In this year of celebrating one of the country’s greatest novelists, Beauty is a Sleeping Cat and Postcards from Asia are running a “Dickens in December” event and I have decided to join in by reading at least one of the great man’s works! Today is the day earmarked for a readalong of “A Christmas Carol”, probably his best-known book, and one I’ve read many times over the years – though not recently, I must say.
I should confess up front that I have had to re-read this book before today as I this is my final day at work before the Christmas break and so finding any reading time today will be very unlikely (despite ACC being a short work!). I have a lovely new volume of ACC (plus other Christmas stories) in the Vintage set presented to me by my lovely OH earlier in the year, so this is the one I read.
There can’t be many people who don’t know the plot of “A Christmas Carol “- miserly old man is visited by ghosts and is redeemed and turned into a Good Human Being in time for Christmas. The story is ingrained in our collective consciousness – the name of Scrooge is now synonymous with meanness and the expression “Bah, Humbug!” was plastered over Christmas Santa hats when I went round town last weekend. So you might be forgiven for approaching this book with a slight sense of knowing the plot and wondering what the point of reading it again is.
Well, the joy of the language for one thing. From the opening sentence, Dickens draws you straight into the plot and writing is just wonderful. In a short work like this, Dickens’ wordplay is condensed to the essential and in some ways is all the better for it. He can paint a picture in a short paragraph that will stay with you and haunt you, appropriately enough.
What also impressed me about this work was the incredible amount that Dickens packs into his 100-odd pages. You get four main ghosts (and a host of others); misery and poverty; life stories; comments on the state of humanity; and at the end of it joy and redemption. It takes a real skill to get so much into a story which is so well told. As for the characters – well, there’s a beautiful cast and they come alive instantly. Scrooge and his late partner Marley, who are driven by business; Scrooge’s poor clerk Bob Cratchit and his happy but impoverished family, including poor frail Tiny Tim; Scrooge’s family including his nephew Fred; his first employers, the Fezziwigs; his lost love Belle – to name but a few. Yes, that many living and breathing amazing characters in such a slim novella – a sign of genius in my opinion.
And there are many messages embedded in the story about charity and meanness; the poverty and suffering in Victorian society, particularly among children; the curse of acquisitiveness; the joy and happiness that can be gained by having a family – but this never gets in the way of the plot. One of the most chilling parts is when The Ghost of Christmas Present reveals two emaciated children beneath his robes and declares that the boy is Ignorance and the girl is Want. Dickens was a crusader for social reform and the book reflects his deeply felt concerns without the story suffering.
This *is* the quintessential Christmas story and it would also be a fabulous introduction to Dickens for anyone who hasn’t read him yet and is a bit intimidated by the size of some of his books. I found this moving, scary and uplifting and I was knocked out by it after not reading it for many years. Thanks to the ladies for organising the readalong and getting me to revisit this one – I love it all over again!
Dickens in December – A Christmas Carol – Readalong « Beauty is a Sleeping Cat
Dec 21, 2012 @ 09:15:59
Dec 21, 2012 @ 12:55:04
Thanks for joining and the wonderful review.
I think the book is quite perfect, wonderfully well-written thought-provoking, great descriptions and characters and multilayered as well.
I was more amazed by the writing this second time around than the first. His style is so evocative, the language musical, i cann see why it is turnd into plays and movies and read aloud.
Sometimes I wonder why a book is a classic and has survived. Not in this case.
Dec 21, 2012 @ 14:09:32
I quite agree about his writing – I’ve read this book several times, but I think this is the first time I’ve really appreciated the quality of his prose and his brilliance at packing so much into such a slim novella – it really does deserve to be a classic!
Dec 21, 2012 @ 15:36:31
I’m glad you joined us for this event. It’s my first time reading the story and I enjoyed it very much. That word, humbug, I find it hilarious!
Thanks for the great review.
Dec 21, 2012 @ 15:45:48
I’ve enjoyed joining in very much! Bah, humbug is a common phrase round here – amazing how Dickens has been absorbed into our culture!
Dec 21, 2012 @ 16:09:14
I have never heard that phrase uttered by a real person. 🙂 That must be really funny.
I almost forgot, happy holidays!
Dec 21, 2012 @ 17:35:07
Happy holidays to you to! It is most often used in an ironic way, but still is funny and always reminds me of Scrooge and this book!
Dec 21, 2012 @ 17:24:08
I love his use of words. Not many compare to him in my opinion, but I love Dickens so I may be biased. I also enjoy how much he packs into this little novella. Have a happy holiday!
Dec 21, 2012 @ 17:33:06
Couldn’t agree with you more – have a wonderful festive season yourself!
Dec 21, 2012 @ 18:27:21
Jumping in late to the readalong here… I’m always surprised when I remember how young Dickens was when he began writing his novels as the descriptions are so rich and the characters are so timeless. I actually haven’t read this one before but you’re right that you’d be hardpressed to find someone who doesn’t know who Scrooge is or what it means to be a Scrooge. I’m glad you enjoyed your re-read–your vintage edition sounds like it is a beautiful one!
Dec 22, 2012 @ 11:06:11
This is definitely a timeless book – and very short so I think that everyone should read it at this time of year!
Dec 21, 2012 @ 21:15:57
You’re so right – the language that Dickens uses is really evocative. I’m really enjoying revisiting his stories because it has been a long time and I’m also so pleased that this readalong was organised because it gave me the incentive to dive right in.
Lynn 😀
Dec 22, 2012 @ 11:02:16
I’m the same – I haven’t read ACC for years but I’ve really got so much more out of it this time!
Dec 21, 2012 @ 23:13:13
Somehow I’ve not read this one, despite loving Dickens! I even have two copies of it. But I don’t think I’m going to have time to read it before Christmas, with my Century of Books needing finishing – so perhaps I’ll put it on hold til December 2013.
Dec 22, 2012 @ 11:02:52
Oh, I’m sure you’ll love it Simon! It’s very short – can’t you just squeeze it in somewhere? 🙂
Dec 22, 2012 @ 23:53:51
You know, Dickens has been one of my favorite authors for a while, but I’d never gotten around to reading A Christmas Carol. But I really loved it when I read it! 🙂 I generally love Dickens’ ability to portray social injustices with touching characters and humor.
my review of A Christmas Carol
Dec 23, 2012 @ 10:50:52
His humour *is* excellent isn’t it? And I must admit, I like the idea of Tim Curry reading this story!
Dickens in December – Wrap up « Beauty is a Sleeping Cat
Dec 30, 2012 @ 11:59:45
Dec 31, 2012 @ 17:00:20