Meet Ebenezer Scrooge

Dec 19, 2024

Delve into the fascinating backstory of 'A Christmas Carol', written by Charles Dickens in a mere six weeks. Discover how financial struggles inspired this classic tale, intertwining personal plights with political commentary. Explore Dickens' revitalization of Christmas traditions during the Victorian era, aiming to promote compassion and charity. Learn how the struggles of the working poor influenced his themes of social justice and how this beloved story has shaped modern festive practices.

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ANECDOTE

Dickens's Financial Situation

Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol due to financial pressures, including a poorly-selling book and family obligations.
He needed a hit and chose a Christmas theme, which wasn't common then.

INSIGHT

Dickens's Innovation

Dickens, despite being a literary sensation, faced pressure after a series of less successful books.
He innovated by writing a complete, shorter novel, unlike his usual serialized approach.

ANECDOTE

Repurposing Past Work

Dickens repurposed elements from his earlier work, like the curmudgeonly sexton visited by goblins.
This might explain the quick six-week writing period for A Christmas Carol.

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The Battle of Life

Pradip Das

Edward Stirling

Charles Dickens

Shahid Akram

The Battle of Life is the fourth of Charles Dickens's five 'Christmas Books'. The story revolves around two sisters, Grace and Marion Jeddler, and their relationships with Alfred Heathfield, their father’s ward. The narrative begins with a vivid description of a historic battle and metaphorically extends to the personal battles and sacrifices made by the characters. It highlights the themes of true love, self-sacrifice, and the enduring nature of human relationships. Despite its lesser popularity compared to other Dickens works, it maintains a happy ending typical of his Christmas stories.

The Cricket on the Hearth

john leech

clarkson standfield

Only Books

daniel maclise

Albert 1816-1860 Smith

George Alfred Williams

richard doyel

Eliel Aspelin Haapkylä

Charles Dickens

Gilbert Keith Chesterton

The story revolves around John Peerybingle, a carrier, his wife Dot, and their infant son. The family's happiness is reflected by a cricket chirping on the hearth. The plot involves a mysterious lodger, the return of Caleb Plummer's son Edward, and the resolution of misunderstandings and marital issues. The novella is known for its simple fantasy and domestic setting, differing from Dickens's usual social criticism and topical themes.

The Chimes

Michael Clay Thompson

John Leech

Oscar Ellis

Sajad Hussain

Charles Dickens

Richard Doyle

William Clarkson Stanfield

Daniel Maclise

The story follows Toby 'Trotty' Veck, an elderly ticket-porter, who is disillusioned by reports of working-class crime and immorality. On New Year's Eve, he is visited by the goblin spirits of the church bells, which show him visions of the bleak future of his daughter Meg and her fiancé Richard. These visions serve as a lesson to Trotty, highlighting the harsh realities faced by the poor and the need for compassion and social change. The novella ends with Trotty awakening on the day of Meg and Richard's wedding, suggesting a possible dream-within-a-dream scenario and inviting the reader to reflect on the stern realities depicted.

The Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain

Frank Stone

Charles Dickens

Sir John Tenniel

The Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain is the fifth and final of Charles Dickens's Christmas Books. The story revolves around Professor Redlaw, a man haunted by his past, and the ghost who offers him a bargain that changes his life. The novella delves into themes of redemption, kindness, and the impact of one's past on their present. It was illustrated by John Leech, Frank Stone, John Tenniel, and Clarkson Stanfield, each bringing their unique style to the narrative.

Diary of America

null

Charles Dickens

American Notes for General Circulation, often referred to as "Diary of America," is a travelogue by Charles Dickens documenting his 1842 visit to the United States. The book offers insightful observations on American society, politics, and culture. Dickens's critical perspective on slavery and social inequalities is evident throughout the narrative. The book provides a valuable historical record of 19th-century America. It remains a significant work in understanding Dickens's views on social issues.

The Pickwick Papers

Lynn Brittney

Charles Dickens

The Pickwick Papers, or The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, is Charles Dickens' first novel, published in 1837. It follows the travels of Samuel Pickwick, a kind and wealthy gentleman, and his three companions: Mr. Tupman, Mr. Winkle, and Mr. Snodgrass. Along with Pickwick’s servant Sam Weller, they get into numerous scrapes and misadventures. The novel satirizes societal misunderstandings and highlights the absurdity of social class divisions. A significant part of the story revolves around the trial of Bardell vs Pickwick and its aftermath, leading to Pickwick's incarceration and eventual triumph[3][4][5].

The Old Curiosity Shop

Charles Dickens

The Old Curiosity Shop, published in 1841, is a novel by Charles Dickens that tells the story of Little Nell Trent and her grandfather, who live in a curiosity shop in London. The plot revolves around the grandfather's addiction to gambling and his debts to the malicious moneylender Daniel Quilp. When the grandfather gambles away the shop, Nell and her grandfather are forced to flee, embarking on a journey through the countryside. Along the way, they encounter various characters, including the kind-hearted Kit Nubbles and the villainous Quilp, who relentlessly pursues them. The novel explores themes of family, virtue, and the contrasts between good and evil, youth and age, and innocence and corruption. The story is known for its sentimental portrayal of Little Nell's tragic fate and its vivid depiction of Victorian England's social and economic conditions[2][4][5].

Barnaby Rudge

A Tale of the Riots of Eighty

Eileen Warren Norris

Charles Dickens

The novel is set in the late 18th century and revolves around the Gordon Riots of 1780, a period of anti-Catholic violence in London. It follows the story of Barnaby Rudge, a simpleminded young man who becomes embroiled in the riots, and his pet raven, Grip. The narrative also involves a forbidden love between Emma Haredale, a Catholic, and Edward Chester, a Protestant, and delves into the complex relationships between fathers and sons. The story is characterized by Dickens's vivid portrayal of London's streets and the violent underbelly of the city during this tumultuous period[2][3][4].

Martin Chuzzlewit

Alfred Essarts

Tim F. LaHaye

Charles Dickens

The novel tells the story of two Chuzzlewits, Martin and Jonas, and their diverse fates. Young Martin Chuzzlewit, an apprentice architect, is disinherited by his grandfather after falling in love with Mary Graham, the grandfather's companion. Martin and his servant, Mark Tapley, travel to the United States, where they face various misadventures. The novel satirizes American society, highlighting hypocrisy, greed, and other social ills. It also features notable characters like Seth Pecksniff and Mrs. Gamp, and introduces one of the first literary private detective characters, Mr. Nadgett. The story ultimately resolves with Martin's moral redemption and reconciliation with his grandfather.

Oliver Twist

The 1838 Theatrical Adaptation

George Almar

This adaptation was first performed in the fall of 1838, before the full text of Dickens' original novel had been released. It is a serio-comic burletta that deviates from the original novel, and Dickens himself was reportedly horrified by the performance. The adaptation highlights the theatrical interpretation of Dickens' work during the Victorian era.

A Christmas carol

Jacqueline Goldfinger

Jacqueline Goldfinger's adaptation of 'A Christmas Carol' is a family-friendly version that includes music, making it suitable for a wide range of audiences. This play retains the core themes and characters of the original while adding a musical element to enhance the storytelling and emotional impact.

Rerun: Charles Dickens’ novella ‘A Christmas Carol’ was written in just six weeks, and published on 19th December, 1843. The timeless story, which introduced the world to Ebeneezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim, and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future, was conceived in part to get its author out of a sticky financial situation.

Dickens’ other motive was to put into an accessible fable the political ideas that had formed the core of his proposed pamphlet, ‘An Appeal to the People of England on behalf of the Poor Man's Child’. In so doing, he re-focussed the Christmas message around charitable giving and kindness for generations.

In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly explain how Dickens plundered his own back-catalogue to surface some ‘Christmas goblins’; consider whether the book-buying public truly understood the intended message of his work; and reveal why his determination to produce it in an affordable edition hit him in the pocket…