Well, what can I say about this one? I would think most people know the story, although with what I see of younger children and especially their parents, I could be wrong about that. It has certainly been adapted for TV and movies enough times, but there are no doubt many who haven't read the original. I would hope moms and grandmas would read it to the little ones.
    As far as I know, Dickens was not a particularly ardent supporter of the Church. But he was, however, a committed activist and advocate for the poor. Nearly all of his novels include a striking glimpse of poverty and abuse mostly in London. And so, this is not so much about Christmas as a religious holiday as it is a plea for those who have to give generously to those who have not. Certainly Christmas would be a good day to begin that routine, and keep it going year round. And that is the true message of this story.
    Dickens wrote this short novella in 1843. It was released on December 19, and was sold out by Christmas Eve. By the end of 1844, it had gone through thirteen editions. The original illustrations were by John Leech. You may see his interpretation of Marley's Ghost below.
    I am certain I read this book years ago, and I have seen probably at least a couple TV versions of it, though that was years ago, too, as I have not owned a TV since around 2008. There were no surprises here. Often when a book is made for TV or a movie, there are lots of changes, and when one reads the book, the original turns out quite different. Not here. This one is pretty straightforward. It probably doesn't even need a review, so this will be brief.
    It begins on a cold Christmas Eve, seven years since Marley's death. Marley was the partner of Ebenezer Scrooge, and they ran a business—a counting house, but I am not exactly sure what they did except it had to do with money. Banking or loans, I would guess. Scrooge's name has become the one associated with miserliness. His office is as cold as his heart.

External heat and cold has little influence on Scrooge. No warmth could warm, no wintry weather chill him. No wind that blew was bitterer than he, no falling snow was more intent upon its purpose, no pelting rain less open to entreaty. Foul weather didn't know where to have him. The heaviest rain, and snow, and hail, and sleet, could boast of the advantage over him in only one respect. They often "came down" handsomely, and Scrooge never did.

    Bob Cratchit is his clerk, who works for a pittance in a freezing office, and is subjected to abuse, too. He has a family to provide for, especially his crippled little boy, Tiny Tim. That evening before the office closes, Scrooge's nephew, Fred, who is always cheerful, comes, as usual to invite him to Christmas dinner the next day, for which he receives the classic reply, "Bah! Humbug!"
    But all that is about to change, because as he enters his dark, cold and gloomy apartment, the face of his late partner, Jacob Marley appears on the door knocker. Refusing to be alarmed, Scrooge continues with his nightly routine. But soon the whole Marley shows up, dragging the chains of "cash-boxes, keys, padlocks, ledgers, deeds, and heavy purses wrought in steel." And he has been walking the earth, dragging these heavy burdens for seven years. He explains:

"I wear the chain I forged in life," replied the Ghost. "I made it link by link and yard by yard; I girded it on my own free will, and of my own free will I wore it. Is its pattern strange to you?"

    When Scrooge tries to tell him he was good at business, he replies:

"Business!" cried the Ghost, wringing his hands again. "Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence were all my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!"

    And, of course, we know what happens next. Scrooge is then visited by three spirits: The Ghost of Christmas Past takes him to his childhood and early adulthood, where he reviews some sweet and bittersweet scenes—of loneliness, of his loving sister, Fan, and of the woman he would have married, but his love for money broke them apart.
    The Ghost of Christmas Present shows him the coming morning, how everyone, even the poor, find ways to be joyful in the little they have. He sees the Cratchits, a large family, but loving and thankful for each other. He sees his good-natured nephew, the son of his only sister, long dead. He hears how all his guests poke fun at him and his nastiness. Scrooge is beginning to "get it."
    But it is the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come that scares him to the bone, as he sees a dead person whom no one cares about, and learns it is he. His repentance comes quickly, and the next day he is a changed man, giving generously to Bob Cratchit's family and others, spending the day with his nephew, and spending the rest of his life serving people.
    And so, this story is not only about helping the poor, it is about being given a chance to change one's ways before it is too late. It is about seeing life through a new set of lenses. It is primarily a children's story, so it also teaches a lesson with lots of humor thrown in, as was typical in most of Dickens' novels. And he also was a big fan of ghost stories, and wrote quite a few.
    No matter what time of the year, or what spiritual tradition you follow, the message here is certainly one for our selfish and evil times. An essential read for everyone!

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