December YA Book Club

There are some books that everyone simply must read, classics that shape a genre, define an era, or encapsulate an emotion. Pride and Prejudice for romance. Frankenstein for the gothic. Sherlock Holmes for detective fiction. 

Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol has shaped and defined Christmas.

Dickens was born in 1812 in Kent but moved to London when he was nine. Only three years later, Dickens’s father was arrested and sent to a debtors' prison. Seven of Dickens’s siblings were moved into the prison with their dad, but Charles Dickens ended up working for low pay in a child labour factory, in poor conditions, sticking labels on bottles.

After his father was released from prison, Dickens returned to school and became a law clerk and then a court reporter where he saw the harsh justice system first-hand.

Dickens campaigned for a fairer justice system, reformation of workhouses, the rights of the poor (particularly children) to have access to education, effective sewers and reasonable housing. Dickens used many of his early experiences and beliefs in his novels, and became one of the most popular English novelists, both in England and America. In 1870, he eventually collapsed from overworking and died.

A Christmas Carol is a novella, meaning a short novel or long short story. The title evokes the joy, harmony, and community of festive carol singers, also reflected in the choice to title the chapters as ‘staves’ meaning lines that musicals notes are placed on sheet of music. This all builds the image in the readers mind that this tale will be something beautiful, with sweeping and lyrical movements, but ultimately something joyous. Dickens wanted this book to bring people together, to uplift people, and remind them of the messages of good will that fit the season.

But this isn’t the kind of Christmas story you might find on Netflix, this is a ghost story. Telling ghost-stories at Christmastime is a tradition that was popular in the 19th century, as many Victorians truly believed in ghosts (as death and illness were so prevalent at the time, for many, this was a way of coping) and the gothic genre being such a beloved form of literature. Even from the first line, “Marley was dead: to begin with.”, immediately submerses you into the spooky abyss of a dead character returning. This ominous and uncanny sentence sets the tone: this is a ghost story, it will be unnerving.

The themes of generosity, social injustice, and social awareness shine through every part of this novel. In fact, Dickens was inspired to write A Christmas Carol after visiting Field Lane Ragged School in 1843, where he was so appalled by the conditions of poor children, that he wanted to write a pamphlet arguing for better schools for those in poverty. Dickens felts his messages of social justice, better living conditions and rights for the poor, and education would be more impactful in a story set at Christmas time. The protagonist, Ebenezer Scrooge, is a cantankerous, selfish, and greedy wealthy businessman who is forced to confront his own past, his current privileges and the disparity of wealth in the present, and the distressing impact his greed could have in the future. At first, Scrooge is cruel. When asked to donate to charity to help the poor from being in the kind of workhouses Dickens himself experienced, Scrooge says “If they would rather die […] they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.” Scrooge is describing here Malthusian capitalist ideals. The economist Thomas Malthus saw having smaller families as a positive thing, and suggested it as a solution to over-population and would reduce war, famine, and poor living and working conditions.

Scrooge’s experiences with the three spirits that visit him on Christmas Eve night change his attitude. This once greedy, cruel, and ignorant man is moved by the scenes of poverty, hunger, and despair in the lives of his employee, the good-natured father Bob Cratchit and his kind and sickly son, Tiny Tim. After seeing their difficult lives, the ghost of Christmas Present tells Scrooge “I see a vacant seat,” replied the Ghost, “in the poor chimney-corner, and a crutch without an owner, carefully preserved. If these shadows remain unaltered by the Future, the child will die.” The horror of this is one of the first glimpses the reader sees of change within Scrooge.

The spirit reveals to Scrooge two poor children that he conceals under his cloak, “This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want. Beware them both, and all of their degree, but most of all beware this boy, for on his brow I see that written which is Doom, unless the writing be erased.” The spirit is warning Scrooge against the blind-eye he had turned to the troubles of the poor, and reminding him of the dangers of his greed. The spirit says that unless he takes care of these two figures, reflecting on his own actions and beliefs, Doom is written on the boys face.

The spirit also tells Scrooge that these children are not his alone, but that “They are Man’s”. This highlights the theme of responsibility and society. Once he has seen the future and regarded the direct consequences of his actions, Scrooge promises “I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach.” Dickens wants the reader to feel uplifted and hold reverence for the scenes they have read: there are people existing around Scrooge, and us, with very difficult lives, who’s entire world could be changed by respecting our past, making good choices in the present, and striving towards a better future.

″And it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless Us, Every One!”

What do our booksellers think?

Aimee:

I love A Christmas Carol. I try to read it every year, and it’s not Christmas without the iconic Muppets adaption (which, if you watch it, is often a word-for-word adaptation!). I love Dickens as a writer. If you get chatting to me, nine times out of ten I would say I bring him up! I think he is one our best plotters and writers, with every single character and scene making an impact on the plot. His turns of phrase are fantastic- I mean, how good is “You may be an undigested bit of beef, a blot of mustard, a crumb of cheese, a fragment of an underdone potato. There’s more of gravy than of grave about you, whatever you are!” as a sentence! One of our regulars, in fact, is reading every single Dickens novel in order… and I must say, I am very tempted to do the same!

 For me, the messages are timeless. The themes of poverty, charity, and social aid are as relevant now as they were 180 years ago. I don’t think I realised how political this novel was until I got a bit older, but for me the idea of a wealthy business owner facing the consequences of his privileged actions, his ignorance, and lack of compassion -and, as a result, make a direct impact in the lives of those in need- is extremely exciting.

Since I was a child, I have always wanted to help and make a difference with the homeless, disadvantaged, and make a difference in society. Volunteering with charities, cooking for over 100 people who would otherwise be alone or outside on Christmas day, and taking part in the annual sleep-out all inspired me to put myself in others shoes, and remind myself that not everybody has the same warm, indulgent, joyous Christmas I had. For me, A Christmas Carol is a reminder that every single person can make a difference in somebody’s life for the better.

Jane:

 In 1843, Charles Dickens was on the verge of bankruptcy. So, in six weeks, he wrote this short novel. I question his motives and consequences. Was he pandering to the morality expressed by Queen Victoria? Was it purely for financial reasons, as he had a read-made readership? Lastly, is he responsible for the beginnings of the commercialisation of Christmas? Personally, this is not my favourite novel but is an interesting read.

 Antonia:

Where to start? I fell in love with this book when I was around 14 or 15. But when I set out to first read it, I wasn’t the most enthusiastic as I had been told by a teacher, “Dickens was paid by the word so expect a lot of waffle.” However, as an adult looking back, I do believe this to be his most concise novel… or at least the best edited!

Of all the characters, I found Tiny Tim to be the most relatable. As a child who was constantly sick around Christmas, it was tiny Tim’s enthusiasm and kindness that made me feel so humble and grateful for what I had this time of year.  Despite being in my bedroom with the latest cold and flu, I found his tale one that reminded me that there is always something to be grateful or at least thankful for. He definitely changed my outlook towards many obstacles I faced later in life.

A Christmas Carol overall is a reminder of what is important at Christmas… the food! Only joking, of course, it is about spending time with those we care about, friends, family, or close acquaintances. This book is filled with lessons for Scrooge, but I feel as the reader we reflect on our own lives and how we can become a better individual no matter our standing society. And it is for that reason one of my favourite festive reads!

Clare:

The section that I remember being so profoundly shocking was when the two old “portly gentlemen” came into Scrooge’s building. They assumed Scrooge would donate to the poor, especially with it being Christmas. They explained that “many thousands are I want of common necessaries; hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts, sir.” That sentence is truly hard to read, uncomfortable to comprehend. But Scrooge being vile to his core doesn’t hear or picture. His cruelty regarding charity was awful. I remember that being particularly really unimaginable. Scrooge’s lack of empathy is a fundamental deep flaw in their character. I remember being ever so bothered by that. 

So, when later he sees one of the old men and “quickens his pace, and taking the old gentleman by both his hands” (awww, he holds his hands!) and tells him that he will donate a large sum, I blub every time. It is powerful stuff. 

Questions for readers:

1) Have you ever read the novella before? If not, what were your expectations going into it? If yes, did you notice anything different on your second read?

2) What did you think about the presentation of the Victorian era?

3) What messages did you think were the most important?

4) How does the novel compare to any of the film or play adaptations you have seen? Were there any major similarities or differences?

5) If you were to make a modern adaptation, what messages or suggestions would you make to make it relevant for today's times?

As it is Christmas, I am not setting you an essay question… But, your task, dear reader, is to watch the incredible The Muppets Christmas Carol and tell me what you think!