As he was finishing the highly renowned David Copperfield, Charles Dickens was also working on a labor of love, handwritten for his children, from 1846 to 1849. The Life of Our Lord is a charming, simple retelling of the life of Jesus Christ, adapted from the Gospel of St. Luke. He wrote it exclusively to teach his young children about religion and faith, and refused to allow it to be published while any of his children were alive. So it passed from family member to family member for 85 years as a precious family secret. When Sir Henry Fielding Dickens died in 1933, he left his father's manuscript and the right to make the decision to publish the manuscript to his wife and children. By majority vote, Sir Henry's widow and children decided to publish the book. Now this handsome gift edition can become a meaningful part of your family heritage, too! Recommended for ages 8 and up.