Evangelization & Culture Podcast Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol w/ Dwight Lindley
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Dec 9, 2025 Dwight Lindley, an Associate Professor of English at Hillsdale College and a Victorian literature expert, dives into the enduring charm of Dickens's A Christmas Carol. He discusses Dickens's life and empathy shaped by childhood hardships, contrasting material and spiritual wealth through characters like Scrooge and Tiny Tim. The conversation explores the novella's Christian themes, the power of memory, and the significance of kindness. Lindley shares his personal journey of rediscovering Dickens, resonating with the timeless messages that call for generosity in today's world.
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Dickens As A Cultural Giant
- Charles Dickens was the most popular 19th-century novelist who wrote prolifically and shaped Victorian culture.
- His long novels were meant for communal, long-form reading and entertained households nightly.
Long Books Survive As Audio
- Modern readers prefer audio and visual stimulation, reducing quiet, page-based reading habits.
- Dwight Lindley still sees appetite for long books via audiobooks and long-form listening experiences.
Push Students To Read Whole Novels
- Assign full, demanding novels to students rather than excerpts to build their reading capacity.
- Dwight Lindley gives Moby-Dick and Middlemarch and finds students often call them favorites after finishing.