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DECEMBER 17, 2008

Marley was dead: to begin with…

How can one possibly not like something that opens such? Of course, Mr. Dickens’ probably knew this. And while the famous line is the last, this first line is most intriguing.

According to History.com, it was today in 1843 that Charles Dickens’ classic story “A Christmas Carol” was published. Other sources suggest it was December 19. However, all agree it was this week in 1843.

The popularity of this tale also seems almost universal. It has been suggested that the story sold over six thousand copies the first week of its release. Whether this is true or not, in the 165 years since its first appearance, the story has been retold and alluded to, by almost everyone from the Jetson’s to Beavis and Butt-head, Mickey Mouse to the Muppets and even a version with Barbie. A 15 minute silent film version was released in 1910, in 1970 a musical film version was released, Scrooge, starting Albert Finney and Alec Guinness, and almost every one knows Scrooged, the 1988 remake staring Bill Murray.

It has been said that "A Christmas Carol" rekindled the true spirit of Christmas that had been waning in the 1840’s. Dickens' describes the holidays as "a good time: a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time: the only time I know of in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of other people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys". This was what Dickens described for the rest of his life as the "Carol Philosophy".

I think it would be nice if the Carol Philosophy grew more universal.

Stop by the Library to pick up "A Christmas Carol" to read or listen to this season, including the story performed by Jonathan Winters!

Or… see the full text online @ http://www.stormfax.com/dickens.htm

Add a comment (1 comment)

posted by S Epstein

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Comments

Mercedes said, on Dec. 21 at 7:52PM
This is one of my most favorite books and one I read every year without fail just before Christmas. I love Dickens powers of description. How can one not love this: "There were great, round, pot-bellied baskets of chestnuts, shaped like the waistcoats of jolly old gentlemen, lolling at the doors, and tumbling out into the street in their apoplectic opulence." Overall I am not a Dickens fan; I find him gloomy and depressing but not in "A Christmas Carol." The cheer and hope that abounds in each page is such a welcome during the days of busyness and stress that can accompany the Christmas season. And I have to say that my favorite screen version is "Scrooge" with Alistair Sim from 1951.