Frequently retold, and adapted many times for both film and stage, this classic is probably Dicken's best known novel today (which might have surprised him :-)). There's probably no one who doesn't know the basic story of a miser's moral transformation as a result of his ghostly visitants --Dickens achieves a masterful re-casting of the traditional elements of Victorian ghost stories, to make the ghosts a positive rather than a sinister force-- and Scrooge is a household word. The story is so familiar that you sometimes have to will yourself to read it with fresh eyes, and experience it the way the first readers would have, without imagining all the movie versions (and I can say this from experience, since I've forgotten exactly how many times I've read it). Dickens offers, here, all the elements that make his writing a joy: brilliant characterizations, sharp social consciousness, moral clarity and passion, and the ability to tug at your heartstrings. Some critics have argued that Scrooge's abrupt turn-around is unrealistic, and that the motivation is purely external. But I disagree; the ghosts appeal to memories and buried feelings that are inside him. All he needed was a catalyst to bring them to the fore, and the experiences the ghosts supply do that.

It can also be argued that, for a Christmas story, this plot seems to have little direct relation to the birth of Christ. In fact, though, the "sacred character" of Christmas that Fred mentions is presupposed throughout, and the message of caring and giving reflects the thrust of Christ's own ministry and teaching. Tiny Tim's reminder of the One who caused the blind to see and made lame beggars walk isn't coincidental, nor is the fact that one of the first things the reformed Scrooge does is go to church. Another part of Dicken's message that shouldn't be missed is the assertion that, if you would "keep Christmas well," this ethic is for the other 364 days of the year too, not just for Christmas.

All in all, this is the perfect read for the holiday season! But in keeping with the sentiment just noted, it's well worth reading at any time of the year; and its message and appeal are genuinely timeless.