I wonder what Victorians would have thought of Black Friday? I suspect most would have been appalled. And a few might have decided to set up a soup kitchen for those poor souls who park on the pavement during the wee hours in hopes of being first in the doors to capture a "bargain."
For those of us who prefer a more Victorian-themed Christmas, I'm happy to announce that the December issue of Victorian Times is now available - not only not late but early! As always, it's packed with tips on how to celebrate your holiday in true Victorian style, from a decorating the tree to loading the table with delicious holiday treats.
Speaking of treats, I hope that all my American readers, at least, have enjoyed the Thanksgiving holiday - and I also hope that all my readers can celebrate the joy of having much to be thankful for. Rarely does the world around us give us cause for thanks; this is the season to look within, and find in our own hearts, and in our families, those reasons that make us grateful not just now but throughout the year.
And now, here's what we have for December:
Visit http://www.victorianvoices.net/VT/issues/VT-1612.shtml to download this issue!
Or download it directly from DropBox: https://www.dropbox.com/s/di5mzleit2yw1gp/VT-1612.pdf?dl=0
A few months ago, I passed along a request from an author who sought help fact-checking his Victorian-era novella. As a special thank-you to the many Victorian enthusiasts who responded, our author, William Todd, is offering his charming piece, A Christmas Coda, absolutely free to our readers.
A Christmas Coda is a sequel to Dickens' A Christmas Carol. Todd writes, "The work upon which it is based is my favorite Christmas tale of all time. But I've always had lingering questions. For years, like the spirits that haunted Scrooge, these would visit me:
These form the basis of my story. It takes place exactly one year after the events of A Christmas Carol. And exactly like A Christmas Carol, it takes place entirely on December the 24th, 25th, and 26th.
If you find these questions intriguing, or would care to take a short break from the hustle of the modern holiday season and journey back to Victorian London of 1844, simply use the coupon code below to obtain your free copy."
OK, that's what Todd has to say; now here's what I have to say. I loved it. It is a remarkable pastiche of Dickens - clearly written by someone who lives and breathes the spirit of Dickens. It does indeed answer those "lingering questions," and in a way I think Dickens would have thoroughly approved. It's rather like meeting some dear friends - and it's delightful to enjoy a genuine "sequel" rather than the inevitable array of Christmas Carol knockoffs that crowd the airwaves every December. So, dear readers, I highly recommend that you take advantage of this gift offer and find out "what happened next."
To download your copy, visit https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/662578 and use code LV63S (not case sensitive) at checkout to receive a FREE copy in any digital format you prefer, including .mobi (for Kindle), .epub, and PDF. This code is valid through the end of December 2016. A Christmas Coda is also available on Amazon Kindle.
Victorian Times Quarterly #10, which includes the October, November and December 2016 issues, is now available. This volume includes all the articles listed above, plus:
Thanksgiving menus and recipes • Ghosts of Hampton Court • Animal courtesies • Seasonal folklore • Menus for the month • Canning and preserving recipes for the fall harvest • The etiquette (and fashions) of mourning • How to celebrate wedding anniversaries • Smuggling devices and an interview with the last of the Cornish smugglers • A look at historic rings • A visit to Coney Island • Some remarkable accidents • How to print coloured leaves • A lady's voyage to Canada • The working life of the Victorian waiter • Fiction: "Carter's Incandescent Cats" and "The Discourager of Hesitancy" • and more...
Find out more at http://www.victorianvoices.net/VT/VTQ/VTQ10.shtml or order it today from Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.ca - there's plenty of time to get it by Christmas!
Christmas comes but once a year -- but if you're like me, you probably still can't wait! Christmas trees aglow with lights and glittering with baubles! Precious gifts for the ones you love! Carols filling the air with holiday gladness! The delicious smells of Christmas cookies and treats tantalizing you (OK, we can go back to our diets in January)! The joy of getting Christmas cards from distant friends and remembering old acquaintances! The chance to catch your favorite version of A Christmas Carol on TV!
If these are the things you love about Christmas, then you love Victorian Christmas. While Christmas goes back to ancient days, the traditions we love most today are firmly rooted in the Victorian era. Christmas tree? Queen Victoria loved it -- which helped it "take root" throughout England. Cards? Invented in 1843 -- thanks largely to the Victorian innovation of the penny post. "A Christmas Carol?" Well, Dickens, of course! And as for plum pudding... Well, until I started on this treasury, I thought there was just... plum pudding. I've since discovered dozens of recipes for this holiday favorite -- one is sure to please you!
OK, I admit it, I'm a Christmas addict. I can't wait to put up my tree and enjoy the sparkly lights and my heirloom collection of ornaments. I hate to take it down! And that's why I'm really excited about A Victorian Christmas Treasury.
This book is your chance to experience Christmas in true Victorian style! It's packed with over 100 articles from Victorian magazines that show how Victorians celebrated this most beloved of holidays. Read letters from Victorian children to Santa; find out how Christmas crackers (the exploding kind) are made; discover how Queen Victoria herself celebrated the holiday. In this volume, you'll enjoy:
This volume features articles, stories and poems that have never been collected anywhere else. Turning the pages is like opening a special collection of gifts, with a delightful surprise awaiting around every corner. It's a collection to treasure for years to come -- one that is sure to become a part of your own Christmas traditions.
Find out more at http://www.victorianvoices.net/books/Christmas.shtml or order it today from Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.ca.