The Life of Our Lord is a retelling of the life of Jesus of Nazareth written by Charles Dickens exclusively for his young children. Dickens composed the manuscript between 1846 and 1849, reading it aloud to his family each Christmas, and it was kept strictly private during his lifetime. He forbade publication and directed that it be held within the family until the last of his children had died.
The book presents a simple and accessible account of Jesus's birth, ministry, miracles, death, and resurrection, written with warmth and moral clarity. It opens with Dickens's direct address to his children, expressing his wish that they know about the history of Jesus Christ, whom he describes as the kindest and most gentle person who ever lived.
The manuscript remained unpublished for decades, passed down through the family after Dickens's death in 1870. It was finally published in 1934, revealing a personal and devotional side of the celebrated author. Though less known than his novels, The Life of Our Lord reflects Dickens's deep Christian faith and his commitment to teaching his children moral values, and it has since been appreciated as an intimate work of religious literature.
