Marriages mixed with blackmail, theft, and infant abandonment appear alongside dreams of nearly-free diamonds in this intriguing collection of holiday stories 

The fifth Christmas number of Dickens' hugely popular periodical Household Words, and the first for which he created a unifying theme, this collection offers tales of wartime camaraderie and heroic servants. Included are stories from four of Dickens' respected colleagues—Wilkie Collins, Adelaide Proctor, George Sala, and Eliza Linton—in addition to his own contributions. Gathered at Watts' Charity—a sparse yet cozy almshouse—seven diverse travelers share fantastic stories following a Christmas Eve dinner.