Viața Domnului nostru: scrisă de Charles Dickens special pentru copiii lui

by Charles Dickens, Luana Stoica (trad.)

Se apropie Craciunul. Un tata le spune copiilor lui povestea biblica a lui Isus Cristos, pruncul nascut in iesle. Ici-colo povestitorul e obligat sa simplifice sau chiar sa modifice unele detalii, pentru ca are grija sa vorbeasca pe-ntelesul micilor lui ascultatori, sa explice, sa scoata la lumina sensuri ascunse. Cum tatal este scriitor, din relatarea destinata doar familiei lui a luat nastere o carte pentru toti.
Se apropie Craciunul. Aceasta este Povestea.
Intrebarea criticului: De ce aceasta istorie - probabil cea mai cunoscuta din lume - poate fi recitita la nesfarsit?

Genres: Classics, Christmas, Religion, Nonfiction, Christian, Book Club, Childrens

92 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1934

About the author

Charles John Huffam Dickens (1812-1870) was a writer and social critic who created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era. His works enjoyed unprecedented popularity during his lifetime, and by the twentieth century critics and scholars had recognised him as a literary genius. His novels and short stories enjoy lasting popularity.

Dickens left school to work in a factory when his father was incarcerated in a debtors' prison. Despite his lack of formal education, he edited a weekly journal for 20 years, wrote 15 novels, five novellas, hundreds of short stories and non-fiction articles, lectured and performed extensively, was an indefatigable letter writer, and campaigned vigorously for children's rights, education, and other social reforms.

Dickens was regarded as the literary colossus of his age. His 1843 novella, A Christmas Carol, remains popular and continues to inspire adaptations in every artistic genre. Oliver Twist and Great Expectations are also frequently adapted, and, like many of his novels, evoke images of early Victorian London. His 1859 novel, A Tale of Two Cities, set in London and Paris, is his best-known work of historical fiction. Dickens's creative genius has been praised by fellow writers—from Leo Tolstoy to George Orwell and G. K. Chesterton—for its realism, comedy, prose style, unique characterisations, and social criticism. On the other hand, Oscar Wilde, Henry James, and Virginia Woolf complained of a lack of psychological depth, loose writing, and a vein of saccharine sentimentalism. The term Dickensian is used to describe something that is reminiscent of Dickens and his writings, such as poor social conditions or comically repulsive characters.

On 8 June 1870, Dickens suffered another stroke at his home after a full day's work on Edwin Drood. He never regained consciousness, and the next day he died at Gad's Hill Place. Contrary to his wish to be buried at Rochester Cathedral "in an inexpensive, unostentatious, and strictly private manner," he was laid to rest in the Poets' Corner of Westminster Abbey. A printed epitaph circulated at the time of the funeral reads: "To the Memory of Charles Dickens (England's most popular author) who died at his residence, Higham, near Rochester, Kent, 9 June 1870, aged 58 years. He was a sympathiser with the poor, the suffering, and the oppressed; and by his death, one of England's greatest writers is lost to the world." His last words were: "On the ground", in response to his sister-in-law Georgina's request that he lie down.

(from Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Ruby Granger · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not very interesting or original, but cool to see how influential Jesus was in Dickens's personal life.

[♥Milica♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

"No one ever lived, who was so good, so kind, so gentle, and so sorry for all people who did wrong, or were in anyway ill or miserable, as he was."

I had no idea Dickens even wrote this, until the trailer for The King of Kings (now one of my most anticipated movies) came out. That was when I decided to read The Life of Our Lord, and I'm glad I chose the version with illustrations inside, they made the whole thing even better.

It's fairly simple (as he wrote this for his children), and not always completely accurate, but I would say it was worth the read. I'd gladly give this to some younger relatives who'd probably appreciate it even more than I did.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had never heard of this until my mom passed her copy on to me this year. But then, that was the intent! According to the introduction, Dickens didn't want this book published, and he didn't want it known as a work of Dickens. He wrote it to instruct his children about the life of Jesus Christ at the time when his popularity was at its height. He knew that if it were published, it would become part of the Dickens oeuvre, and he didn't want that. The family, many years after his death, decided to publish it, the underlying message being that they wanted the world to see the Charles Dickens they had grown up learning about: as a devoted father and devout Christian.

This book led to some interesting discussions with my children, in that there are a couple of things that we as members of the Church of Jesus of Christ of Latter-day Saints believe that Dickens does not (he says, for instance, that Jesus was such a good man he was CALLED the son of God). But the language is so simple that it actually helped my kids understand some of the details about Christ's last days and crucifixion that the Bible is too obscure about.

[Jeremy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read a copy (lent to me by Dr. Beach) around 2009. As I recall things, Jesus's work on our behalf is mainly to serve as a good example.

In August 2019, I looked at another edition, and Dickens says (Angel speaking to shepherds), "There is a child born to-day in the City of Bethlehem near here, who will grow up to be so good that God will love him as his own son . . ." (14). Furthermore, the concluding paragraph says three times that "It is christianity to . . ." (124) and never gets to the heart of the gospel. (That particular edition has a helpful appendix by D. James Kennedy.)

In God and Charles Dickens (blurbed by David Lyle Jeffrey and Susannah Clements), Gary Colledge argues that "Dickens's Jesus is the divine Son of God, the second person of the triune Godhead" (43). Colledge argues that Dickens wasn't trying to say everything that could be said about Jesus's nature, and elsewhere Dickens is clearer about Jesus's divine status (39–43). Still, at best this statement from The Life of Our Lord is misleading. And despite Colledge's serious treatment of The Life of Our Lord, I couldn't find where he addressed that particular (problematic) statement. Here's a CBN write-up of Colledge's 2012 book.

The 2025 film The King of Kings is loosely based on this book.

[Mary Lou · Rating 3 out of 5]

It seems unfair to rate a book that was privately written by a parent for his children, with the explicit desire that it not be published. Of course, after Dickens' death, The Life of Our Lord was published, so here we are.

I'm no theologian, but having read all the Gospels, I could find no fault with anything Dickens relayed. It seemed to be a pithy compilation of the information we have from ancient texts, written in a way that an older child (in the 19th century, at least) would easily understand. That said, I think all but the most die-hard Dickens fans would probably do just as well reading their Bibles.

At the end of the story are two prayers, one for mornings and another for evenings. In the latter, Dickens asks his children to pray that they will be well-behaved, kind children. In true Old Testament fashion, though, the prayer says, "...for if I am cruel to anything, even to a poor little fly, God, who is so good, will never love me." Well. I won't speak for God, but I hope that He takes into account the circumstances, intent, and remorse behind our actions, and shows us some degree of mercy, as Dickens tells us Jesus does in his interaction with sinners.

[Cleo · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely little book where Dickens re-wrote the Gospels for his children. You can tell by his emphasis that he is trying to impart kindness and understanding and forgiveness as exemplified by Jesus.

"Remember! --- It is Christianity TO DO GOOD always -- even to those who do evil to us. It is christianity to love our neighbour as ourself, and to do to all men as we would have them Do to us. It is christianity to be gentle, merciful, and forgiving, and to keep those qualities quiet in our own hearts, and never make a boast of them, or of our prayers or of our love of God, but always to shew that we love Him by humbly trying to do right in everything. If we do this, and remember the life and lessons of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and try to act up to them, we may confidently hope that God will forgive us our sins and mistakes, and enable us to live and die in Peace." ~ Charles Dickens

[Erika B. (SOS BOOKS) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is simply a letter of a father's belief written to his children! Favorite part
"That there might be some good men to go about with Him, teaching people, Jesus Christ chose twelve poor men to be His companions. These twelve are called Apostles or Disciples, and He chose them from among poor men, in order that the poor might know--always after that, in all years to come--that Heaven was made for them as well as for the rich, and the God makes no difference between those who wear good clothes and those who go barefoot and in rags. The most miserable, the most ugly, deformed, wretched creatures that live, will be bright Angels in Heaven if they are good here on earth. Never forget this, when you are grown up. Never be proud or unkind, my dears, to any poor man, woman, or child. If they are bad, think that they would have been better if they had had kind friends, and good homes, and had been better taught. So, always try to make them better by kind persuading words, and always try to teach them and relieve them if you can. And when people speak ill of the poor and miserable, think how Jesus Christ went among them, and taught them, and thought them worthy of His care. And always pity them yourselves, and think as well of them as you can."
-pg.34

[Jessica Kirsch · Rating 1 out of 5]

I inherited a lovely first addition of this small book several years ago, and recently decided to read it, to see if it might be useful during Biblestudy with my children.

This was written by Charles Dickens, for his children, and was never intended for publication. It's written in simple, clear words, and is intended as a summary of the life of Jesus Christ.

Nearly right away, Dickens blatently denies the God-head of Christ. In supposedly quoting the angel's speech to the shepherds, shortly after Christ's birth, he writes: "There is a child born today in the city of Bethlehem near here, who will grow up to be so good that God will love Him as His own Son...and His name will be Jesus Christ; and people will put that name in their prayers, because they will know God loves it, and will know that they should love it too." He clearly states that God will love Jesus AS a son, completely denying that Christ IS God.

Later on, describing Christ's adult life, he writes: "And because He did such good, and taught people how to love God and how to hope to go to heaven after death, Jesus was called Our Saviour." Notice that, according to Dickens, we can only HOPE to go to heaven, based on our good deeds. He's not our Savior because his death delivered us from slavery to our sin nature. Instead, he's simply a moral man and good teacher. Not entirely sure how Dickens rationalized calling him a Savior, since apparently he didn't actually save anybody.

There are several other examples of this type of heresy throughout, but I'll end with this final one. The book concludes with two prayers Dickens wrote for his children to learn. One contains the following: "...and let me never be cruel to any dumb creatures, for if I am cruel to anything, even to a poor little fly, God, who is so good, will never love me..." There's no mention of forgiveness of sin, only moralizing based on fear of rejection.

Altogether, this book preaches social justice more than Christ ever did, meanwhile missing who He is entirely.

Needless to say, I will NOT be using this to teach my children.

[Leo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not very religious, though I've tried. But I was drawn to this short little novella simply because it was written by Charles Dickens to his kids only, and wasn't published until the last of the kids died in 1933. It feelt like a privilege to be able to read it today even tough it wasn't meant for the public, a little family story. But because it's still written by him it's a good story but maybe perhaps not as well made as his other books and novellas that wasn't meant for the public eye.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charles Dickens wrote this for children, and I think I loved the sentiment just as much if not more than the content: "My dear children, I am very anxious that you should know something about the History of Jesus Christ. For everybody ought to know about Him. No one ever lived, who was so good, so kind, so gentle, and so sorry for all people who did wrong, or were in anyway ill or miserable, as he was. And as he is now in Heaven, where we hope to go, and all meet each other after we are dead, and there be happy always together."

I loved the way he wrote of the miracles of Christ: "I wish that you would remember that word, because I shall use it again, and I should like you to know that it means something which is very wonderful and which could not be done without God's leave and assistance."

At the end he gives a beautiful reminder of what it means to be a Christian, and how remembering the life and lessons of Christ will help us to act in His name, provide hope, forgiveness and peace.

[Garrett Cash · Rating 4 out of 5]

As others have pointed out, this was never meant to be published nor considered a literary work. Nevertheless it is fascinating for showing the almost completely overlooked Christian faith of Dickens. Also of interest is Dickens simplifying the ideas of Jesus for his children, which show Dickens's thorough understanding of the teaching of Christ. The Life of Our Lord is a "gospel harmony," a telling of the gospels story by putting together all of the details in the four gospels. According to the author of God and Charles Dickens: Rediscovering the Christian Voice of a Classic Author all families in Victorian England had at least two books on their shelves, a Bible and a gospel harmony. If you're going to read one, it might as well be by one of (if not THE) greatest English authors of all time. Just remember it was meant for Dickens's children, and is beyond criticism.

[Amy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was very disappointed with this book for many reasons. First, it does not feel like a Dickens book. I know, he wrote it for a young audience, but his voice was missing. The only place I could really find it was when he told his children he would take them to a zoo to see a camel if they wished. I loved the complexity of the plot and characters in his novels, all of that was missing, and this book is nothing more than a glossed, overly simplified chronology of Christ's life. Perhaps most disturbing was he removed Christ's divinity and mission from the book, and in that regard he completely missed the heart of the Christian faith and the message of the four gospels.

[Becky Pliego · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t know Dickens had written this one and it was a lovely surprise.
Overall it is a beautiful retelling of the life of our Lord, BUT the story is told with a distinct flavor that good works are necessary to earn salvation -instead of the true message of the gospel which is repent and believe.. period.

[Fernando Endara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sin lugar a dudas, la vida, pasión, muerte y ¿resurrección? de Jesús de Nazaret, “es la historia más grande jamás contada”. Además de los evangelios canónicos y agnósticos, existe una gran cantidad de biografías noveladas, cómics, interpretaciones, ucronías y demás sobre Jesús el Cristo. Tal es el caso de esta novela corta, escrita por Charles Dickens y dedicada a sus hijos. En efecto, Dickens escribió “La Vida de Jesucristo” entre 1846 y 1849, durante la misma época de escritura de su célebre: “David Copperfield”. La obra es una interpretación dickensiana de los evangelios canónicos, muy pegado a la tradición religiosa cristiana de occidente. El objetivo de este relato fue trasmitir, de forma entretenida y divertida, el contenido de las sagradas escrituras a sus hijos, de forma que pudiera contagiarles la fe que Dickens profesaba. Mientras la crítica literaria recibió la obra de forma tibia, el público la convirtió en una de sus favoritas, alcanzando el grado de best seller en la lista del New York Times.

La novela es didáctica, bella y sencilla; recorre los acontecimientos más relevantes en la vida de Jesús, acorde a la Biblia. Dickens, “ese gran escritor cristiano” nos presenta el nacimiento del Mesías en un establo en Belén y la huida de la familia sacra a Egipto, en cuanto se desató la masacre de los “Santos Inocentes” propiciada por el temible Herodes el Grande. Nos lleva a la infancia de Jesús y sus palabras en el Templo de Jerusalén, aquella Pascua en que se perdió de las caravanas de regreso. Asistimos a la vida pública de Cristo, sus tentaciones en el desierto, la elección de los apóstoles, los milagros, las parábolas, las bienaventuranzas, la expulsión de los comerciantes del templo, las intrigas de los fariseos, las calumnias, el temor del poder político y religioso. Llegamos entonces a la pasión, el vejamen, la condena. Cristo humillado, golpeado, azotado, coronado con espinas, el cuerpo lleno de cardenales y moretones, la piel sangrante, los pies destrozados, el rostro elevado a su padre, suplicando por esta humanidad condenada a sus miserias. El camino del calvario, el Gólgota, el Vía Crucis que recordamos en la tradición católica nos conduce a la cruz, signo de muerte trastocado en signo de vida cuando el hijo del hombre, el cordero de Dios, lavó los pecados del mundo con su santa sangre. Si bien Dickens se alejó del catolicismo y del evangelicanismo, por la corrupción de alguna parte de sus instituciones, fue un cristiano devoto, con una vida espiritual en contrapunto con las ambiciones de la carne, la pluma y la fama que logró una biografía novela de Jesucristo, dirigida a los niños, pero para todos los púbicos; sumamente bella y cuidada. Que la fe de Dickens nos acompañe en estas pascuas. Felices pascuas.

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can certainly see why Dickens never wanted this work published. It is not awful. But it is definitely a summary of the life of Christ written to be at not only a child's level (thus some childlike summaries and much simplified explanations and assertions), but to his OWN children's level. There are occasional parts where Dickens is trying to teach his children good principles and actions based on the Savior's life.

He NEVER meant this to be read by others. I wouldn't have wanted such a work to go either. One of the most eloquent writers could have written a much more beautiful testimony of his beliefs about the Savior for others to read. But that was not a part of his life that he wanted bashed because it was so sacred to him. And he probably didn't want the subject treated lightly or in a strictly a literary light either. He shared this precious part with his YOUNG children. It is no literary masterpiece in the least, but from it I was able to gain how much Dickens loved the Savior, believed in him, and wanted his children to share in that love and belief.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

this is a easy read that's a great introduction to the life of Christ. I read some of it out loud to my husband.

I enjoyed the morals that Dickens shares about what we can learn from the miracles of Christ. I think this is a great book to introduce kids to the life of Christ.

However, I would use this as a starting point and would continue in more reading about Christ in the scriptures and more scholarly texts like Jesus the Christ by James E Talmage. Overall, an enjoyable read, great during the holidays.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shaun and I read this out loud together to help us celebrate Christmas. It was beautifully simple and wonderfully focused. I think it will become an annual Christmastime tradition for us.

Reread 2012
Reread 2013
Reread 2014
Reread 2015
Reread 2016 - Luke really loved this book as we read it this year. He asked for it at bedtime and even brought it to me during the day. It is a great way to feel the Christmas spirit.

[Dianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this aloud together each December is one of my favorite Christmas traditions.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful retelling of the life of Christ. Just beautiful. This will be a yearly-- maybe even monthly read for me.

[Nithin · Rating 3 out of 5]

lovely retelling (: glad i got to read this even though it was originally never meant to be published

[Jaymie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the stories of Jesus Christ's life simplified. I read this to my kids over a couple evenings. They enjoyed it and it brought up questions and discussion. Great for December or anytime of year. 12/2015

Listened to it this time, still great. 11/17/23
“I am very anxious that you should know something about the history of Jesus Christ. For everybody ought to know about him.
No one ever lived who was so good, so kind, so gentle and so sorry for all people who did wrong or who were in any way ill or miserable. And as he is now in heaven where we hope to go. You can never think what a good place heaven is without knowing who he was and what he did.”

[Danny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting to read this expression of belief given the context of Dickens upbringing, education and life in Anglican, Victorian England. Dickens, from what I can ascertain never professed religious belief himself. He was a harsh critic of the social injustice of his day, often inflicted by professed religionists. He did, however often voice tender faith thru some of the most worthy characters in his masterpieces. It is revealing that he wanted the world to see that he desired his children to feel a reality of deity in the Life of Jesus.

[Lisa Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet retelling of the New Testament that Charles Dickens wrote for his children. He tells the story of Christ, starting from his birth, on to his life and teachings, and ends with his death and resurrection. It is a perfect book to read to children, as that was what it was written for - simplified, but still quotes the beautiful language of the bible. Very quick read as well, and I think it would be great to read at Christmas or Easter.

[Alysia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The tone of this book is just like a father speaking to his children, tucking them in with a bedtime story. It is a touching and personal retelling of the story of the Savior's life, with Dickens' testimony interwoven. We like to read this with the kids at Christmas time.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I found it at a library book sale about thirty years ago, when I was still in college. I kept it for many years. Then, I donated it so someone else could discover Charles Dickens and/or Jesus Christ.

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A re-read for me for Christmas reading with my daughter.

[Brittney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked that this was a quick review of Jesus's life, and imagining Dickens reading it to his children every Christmas made it much better.

[Jessica Lynette · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Life of Our Lord by Charles Dickens is a fascinating read. Written for his own children and never intended for publication, it remained unpublished until 1934, after the death of his last surviving son. In this retelling of Christ’s life, Dickens follows the broad outline of the Gospels but presents a version shaped by his moral vision.

Unsurprisingly, given his other writings, Dickens emphasizes compassion for the poor. However, he also places a heavy focus on good works as the means of being made right with God.
He suggests at times that because of Jesus’ good works, God would love Him as His own Son.
Even the virgin birth is omitted.
There is little mention of human sin, apart from Judas’ betrayal, and no discussion of redemption.

My edition included a foreword and appendix by James Kennedy, who generously, graciously and clearly addresses the book’s theological errors. His insights provide correction and clarification and are a great addition to the book.

[Vanessa Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

"REMEMBER! It is Christianity TO DO GOOD always — even to those who do evil to us. It is Christianity to love our neighbor as ourself, and to do to all men as we would have them Do to us. It is Christianity to be gentle, merciful, and forgiving, and to keep those qualities quiet in our own hearts and never make a boast of them, or of our prayers or of our love of God, but always to shew that we love Him by humbly trying to do right in everything. If we do this, and remember the life and lessons of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and try to act up to them, we may confidently hope that God will forgive us our sins and mistakes, and enable us to live and die in Peace."

My kids enjoyed listening to this during Advent.

[Joseph R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charles Dickens wrote The Life of Our Lord for his family, so that his children would have a simple and straightforward way to learn about the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. He never published it in his life time and bequeathed the manuscript to his son on condition that he not publish it. His son respected his father's wishes but did not lay such a restriction on his own son who published the book in 1933.

The book follows the gospel accounts, retelling the many events and teachings in Jesus's life with simple language. Each parable is followed with a paragraph by Dickens explaining what the parable meant (though not in detail--he doesn't get into the significance of the angry loyal brother in the Prodigal Son). The book is about the length of a gospel, making it easy to read in a short time.

I was a little surprised by two omissions. First, Dickens describes how, after being baptized by John the Baptist, Jesus went into the wilderness to pray and fast. But he skips the temptations by the devil. Second, he misses the whole Eucharistic significance of the Last Supper! After explaining each parable in turn, it is very odd not even to quote Jesus saying over the bread, "This is My body." Maybe he thought the issue was too complicated for his children (the oldest was twelve in 1849) or he just wanted to focus on the gospel message as a model for behavior rather than a core set of beliefs. Saying anything with certainty is hard since the book wasn't published or discussed in his lifetime.

Dickens' summation at the end is typical:

Remember!--It is Christianity TO DO GOOD, always--even to those who do evil to us. It is Christianity to love our neighbours as ourself, and to do to all men as we would have them do to us. It is Christianity to be gentle, merciful, and forgiving, and to keep those qualities quiet in our own hearts, and never make a boast of them, or of our prayers or of our love of God, but always to show that we love Him by humbly trying to do right in everything. If we do this, and remember the life and lessons of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and try to act up to them, we may confidently hope that God will forgive us our sins and mistakes, and enable us to live and die in peace.