…………………………………………………

A Christmas Carol Book Review

A Christmas Carol is a novella by Charles Dickens that was first published in 1843. It’s one of the author’s most famous works that has endured the passage of time with flying colors.

………………………………………………….

“No space of regret can make amends for one life’s opportunity misused“

…………………………………………………..

This is one of Dickens’ most iconic literary works, even though it’s among his shortest stories. It’s a novella that is only around a hundred pages, so it’s easy to digest in a couple of days. But it has stood the test of time due to its strong holiday themes and it ended up getting countless movie and television adaptations, being one of the author’s most often adapted works.

Ebenezer Scrooge is an old money-hungry man with no friends or family to love him. One freezing cold Christmas Eve, Marley’s Ghost pays Scrooge a visit. The Christmas spirits are here to show Scrooge the error if his nasty ways. By visiting his past, present and future, Scrooge learns to love Christmas and the others around him. This isn’t the most ambitious story for the author, but it is his most universally appealing and timeless tale that is perfect for children and enchanting for adults.

It teaches us all the importance of being generous, moral and kind. It is debatable whether or not this tale is secular or spiritual. I would personally call it secular, which is why it has stood the test of time so well. The Christmas spirit is very much at the core of this novella and Dickens by writing it influenced how this holiday is regarded and celebrated in the West. He shows the importance of being cheerful and joyous at least on this date every year.

…………………………………………………..

Regret is explored when it comes to the past section. This is the most nostalgic and melancholic section of the book while the final chapter is on the contrary more optimistic and inspirational. The story goes through so many tones and all of them were emotionally earned. Dickens knew so well how crucial it is to be morally responsible and in this tale he again showcased that it’s not just enough to avoid acting badly toward others, but it is optimal to also try to help and inspire others around you and not only think of yourself.

Ebenezer Scrooge is clearly an iconic figure. This old man stands for all greedy capitalists today, so it’s easy to see why this tale is so popular in the US in particular. This character was maybe caricaturist back then, but unfortunately has become all too realistic in this era. Although his change of personality may feel a bit sudden and implausible, his arc is quite inspiring.

Scrooge is so crucial in A Christmas Carol that the focus on him negatively impacted other characters, all of them underdeveloped and forgettable. The ghosts and spirits were quite interesting in how they weren’t horrific, but they functioned as teachers. That was a fresh wrinkle on the ghost character for the time. Their conversations were the most interesting parts of the book. But the Cratchit family and everyone else were pretty much sidelined and sadly underdeveloped.

…………………………………………………..

A Christmas Carol is wonderfully written, especially in enchanting, detailed descriptions. The dialogue is pretty good, but it is the descriptions that really appealed to me here as Dickens exhibited his knack at creating vivid imagery, unforgettable details and such a strong, wistful atmosphere. The past and the future were the most memorable sections while the present one was less interesting for me personally. The novella has a solid, though somewhat repetitive structure. It’s well paced and consistently engaging, but lacking in sophistication when compared to his other great works.