Duncan Williamson: Book Review A Christmas Carol dic.html

I am of middle years and I knew the story of A Christmas Carol as well as the average person across the world I suppose. Then late on last year I suddenly decided for a reason that I cannot remember that I ought to read one of the world's most famous stories. So I did.

My first surprise was that it is so short: around 75 pages in the version that I bought and read. When I found the book in the bookshop it came in a book along with two other Christmas/ghost stories, both also by Dickens of course. In my ignorance my first thought was that this was an abridged edition so I searched other shops for the full version. I didn't find one.

So I bought the book and read it. Of course, the story in the films and on the television reflect the novel absolutely faithfully so there was really noting new in it. The language is 19th century English of course, of which more later: however, not inaccessible as they say. Although I can hear Stephen Mason, Kevin Knowles and David Gogoley opining from 1968 or so that we can watch it on the telly so why do we need to bother reading it?

Basically, the story concerns Ebenezer Scrooge, a sad, miderly old man who isvisited by spirits at Christmas Tide (note, the old English!) by four spirits or ghosts. Scrooge lives in a house whose description in the book is as good as anything that modern special effects in a film can evoke.

The problem is that Scrooge has made masses of money but is not only not happy with it; but he is making the lives of those around him equally miserable.

The first ghost to visit is the grossly enchained Jacob Marley is erstwhile and former business partner. Marley seems to be trapped in the spirit world forthe same reason that Scrooge is doomed to nejoy. So, Ebenezer, mend your ways and you can be saved is Marley's message.

Now we are treated to the three mian ghosts:

Christmas past
Christmas present
Christmas yet to come

This really isa very well known story so suffice it to say that Scrooge is shown good and bad things. Things that he has done that are good and that made him happy. Things that he has done and that he is doing that are either good or bad. Towards the end of the book, this conversation takes place:

Scrooge asks, 'answer me one question. Are these the shadows of the things that Will be, or are they the shadows of things that May be, only?
Still the Ghost pointed downward to the grave by which they stood.
Men's courses will foreshadow certain ends, to which, if perceived in, they must lead, said Scrooge. But if the curse be departed from, the ends will change. Say it is thus with what you show me!
The spirit was as immivable as ever.
...
Your nature intercedes me and pities me. Assure me that I yet may change these shadows you hve shown me, by an altered life.

This is probably the turning point both in the book and in Scrooge's life since we know that in Stabe 5 (chapter 5), The End of it, Scrooge really does become a kind, generous and reformed character. That's it, a happy ending! Mind you, judging by the drawings that accompany A Christmas Carol, Scrooge doesn't look long for this world.

A Christmas Carol is definitely along the lines of a deathbed confession in that a man whose life has taken a terrible path to a large extent is redeemed by asking forgiveness. To that end the story is a moral and a religious one. It's none the worse for that as a humanist could easily be proud of such a redemption at the drawing of the end of one's life.

I mentioned laguage earlier. I would like to see the original language of this story since I think again that the publishers have published this book simultaneously both in the UK and in the US. Moreover, I get the feeling (NB, a feeling) that they have editied the original to keep both markets happy. By that I mean that they have modified the language to modernise aspects of it to please UK readers and mdae other modifications to please our US cousins. I really think that anyone who reads this book will beintelligent enough to read it entirely in the original so why mess with it?

Anyway, I am sad now that I waited so long to read this simple and enchanting story. I am sad that I am probably one of a relatively small number of people whoread the story in its 75 page entirety over the Christmas period. It's worth a read: every film and television dramatisation of it that I have seen of it do follow the story faithfully. Then again, it is a simple story to follow.

Please read this story: I think it cost me £2 to buy (with the bonus stories of The Chimes and The Cricket on the Hearth thrown in). Hardly a bank buster is it?

Let's finish with a question: Charles ____ ______ Dickens ... what are Dickens' two middle names?