'Our Almanac,' an announcement of the first issue of The Household Words Almanac, is solely by Dickens.
Henry Morley conceived the notion of producing a Household Words almanac and suggested the idea to Dickens. On 21 June 1855, Dickens wrote to Morley: 'I think your idea of an almanac an excellent one.' The scheme was approved at an editorial dinner at the Household Words offices, and Morley subsequently received £25 for his share in the project.
The venture in almanac publishing was no great success, however, and after two years the project was dropped. On 25 November 1855, Dickens wrote to Wills: 'THE ALMANACK ought to have done more. It is a pity (I observe now) that my name is nowhere upon it.' - The plan and the contents of the almanac are described in 'Our Almanac.'
Harry Stone; © Bloomington and Indiana University Press, 1968. DJO gratefully acknowledges permission to reproduce this material.
