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6:57 Concerning "A Christmas Carol," it may be world-famous, but there is a much greater mystery concerning that story, than Dickens' shorthand. I can prove that Dickens could not possibly have written it, and that the original authors are very likely to have been an American couple named Mathew Franklin Whittier and Abby Poyen Whittier. I have discovered proof in the handwritten letter dated Jan. 2, 1844 in which Dickens describes how he supposedly wrote "A Christmas Carol," that he inadvertently admitted having stolen it from someone else; and there is also proof in his handwritten draft of the "Carol" that he was dumbing down someone else's work.

I love this discussion. Thank you, from a grateful Californian (who will be visiting your museum again in the fall).

Wonderful reading. Looking forward to season two.

Thank you so much for the amazing content you create. I've been enjoying your videos posted upon Charles Dickens, lately, and I really appreciate you taking the time in sharing your hard work. 🍺

What has that to do with Nancy and Sikes ?

Can you please make the music a bit louder? I can still understand some of the words.

Wonderful. I want some more!

Everytime I hear Callow recite Dickens, I somehow feel the spirit of Dickens take over him.

Thank you 👍

Please keep these charming videos coming.

Thank you Cathy for all your hard work 💞

I love the way he string words together, even in a casual letter to a dear friend.

I have a master's in counseling, and have studied Charles Dickens' life in some depth. It is my conclusion that he suffered from a sociopathic personality disorder.

Good morning. I truly enjoy the channel as I have always appreciated the 📝 writings of Mr. Dickenson. I was only dismayed with this video when it so abruptly cut off, completely disturbing the cadence of the reading. Probably a tech glitch, nonetheless it broke my train of thought entirely. I do hope to enjoy more from this channel! Thank you for these wonderfully engaging and very educational videos! Blessings. Maria

He needs to make these an audiobook! I've really been enjoying them!

What a good story. And each time I come to London from southern California, I visit your wonderful museum.

I'm French and I remember with great fondness the first and only time I ate a Christmas pudding as a young kid on a student (pupil) exchange programme in London. Now, for the first time ever, I'm going to cook one myself: I already had my suet sent to me, directly from the UK thanks to Mr. Bezos... I'll find the rest of the ingredients here in Marseilles. Wish me luck!

No, no he didn't. What absolute rubbish is this?

So, did Charles Dickens dress up in drag? No, it turns out it was just a painting mislabelled in a catalogue. I am putting money on how long it takes for the idea of Charles Dickens being a cross dresser to circulate, which will no doubt tickle someone's wish fulfillment.

Somewhere in the great literary ether, Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin winced at the thought of toasted cheese going out of fashion while Preserved Killig smirks smugly and shrewishly.

We accept all of the stated terms and conditions of the contract, and look forward to future correspondence regarding your endeavors. Everyone, have an amazing weekend..

This friendship has long fascinated me. Thank you for such a rich illumination of it.

Fascinating. Thank you for this terrific interview, and for a wonderful podcast.

A tour of the manor, yes please

Reading the Queen of Spades by Pushkin and wanted to see what a tallow candle looked like. Would have been nice to see the flame :)

I feel like whenever Simon Callow reads/narrates, the soul of Charles Dickens takes over him.

I don't really mean this provocatively; however are measurements in videos like this in metric on principle or are that many people in the UK today unable to use Imperial measurements any longer? It fascinates me because I realize that in some ways Imperial measures are still used while in other ways they are not, formally. Of course in a video about a Victorian Era recipe, one might expect to hear "teaspoons", "tablespoons" and "cups."

Awesome Job and I truly enjoyed the "Dickens" information. Wish I could find some suet! I want to make this. I'm in South Korea. Not sure where I can find Suet here.

I have been independently researching the origins of "A Christmas Carol" for almost 15 years, and it's my conclusion that he wasn't the original author. Rather, it was written by an obscure American couple named Mathew and Abby Whittier. Dickens, having obtained it in Boston the previous year, hurriedly re-worked it for popular consumption within six weeks, for some much needed quick cash. In doing so, he secularized what was originally a spiritualist redemption story, into a ghost story. There is objective evidence of his having done so in the handwritten draft held by the Morgan Library and Museum, in New York.

Warne's Model Cookery And Housekeeping Book (published in London in 1871) lists the cheese toaster among the 'kitchen utensils absolutely required by a good cook.' Also, Benham and Sons' 1864 catalogue (London) lists a cheese toaster as a 'kitchen requisite.' This suggests that such an item was not necessarily dépassé in Catherine Dickens's time.

Thank you so much, I love "A Christmas Carol" and I usually read the passage of the Cratchits' Christmas dinner to my pupils at school. Greetings from Italy and merry Christmas

Really interesting liked and subscribed to this channel

Extremely interesting; thanks for putting it together.

What I'm always wondering is where did Ignorance and Want actually come from, and were they there the whole time, only hidden? If so, why not have them feast on the food throne at the start of Christmas Present's time with Scrooge.

I'm making one this year. I couldn't find beef suet. So I'll be using lard. And I couldn't find currents, so I'll be using raisins and golden raisins. And I'm making my own candied peels. I can't yet find the muslin clothe I need, and I don't have a mold yet, so Ill look for either and whichever I find I'll use. I've got my Brandy, and I'm excited to try it .

I made 2 of this recipe and it is very much like the one I had lost. I used apple juice instead of alcohol. They came out beautifully! This recipe will be the one I use from now on. Thanks for sharing.

I’m disappointed! I thought you were going to show us how to boil the pudding in a cloth!

If you want it to be a really dark colour use prunes which are dried plums 🤔" plum pudding"😲😁 we make clootie dumpling in Scotland 😁

Really interesting video and the Dickens story was a nice touch. I was missing you cutting and eating it. The proof of the pudding is in the tasting, right?

Would the holly really get burnt? English Heritage's "How to Make Christmas Pudding - The Victorian Way" video doesn't show the holly getting burnt despite being on the pudding when it is lit. czcams.com/video/3XOKmaElzqw/video.html

Hi. Will this podcast be available on CZcams?

Yes, really beautifully read 😊

I truly love your videos , they are fascinating and your presentation is a delight thank you 😊

Brilliant video thank you 😊

That was fascinating 😊 I never knew such thing existed but it sounds delicious 😊thank you 😊

Gorgeous recipe ..my Mum (born 1912) and Nan (born 1888).made some kind of pudding wrapped in pudding cloth almost every day 😊

What a marvellous voice ..every bit as rich as Stephen Fry..😊 I think you have a glittering career ahead of you sir 😊

Lovely pudding explained by a gentle and lovely British lady. Thank you. I followed this a couple of years ago and it was fantastic. Think I’ll do it again for the coming Christmas of 2023.

I took a moment remembering of Christmas past. A time when families would place a Victorian tree as the centrepiece in the middle of the room, carefully decorating it with small bags containing everything from popcorn balls to chocolates and candy fruits, etc. On Christmas Eve, we would gather with family and friends, and during the festivities, you would wear a blindfold, circle the tree, and pick your treats. Along with some gag gifts, nothing too bad, but someone always got a bag of coal-a couple of BBQ briquettes wrapped up. Which usually means you had to do the dishes afterwards. These are fun times filled with laughter as a way of bringing people together before the celebrations of Christmas. Have a wonderful Merry Christmas and Happy New year everyone.