Albert's Christmas Journey 🎄 4th Letter

A Victorian Christmas with Charles Dickens

Dec 23, 2024

My friend living in the future,

This week, I left Ancient Rome and traveled more than 1,000 years forward in time, as today, I am writing to you from London in 1843. I arrived early this morning, stepping into the foggy air at the edge of the Thames. I could hear the bells of St. Paul’s ring through the haze as I started walking towards Picadilly Circus, as I plan to witness a small event that will impact Christmas for generations to come.

London in 1843 is a city of contrasts, unlike anything you would recognize today. Places that in your time will have turned into clean malls, restaurants, and cafes fuel the industrial revolution – like Coal Drops Yard behind King’s Cross or the Battersea Power Station. Smoke rises constantly from chimneys, blackening the skies even during the day. The streets are crowded with carriages rattling over cobblestones, and horses' hooves echo against the tall brick buildings. The Thames flows through the city, though its waters are murky and foul from the waste poured into it.

But, despite all of this, I was already falling in love with this city again. There is a reason why it is one of my favorite places to visit at different times. It’s always filled with life and feels like the center of the world. People return to London to tell stories from their exotic travels or to bring goods to sell at the local markets. Though, poverty here is stark. In the poorer parts of the city, entire families cram into single rooms, and children run barefoot in the freezing streets. The workhouses loom ominously, and their harsh conditions are a grim reality for many. Yet, amidst this hardship, there’s an undeniable excitement in the air. Shop windows are decorated with garlands and candles, and carolers roam the streets. The smell of roasted chestnuts fills the air near street vendors, mingling with the less pleasant odors of the city. It is the 19^th of December, and people are getting ready for Christmas.

I made my way along Fleet Street and past the Covent Garden market, watching the city go on about its day. Smoke rises from chimneys, and a boy with a bundle of newspapers shouts headlines about Parliament. While fine carriages roll past, their occupants bundled in furs, I see children scavenge the streets looking for pieces of coal. Turning down Picadilly, I saw a small crowd gathered outside Hatchard’s Bookshop, and through the window, I saw a the man I was looking for speaking to the gathered crowd, holding a small red book in his hand. It was Charles Dickens.

Inside, the shop was warm and comfortable. Shelves lined the walls, packed with books, and the scent of leather bindings, paper, and ink filled the air. Dickens stood near the counter, introducing his newest book, A Christmas Carol, to the crowd. His enthusiasm was contagious, and I could see he was proud of his latest work. “This story,” he said, holding up the book, “was born from what I’ve seen in our streets: the workhouses, the factories, and the endless struggles of the poor. I wanted to write something that could open hearts, especially now, at Christmas. Someone asked how long it had taken him to write it. He smiled. “Six weeks. I finished it just last month, and here it is. Hot off the presses, as they say, with some beautiful illustrations by the very talented John Leeche.” He opened the book to the first page. “I wanted this story to feel like Christmas itself—simple, direct, and meaningful.”

Dickens described how he visited factories where children toiled long hours. “Their faces stayed with me,” he said. “I thought of how Christmas might look to them—not a season of joy, but just another day of survival. I wanted to remind people of what this time should mean. It’s about generosity. It’s about seeing each other.” He read a passage from the book. His voice was steady and clear as he brought Scrooge’s cold heart and Bob Cratchit’s struggles to life. When he read Tiny Tim’s famous words—“God bless us, everyone”—the room was silent. You could feel the weight of those words sink in.

I returned to my lodgings and thought about what I had just seen. London in 1843 is not an easy place to live for many, but the spirit of Christmas cuts through the hard days like a light of hope. Dickens’s story is a reflection of this—a reminder that even in the darkest times, kindness and generosity can transform lives.

After its release , A Christmas Carol was an instant success, praised for its heartfelt message and vivid storytelling, selling out its first print run in just days. Its timeless themes of generosity and redemption quickly resonated with readers, cementing it as a holiday classic that profoundly shaped modern Christmas traditions. It will become one of the most cherished Christmas tales, shaping how people celebrate for generations.

This Christmas, I will take inspiration from both Dickens and his London. I will look around at those who need help and remember that the smallest act of kindness can make the biggest difference. It doesn’t have to be grand—sometimes, it’s as simple as noticing someone who feels invisible.

As we reach the end of this year’s Christmas Journey, there’s only one thing left for me to do. Wishing you a Merry Christmas!

I will catch up with you next year,

Albert

🧳🎄

Thank you for joining Albert’s Christmas journey in 2024! If you have missed any of the previous stories, you can find them here: