Despite its enduring popularity as a national festival, Christmas has been largely neglected by English historians. Neil Armstrong offers the first study to examine both the experience and representation of Christmas during the formative period of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. This book explores the origins of our deeply held notions of the traditional nature of Christmas and demonstrates how they were shaped by English modernity. A study of both continuity and change, Christmas in nineteenth-Century England makes an important contribution to cultural and social history, and is essential reading for anyone interested in the history of childhood, the family, philanthropy, work and consumerism. Scholarly yet accessible, it will be enjoyed by academics, students and the general public alike.

Reviews

The author draws on the evidence provided by several northern newspapers, together with charitable and institutional reports to discuss a variety of aspects: print iconography, family and childhood, work, leisure, philanthropy, entertainments, and shopping.

'Researching both contemporary and critical accounts of the festive season during these decades, he [Armstrong] subtly tweaks some of our common ideas about it and covers a wide area of popular culture in the process.'
Jacqueline Banerjee, Cercles and The Victorian Web

List of figures
Preface
1. Introduction
2. The print iconography of Christmas
3. Family and childhood
4. Work and leisure
5. Philanthropy
6. Christmas entertainments
7. Shopping and advertising
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index