December 4th- A Christmas Carol
This is part of the Christmas Book Advent Calender, where we post a new Christmas/winter book recommendation every day leading up to Christmas. More info can be found here…
December 4th- A Christmas Carol recommended by Vinr of ThirstforFiction
So, to continue T4F’s Christmas Book Advent Calendar event, I decided to throw out A Christmas Carol. As it happens to be one of the great classics of Victorian Literature, I‘m sure you’ve heard of it – in fact, many of you have probably even read it for school. It also happens to be my favorite book out there – I own three copies, two well-worn for reading and an older copy I’ve displayed on my nightstand for years now.
One thing that irks me about this book’s reputation? So many people seem to dislike it, having read it in school and just not enjoying it for some odd reason – perhaps for that very reason. Still, it remains a successful classic, inspiring numerous films, stage adaptions, and TV specials – that has to say something, right?
Written by the renowned Charles Dickens and originally published in December of 1843, A Christmas Carol tells the story of the icy-hearted and covetous Scrooge and his transformation of character inspired not only by the Spirits of Christmas and by his own past, but by the actions of others and of course, by Christmas itself. In many ways, it embodies the atmosphere of Christmas as a holiday, whilst exploring the poverty of Victorian England and sympathizing with its victims. The complete transformation in Scrooge’s character is always the most touching and emotional part of the novel for me, being a believable one despite the fact that he develops into the polar opposite of what he was when the story began.
Ebenezer Scrooge is a mean, miserable, bitter old man with no friends. One cold Christmas Eve, three ghosts take him on a scary journey to show him the error of his nasty ways. By visiting his past, present and future, Scrooge learns to love Christmas and the people all around him. With a light-hearted introduction by bestselling author Anthony Horowitz, creator of the highly successful Alex Rider novels, most recently Snakehead.
