Most people who consider themselves avid readers of the classics are familiar with one of the best-selling holiday novels of all time. A mere mention of the phrase “Bah humbug!” is the only clue needed to know what story this is. The timeless classic, “A Christmas Carol,” by Charles Dickens is a dark narrative featuring supernatural visitations and psychological terror. It’s also a story of redemption as readers experience the transformation of a man who was wrought with anger, resentment and grief repent of his misdeeds, feel gratitude for his life and begin to share his newly found joy by showing kindness and generosity to others. While this story continues to thrill readers throughout the world, Charles Dickens wrote several other Christmas stories as well.
A Christmas Carol was the first of five Christmas stories that Charles Dickens shared with the world. Some people might think that stories about Christmas should be festive and joyful. On the contrary, most of the novels in Dickens’s collection highlight the darker side of the human condition. The author was keenly aware of the discrepancies that existed in his time between the wealthy class and the poor, and he did his best to raise awareness as an advocate for social justice—a defender of “the little guy,” if you will. His Christmas tales include several serious themes, including one that features a young woman who is contemplating suicide.
The Christmas stories that complete the Dickens collection
In addition to A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens wrote four more stories, which became part of his holiday collection. They are:
- The Chimes: A Goblin Story of Some Bells That Rang an Old Year Out and a New Year In
- The Cricket on the Hearth
- The Battle of Life: A Love Story
- The Haunted Man and the Ghost’s Bargain
Each story is unique; yet all of them contain common themes, including the importance of kindness and goodwill, as well as social injustices and redemption.
Dickens didn’t shy away from taboo topics
Even when writing Christmas stories, Dickens was a passionate champion “for the common folk” of his day. He often touched upon serious and delicate topics, such as adultery, which is an underlying theme in The Cricket on the Hearth. Dickens also had a knack for bringing some important realizations to light. In The Haunted Man and the Ghost’s Bargain, readers learn that the ability to forget all sorrow doesn’t necessarily lead to a better life. While there might not be a lot of ho-ho-ho-ing or jingle bells in these novels, there’s no shortage of other worldly events, suspense and excitement for those who enjoy Dickens’s writing. How many of his Christmas stories will you read this year?
