustrations were so beautiful I was struck by the way it got me right into the spirit of things. I’m not normally the kind of person who gets into Christmas stories so easily or finds herself full of that warm and fuzzy feeling, that even reading a new book I’ve never had the pleasure of experiencing before, filled me with nostalgia. I ended up reading the hardback before checking out the absolutely amazing disc that came with it and featured captivating narration from John Rhys-Davies and beautiful music. I’ve been a fan of The Christmas Carol since before I could remember and this hardcover and disc paring offers a unique and beautiful experience. Beautifully done and a perfect first Christmas read of the year!
October 31, 2014
I feel like I am giving a lot of 5 stars lately, but I do think I have come across some amazing books, to me anyway. This picture book is the text of the Mormon Tabernacle Christmas program from last year. I love "The Chritmas Carol" and loved this story. The circumstances that are explained in the book about Charles Dickens at the time he was writing this great work, is true. Most of the story is pure invention, but very well done. This book comes with a DVD and it is stellar. The story is read by John Rhys-Davies and is acted out incredibly well with wonderful special effects and the stage scenery is top notch. The famous Mormon Tabernacle choir sings throughout and it is beautiful. How I love Christmas books and this is a great addition to my ever expanding collection;)
December 31, 2014
A charming look at the writing of A Christmas Carol, and the circumstances around it. It was fanciful and fun, but it borrowed heavily from the original. I actually think a bit more real facts about Dickens' family would not go amiss. This was taken from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert in 2013, featuring John Rhys-Davies as the narrator. The concert was utterly wonderful, and I'm pleased that the book comes with a DVD of highlights of the concert to share with my children.
December 28, 2020
Really cute Christmas story with beautiful illustrations!
December 7, 2018
If I'm being fair, I've to say I didn't love this book. I love A Christmas Carol and I was curious to know about the story behind its writing, but something here was missing for me and let's be honest: when there are problems, like financial problems, it isn't so easy to be extremely cheerful. I know the importance of Christmas, but I also aknowledge Dickens' concerns. Furthermore I would have liked if the part about his speaking in Manchester have been added here in the story and not only in the summary at the end.
But the illustrations are quite nice and the choir's voice too.
But the illustrations are quite nice and the choir's voice too.
December 28, 2018
Dickens' A Christmas Carol has always been one of my husband's favorite books, so I bought this for him and we read it this year. It's a beautiful book and does a good job re-telling the classic and important story, giving an imagined reason for Dickens writing the story. I'm pretty sure we enjoy it more as adults than our kids enjoyed it.
December 22, 2021
Half history-biography, half fantastical dream, this picture book is a story about Charles Dickens when he wrote A Christmas Carol. The author imagines Dickens going through a similar nighttime Christmas ghost experience to Scrooge's. Worth a read if you are a lover of A Christmas Carol, and the illustrations are lovely.
August 5, 2024
It's a fair introduction to the behind-the-scenes of how A Christmas Carol came about. But the ties to John Rhy-Davies and the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square really elevate it, as do the rich illustrations.
December 19, 2024
“I was reluctant to lay the manuscript aside even for a moment. I wept and laughed and wept again. The spirit of the story captured more than my mind. It took hold of my heart and taught me what I did not know, in a most extraordinary way.”
Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
October 14, 2019
Wonderful illustrations. Nice Christmas read, but I was not impressed with the story, itself, sadly.
December 12, 2020
Interesting and fun read. Beautiful illustrations.
January 9, 2024
What a BEAUTIFUL book! Love the story and the Brandon Dorman illustrations are MARVELOUS! This is a book I might want to buy.
November 26, 2024
The story itself doesn't engage my children but they hold on through the book for the illustrations. It's almost the book version of the movie "The Man Who Invented Christmas".
February 8, 2015
I like the premise of this book - to let kids know what the story is behind this great Christmas story of Charles Dickens. It is a picture book so I assume that its target audience is children. But the author uses the old timey language of Dickens' books which will make this book very difficult for young readers, in elementary school, to understand. This is such a disappointment to me.
The book comes with a DVD that has music of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and a live play in front of the choir. They are all in period costume, it is interesting and well done. Again using language common to Dickens' time - better understood since it is people dramatizing it. We get to see the actor as Dickens flying through the air over the audience - with the ghost of Christmas present, which is fun. (The other ghosts are not present in this story.) The narrator is the author himself, John Rhys-Davies. This man must be an actor, himself. he has a very impressive voice, baritone-deep and commanding. He is outstanding as the narrator and ghost of Christmas present.
Children may find it hard to understand that this is a fictional account of what may have inspired Dickens. It does describe facts of Dickens life at the time he wrote this book. This author added in a ghost story similar to what Dickens' wrote in a Christmas Carol, just to make his book more interesting. That will be confusing for young readers. I did enjoy the book and the production on DVD. Nowhere does it tell you how long the DVD lasts - so important to teachers who would show this to a class. The DVD is about 20 minutes long. At the end of the production, you get to see the whole Mormon Tabernacle Choir, including a bell choir, sing a song. It is short, but beautiful and so impressive.
The book comes with a DVD that has music of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and a live play in front of the choir. They are all in period costume, it is interesting and well done. Again using language common to Dickens' time - better understood since it is people dramatizing it. We get to see the actor as Dickens flying through the air over the audience - with the ghost of Christmas present, which is fun. (The other ghosts are not present in this story.) The narrator is the author himself, John Rhys-Davies. This man must be an actor, himself. he has a very impressive voice, baritone-deep and commanding. He is outstanding as the narrator and ghost of Christmas present.
Children may find it hard to understand that this is a fictional account of what may have inspired Dickens. It does describe facts of Dickens life at the time he wrote this book. This author added in a ghost story similar to what Dickens' wrote in a Christmas Carol, just to make his book more interesting. That will be confusing for young readers. I did enjoy the book and the production on DVD. Nowhere does it tell you how long the DVD lasts - so important to teachers who would show this to a class. The DVD is about 20 minutes long. At the end of the production, you get to see the whole Mormon Tabernacle Choir, including a bell choir, sing a song. It is short, but beautiful and so impressive.
November 7, 2014
God Bless Us, Everyone One! is about the story behind the book A Christmas Carol and how it came to be. We do know that Charles Dickens was forever changed by the book that he wrote. The story began as a desperation to provide money for his family as his previous book sales were diminishing, but this book opened not only his eyes, but the eyes of generations after.
God Bless Us, Everyone One! is such a fun interpretation of how the story came to life for Dickens. The illustrations are beautiful and help portray the thoughts and feelings that Dickens might have had as he experienced A Christmas Carol in his own life. Almost a brief summary of the actual story of A Christmas Carol, this book is definitely something you'll want to bring out at Christmas each year to read with the family. As I read this book, I couldn't help but think about Dickens' famous work and the feelings that I feel when I hear that story. The magic and spirit of Christmas jump out at you as you learn about Dickens' background and the change that he had in his own heart. You and your family will love this book!
God Bless Us, Everyone One! is such a fun interpretation of how the story came to life for Dickens. The illustrations are beautiful and help portray the thoughts and feelings that Dickens might have had as he experienced A Christmas Carol in his own life. Almost a brief summary of the actual story of A Christmas Carol, this book is definitely something you'll want to bring out at Christmas each year to read with the family. As I read this book, I couldn't help but think about Dickens' famous work and the feelings that I feel when I hear that story. The magic and spirit of Christmas jump out at you as you learn about Dickens' background and the change that he had in his own heart. You and your family will love this book!
November 8, 2014
Who doesn't love A Christmas Carol? I do and I wasn't familiar with the story of how Charles Dickens came to write it. The account is fictionalized here, but the circumstances that led to his writing the story are true. It's a lovely story and beautifully illustrated.
I thought it would include a CD with John Rhys-Davies reading the story. Instead, a DVD is included of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's 2013 Christmas concert, which featured a dramatization of Charles Dickens' story, narrated by John Rhys-Davies. This seems to be the new norm for the choir and I should have realized it. However, the production is well done and would be a fun show to watch as a family.
The story itself is wonderful and the illustrations are gorgeous. It's not a short bedtime story, but if your family enjoys reading Christmas stories, they will enjoy this one.
Our family tradition is to read Christmas stories on Christmas Eve. Everyone shares his or her favorite Christmas story and we end with the account of Jesus' birth in the Bible. This book would be a lovely addition to that Christmas Eve tradition.
I thought it would include a CD with John Rhys-Davies reading the story. Instead, a DVD is included of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's 2013 Christmas concert, which featured a dramatization of Charles Dickens' story, narrated by John Rhys-Davies. This seems to be the new norm for the choir and I should have realized it. However, the production is well done and would be a fun show to watch as a family.
The story itself is wonderful and the illustrations are gorgeous. It's not a short bedtime story, but if your family enjoys reading Christmas stories, they will enjoy this one.
Our family tradition is to read Christmas stories on Christmas Eve. Everyone shares his or her favorite Christmas story and we end with the account of Jesus' birth in the Bible. This book would be a lovely addition to that Christmas Eve tradition.
November 7, 2014
This book is an illustration of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's Christmas program and has a DVD included with it that has features John Rhys-Davies. (I could listen to him all day long! I love his voice.) He is telling the story, but there are also people acting it out and the choir adds the music that gives it just the right emotional touch. Incredibly well done.
I loved this book. It's the "story behind The Christmas Carol," and talks about how Mr. Dickens could have felt when he realized that he was heading for a financial crisis, his books weren't selling, and his wife was about to deliver their fifth child. The illustrations are beautiful and really kept my children's interest. The story is engaging and it definitely leaves you with the spirit of Christmas.
This is a must-have for your Christmas reading this year, especially because of the DVD. I think reading this one (and watching it!) might become a Christmas tradition at our house!
Originally reviewed on http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com
I loved this book. It's the "story behind The Christmas Carol," and talks about how Mr. Dickens could have felt when he realized that he was heading for a financial crisis, his books weren't selling, and his wife was about to deliver their fifth child. The illustrations are beautiful and really kept my children's interest. The story is engaging and it definitely leaves you with the spirit of Christmas.
This is a must-have for your Christmas reading this year, especially because of the DVD. I think reading this one (and watching it!) might become a Christmas tradition at our house!
Originally reviewed on http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com
November 7, 2014
This beautiful book shares what the impetus was that lead Charles Dickens to write A Christmas Carol. While part of the book is imaginary (Dickens goes on a trip with the Ghost of Christmas Present), the ideas behind it are not. The book explores how Dickens ideas and beliefs about Christmas changed as he wrote his famous story. Being in financial difficulty he had money very much on the brain that year, but writing about Scrooge's obsession with money helped transform his own beliefs about what is most important just as it did Scrooge's. Dorman's illustrations are beautiful and showcase the story perfectly. The part of the story I found most interesting is the part where the author imagined Dickens going on a trip with his ghost character and having his eyes opened to the fact that people can enjoy Christmas without all the trappings and trimmings. This story was told as a part of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's annual Christmas concert and so a DVD of the performance of the story with John Rhys-Davies and the Choir and Orchestra is included.
March 5, 2016
The inspiration behind A Christmas Carol is "revealed" in this story of Dickens as told by John Rhys-Davies in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert.
I like John Rhys-Davies, I like the MoTab, I like Dickens, and I like A Christmas Carol, so I thought this would be the Christmas book for me, but mostly I thought it was okay. The story (while it only sort of pretends to be based on maybe perhaps sort of fact) seems like a stretch. Maybe it would mean more to me if I saw it performed live. I thought some of the illustrations were nice.
EDIT 29 December 2015: I also watched the accompanying DVD of the performance from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert. It had some kind of cool elements and audio of course, but I'm still not sold on the story. Somehow it actually made it seem kind of shallow to me, fabricated ACC parallel and all. It just didn't seem to mean anything deeper than writing a quick story to save his struggling family, which is quite counter to the purpose of A Christmas Carol, and Christmas in general. Oh well.
I like John Rhys-Davies, I like the MoTab, I like Dickens, and I like A Christmas Carol, so I thought this would be the Christmas book for me, but mostly I thought it was okay. The story (while it only sort of pretends to be based on maybe perhaps sort of fact) seems like a stretch. Maybe it would mean more to me if I saw it performed live. I thought some of the illustrations were nice.
EDIT 29 December 2015: I also watched the accompanying DVD of the performance from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert. It had some kind of cool elements and audio of course, but I'm still not sold on the story. Somehow it actually made it seem kind of shallow to me, fabricated ACC parallel and all. It just didn't seem to mean anything deeper than writing a quick story to save his struggling family, which is quite counter to the purpose of A Christmas Carol, and Christmas in general. Oh well.
November 7, 2014
All of us have heard of The Christmas Carol, but very few of us may have heard the true story behind the author. What motivated Charles Dickens to write about Scrooge and Tiny Tim, how did his story impact his own life?
With beautiful illustrations, God Bless Us, Every One is the picture book script of the Mormon Tabernacle Christmas program brought to life, read and written by John Rhys- Davies. It is the tale of a well-known writer who found himself in dire straits financially one year and wandered the streets of London depressed of spirit. He saw the penniless, the orphans, who became his characters. And, assisted by a ghost, he sees things from a whole new perspective.
We watched the enclosed DVD as a companion to the book and my children loved the flying! This is one way to get your family ready for the season of giving in a multi- media way. Reading, seeing, experiencing Brandon Dorman’s wonderful pictures. We truly enjoyed having the choir and book come to life.
With beautiful illustrations, God Bless Us, Every One is the picture book script of the Mormon Tabernacle Christmas program brought to life, read and written by John Rhys- Davies. It is the tale of a well-known writer who found himself in dire straits financially one year and wandered the streets of London depressed of spirit. He saw the penniless, the orphans, who became his characters. And, assisted by a ghost, he sees things from a whole new perspective.
We watched the enclosed DVD as a companion to the book and my children loved the flying! This is one way to get your family ready for the season of giving in a multi- media way. Reading, seeing, experiencing Brandon Dorman’s wonderful pictures. We truly enjoyed having the choir and book come to life.
November 6, 2014
Each year the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra present a WONDERFUL Christmas program.
The following year that program comes out on DVD, CD, and BOOK.
God Bless Us, Every One! is this year's BOOK...The story BEHIND A Christmas Carol
During the live broadcast John Rhys-Davies told this amazing story...
And included in the book is a DVD with that portion of the program.
You will not only see John Rhys-Davies tell the story, but you will also see live actors portraying the story; and of course the choir and orchestra add an inspired musical touch.
Watch for the "special effects"...SO FUN!
This presentation will bring more light and understanding to the beloved story we share each Christmas.
BEAUTIFULLY PRESENTED!
BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED!
Start a tradition to share the books put out by the choir every year~
The following year that program comes out on DVD, CD, and BOOK.
God Bless Us, Every One! is this year's BOOK...The story BEHIND A Christmas Carol
During the live broadcast John Rhys-Davies told this amazing story...
And included in the book is a DVD with that portion of the program.
You will not only see John Rhys-Davies tell the story, but you will also see live actors portraying the story; and of course the choir and orchestra add an inspired musical touch.
Watch for the "special effects"...SO FUN!
This presentation will bring more light and understanding to the beloved story we share each Christmas.
BEAUTIFULLY PRESENTED!
BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED!
Start a tradition to share the books put out by the choir every year~
January 22, 2015
This book is an instant family classic that will soon be an annual family Christmas reading tradition, much like "Twas the Night Before Christmas," or "The Polar Express." This delightful tale gives the story behind the creation of "A Christmas Carol" and helps us to remember that Christmas is about focusing on others and helping the poor and needy, which is truly the message that Christ taught.
picture-books-read
November 11, 2014Part fact and part fiction, this is an engaging picture book about what led Charles Dickens to write A Christmas Carol. Full review here:http://sunlitpages.blogspot.com/2014/...
December 31, 2014
Interesting look at Charles Dickens and his situation as he was inspired and then wrote "A Christmas Carol." I have a new love for this story after reading "Jacob T. Marley." This is a beautiful picture book. I haven't watched the included DVD yet.
August 25, 2016
Love Dickens, loved the Christmas program with the MoTab, and wanted to purchase this as soon as it was available.
January 16, 2015
Pretty nice story about the background of A Christmas Carol. Especially nice dvd of Mormon tabernacle choir Christmas program.
December 9, 2016
Really enjoyable read, and short too! I loved the idea that not only do stories changes readers, it changes the author as well.
God bless us, every one!
God bless us, every one!
January 11, 2016
An excellent documentary of the forces bringing about Dicken's Christmas Carol.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews