Mr. Ives' Christmas by Oscar Hijuelos
"Mr. Ives' Christmas" is a poignant novel by Oscar Hijuelos, published in 1989, which explores themes of loss, redemption, and the complexities of faith. The story revolves around Edward Ives, a widowed printmaker whose life takes a tragic turn on Christmas Eve when his son is murdered by a young assailant. This devastating event prompts Mr. Ives to embark on a mission of rehabilitation for the murderer, reflecting his deep desire for forgiveness and understanding. Hijuelos draws from his own experiences as a child of Cuban immigrants, infusing the narrative with rich cultural insights and a deep sense of place in New York City.
Central to the novel is Mr. Ives's character, who is portrayed as compassionate and contemplative, navigating his grief while maintaining a longing for grace. The author weaves in elements reminiscent of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," using this connection to explore the themes of redemption and the mysterious workings of faith. Set against a backdrop of urban challenges, including gangs and violence, the story invites readers to reflect on the intersections of personal tragedy and the potential for forgiveness—a powerful message during the holiday season. Hijuelos's work resonates with those seeking a thoughtful examination of human resilience in the face of sorrow.
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Mr. Ives' Christmas by Oscar Hijuelos
First published: 1995
The Work
Oscar Hijuelos, who was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in fiction in 1990 for his splendid rendition of a life going sour, The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love (1989), presents, in Mr. Ives’ Christmas, the somber Mr. Ives. Mr. Ives sanely goes through his life with no malice toward fellow man or woman. He seeks the rewards of work and patience that he has become accustomed to earning, but one date, Christmas Eve, consistently seems to interfere with his life.
Hijuelos, born in New York City, grew up in a humble, immigrant Cuban family. At age four, he was exiled from the family by nephritis, a kidney inflammation that crippled his youth with a two-year quarantine from home and loved ones. Perhaps that near-orphan status inspired Hijuelos to develop the Edward Ives of this novel. A widowed printmaker visits the orphan Edward Ives on Christmas Eve, and, a few Christmases later, adopts him. His adoptive father idyllically rears the dark-skinned child, inspires him to pursue his love for drawing, and eventually guides him to the Arts Student League where he meets, on Christmas Eve, his future wife.
The picture postcard family image is shattered when, on Christmas Eve, the Ives’s seventeen-year-old son is gunned down as he leaves church choir practice. A fourteen-year-old Puerto Rican kills the boy for ten dollars. Mr. Ives devotes his life to obsessive, unerring attempts to rehabilitate the murderer. Symbolically, Mr. Ives’ favorite book is a signed copy of British novelist Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol (1843). Hijuelos strongly relies on this book to link the two tales. The author emulates Dickens’ populous canvases and uses his love of coincidence and contrivance as a metaphor for God’s mysterious workings. The temperance of Mr. Ives allows him a longing for grace, a gift for contemplation, and a steady curiosity.
Hijuelos draws heavily on images from his New York neighborhood, his coterie of friends, and the milieu of gangs, muggers, and dope addicts at the end of his street. Differing from his other novels, Mr Ives’ Christmas leaves no doubt that Hijuelos speaks of faith; a faith that mysteriously probes emotions, tested by death and the opportunity of forgiveness.
Sources for Further Study
Boston Globe. November 5, 1995, p. 70.
Chávez, Lydia. “Cuban Riffs: Songs of Love.” Los Angeles Times Magazine, April 18, 1993, 22-28.
Coffey, Michael. “Oscar Hijuelos.” Publishers Weekly, July 21, 1989, 42-44.
Houston Chronicle. December 3, 1995, p. Z20.
The New York Times Book Review. C, December 3, 1995, p. 9.
The New Yorker. LXXI, August 21, 1995, p. 126.
San Francisco Chronicle. October 29, 1995, p. REV3.
The Washington Post Book World. XXV, December 10, 1995, p. 2.