The Magic Fishbone: Classic Children's Story

By Charles Dickens

This is the extraordinary story of a very nearly ordinary princess named Alicia. Given a magic fish-bone by a good fairy, Alicia can have whatever she wishes-provided she wishes for it at the right time. But it's never clear when the right time is, and sometimes the best magic is no magic at all.... Perfectly matched by S. Beatrice Pearse spectacular illustrations, this funny and unexpectedly touching tale reveals a Victorian world that existed nowhere but in the mind of a child.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Diamond Book Publishing
• Release date: May 22, 2020
• ISBN: 9788835832966

Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens (1812-1870) was an English writer and social critic. Regarded as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era, Dickens had a prolific collection of works including fifteen novels, five novellas, and hundreds of short stories and articles. The term “cliffhanger endings” was created because of his practice of ending his serial short stories with drama and suspense. Dickens’ political and social beliefs heavily shaped his literary work. He argued against capitalist beliefs, and advocated for children’s rights, education, and other social reforms. Dickens advocacy for such causes is apparent in his empathetic portrayal of lower classes in his famous works, such as The Christmas Carol and Hard Times.

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FOREWORD

The story contained herein was written by Charles Dickens in 1867. It is the second of four stories entitled Holiday Romance and was published originally in a children’s magazine in America. It purports to be written by a child aged seven. It was republished in England in All the Year Round in 1868. For this and four other Christmas pieces Dickens received £1,000.

Holiday Romance was published in book form by Messrs Chapman & Hall in 1874, with Edwin Drood and other stories.

For this reprint the text of the story as it appeared in All the Year Round has been followed.

several of the children were growing out of their clothes

THE MAGIC FISHBONE

There was once a King, and he had a Queen; and he was the manliest of his sex, and she was the loveliest of hers. The King was, in his private profession, Under Government. The Queen’s father had been a medical man out of town.

They had nineteen children, and were always having more. Seventeen of these children took care of the baby; and Alicia, the eldest, took care