Or if one wanted to explore books with themes of poverty, then most of Dickens’ work would be suitable.'Dickens' tale of personal conscience and moral responsibility might be more relevant that ever. It has elements of the gothic along with Christmas themes. One might look at something like the ‘ Nightmare Before Christmas’ poem. Other similar books include ‘ The Secret Garden,’ which is a delightful children’s tale but overlooks the festive elements.

However, at its heart, it is a tale of hope and redemption. Obviously, there are gothic elements in the tale with hints at time travel and the use of ghosts, as well as the wintry setting. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens Digital ArtĪs with many of the greatest works of fiction, the story of ‘ A Christmas Carol‘ is unique and does not fit comfortably within one single classification.

Dickens had a flair for larger-than-life characters and specialized in grotesquely opulent characters. Perhaps more than anything, Dickens’ calling card was his colourful characters. Prior to this transition, it was primarily a tool used by the upper classes. Because his writing appealed to the lower classes, they would often pay to have his work read to them, which helped reading become more mainstream. His humble upbringing informs his various works and can be seen in some of his most memorable characters, such as Pip from ‘ Great Expectations’.ĭickens became an influential celebrity. Despite not receiving any formal education, he was able to rise above his station and wrote 15 novels, 5 novellas, and countless other works. His father was sent to prison after falling into debt. He was born in Portsmouth and flourished despite a humble beginning. His best-known works include ‘ A Christmas Carol’, ‘Great Expectations’, ‘Oliver Twist’, ‘A Tale of Two Cities’, and ‘ The Pickwick Papers’. He is known for his witty prose, lengthy descriptive sentences, and for his social commentary.

Climax: Scrooge’s encounter with the ghost of Christmas is yet to comeĬharles Dickens is one of the most famous British authors of all time and one of the most revered too.

Genre: Novella / Ghost Story / Gothic / Young Adult Fiction.

Due to its popularity and accessibility, it is often taught in schools, especially in the UK, where it forms part of the GCSE syllabus. The novel covers a broad range of themes, from what Christmas means to the wealth divide.

A christmas carol original book