The Greatest Novel Ever Writtern...The Book that Invented a Modern Holiday



Hey 1000 Bookies--

Happy Holidays! As we travel through  the holiday season --we have a guest blogger--our good friend Jonathan Hanson.  Jonathan is discussing the granddaddy of holiday books--A Christmas Carol.  To me, this is the greatest book ever written.  Charles Dickens literally invented or reinvigorated the modern holiday season with his book.  I read A Christmas Carol every year to my kids and watch every version from the original talker with Sir Seymour Hicks to the version with Reginald Owen (Admiral Boom from Mary Poppins) and Alistair Sim, from the musical version with Albert Finney (Hercule Perot & Daddy Warbucks) to the more haunting version with George C. Scott.  Last Year the BBC Show Dickensian featured characters from Dicken's novels trying to solve the murder of Jacob Marley.  Literature is complete with references and allusions to the Christmas Carol.  Merry Christmas!!! 



A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Blog Post by Mr. Jonathan Hanson

I have always enjoyed stories of redemption. When a character commits an evil or immoral act or betrays someone close to them and tries to live with the anger and guilt they feel, yet has an opportunity to redeem them or pay it forward with an act of kindness to someone else.  These stories intrigue me because I often wonder, would we all take the time to act or let the opportunity pass by? With that in mind and the holiday season upon us, I decided to write a review of the classic redemption story, A CHRISTMAS CAROL, by Charles Dickens.

First published on December 19, 1843, Dickens’ novella became an instant hit, both critically and commercially. By 1849, he began staging public readings of his work and continued to do so until his death in 1870.

The story is well-known, having been turned into plays and movies countless times (I have always enjoyed the 1984 movie version starring George C. Scott) but a synopsis is necessary: Ebenezer Scrooge is a cold, bitter, lonely, tight-fisted miser who despises most people and hates Christmas most of all. On Christmas Eve, he is visited by the ghost of Jacob Marley, his old business partner, and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future who try to show him the error of his ways.
Special emphasis is given within the story to Scrooge’s employee, Bob Cratchit, and his family. Despite the meager living afforded them by Scrooge, they enjoy spending time in each other’s company. The family’s love is demonstrated through the various ways they support each other: Peter, the oldest son, is set to become an apprentice and earn “five shillings and sixpence” every week which he plans to give to his parents; the way the younger children physically support sickly Tiny Tim and help him get washed up before Christmas dinner.

The book is a great story to read to children and perfect for the holiday season. It’s the kind of story that gets people into the holiday spirit, both young and old. A sure-fire way to remind others how one person can make a difference and that anyone can change if they truly believe they can.

Keep reading!








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