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Writer's picturelitandflicks

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (1843)


Laura’s Rating: 4/5 Stars


Many of us know the story quite well, but how many people have actually read the Dickens holiday classic? I decided to read the story in its original form. During the rest of December, I will also be watching several different movie adaptations of this tale and reviewing those as well. I look forward to seeing the similarities and differences among versions.


The Analysis:


This story has never been out of print (for close to 200 years now!) and has been translated into several languages. It has been adapted into countless plays, movies, and other forms of entertainment. The influence of A Christmas Carol continues to have on Christmas celebrations, even in modern times, is undeniable.


As many of you know, this story is set in Victorian London and details stingy miser Ebenezer Scrooge on the night before Christmas. Scrooge is a ruthless businessman who writes off Christmas as a foolish holiday, until he is visited by several spirits, who have come to show him his wicked ways and potentially offer him salvation. Being familiar with the general story certainly helped in reading this novella. The old English poetic phrasing could be hard to follow if someone did not already have a loose idea of what was going on. A couple of sentences here and there were hard for me to understand, even after reading them over several times. Additionally, Dickens can occasionally get carried away with details and lengthy descriptions that slow down the events. However, the overall story and the words of wisdom offered by the spirits create a world famous Christmas classic full of quotable passages and an inspiring message.


The book emphasizes the togetherness, love, and generous spirit familiar to the Christmas season. Even for someone like me, who adores Christmas, this book is a reminder not to be judgemental of people with less means or forget those less fortunate than myself during this festive season. Maybe due in part to the influence of A Christmas Carol, people tend to treat each other with more kindness and compassion this time of year. But the famous quote from the book reads, “I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” So try your best to keep the warm, fuzzy feelings of Christmas present beyond just December, and think of others at all times. I recommend this book for anyone wanting to focus on what’s important and feel a little extra Christmas spirit.

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