The Story of the Goblins Who Stole a Sexton

The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club #1.5

by Charles Dickens

Charles John Huffam Dickens, FRSA (7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870), pen-name "Boz", was the most popular English novelist of the Victorian era, as well as a vigorous social campaigner. Critics George Gissing and G. K. Chesterton championed Dickens's mastery of prose, his endless invention of unique, clever personalities, and his powerful social sensibilities, but fellow writers such as George Henry Lewes, Henry James, and Virginia Woolf faulted his work for sentimentality, implausible occurrences, and grotesque characterizations. The popularity of Dickens's novels and short stories has meant that they have never gone out of print. Many of Dickens's novels first appeared in periodicals and magazines in serialized form—a popular format for fiction at the time—and, unlike many other authors who completed entire novels before serial production commenced, Dickens often composed his works in parts, in the order in which they were meant to appear. Such a practice lent his stories a particular rhythm, punctuated by one minor "cliffhanger" after another, to keep the public looking forward to the next installment. - Wikipedia

Genres: Classics, Short Stories, Christmas, Fiction, Fantasy, Audiobook, British Literature

11 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 16, 2009

About the author

Charles John Huffam Dickens (1812-1870) was a writer and social critic who created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era. His works enjoyed unprecedented popularity during his lifetime, and by the twentieth century critics and scholars had recognised him as a literary genius. His novels and short stories enjoy lasting popularity.

Dickens left school to work in a factory when his father was incarcerated in a debtors' prison. Despite his lack of formal education, he edited a weekly journal for 20 years, wrote 15 novels, five novellas, hundreds of short stories and non-fiction articles, lectured and performed extensively, was an indefatigable letter writer, and campaigned vigorously for children's rights, education, and other social reforms.

Dickens was regarded as the literary colossus of his age. His 1843 novella, A Christmas Carol, remains popular and continues to inspire adaptations in every artistic genre. Oliver Twist and Great Expectations are also frequently adapted, and, like many of his novels, evoke images of early Victorian London. His 1859 novel, A Tale of Two Cities, set in London and Paris, is his best-known work of historical fiction. Dickens's creative genius has been praised by fellow writers—from Leo Tolstoy to George Orwell and G. K. Chesterton—for its realism, comedy, prose style, unique characterisations, and social criticism. On the other hand, Oscar Wilde, Henry James, and Virginia Woolf complained of a lack of psychological depth, loose writing, and a vein of saccharine sentimentalism. The term Dickensian is used to describe something that is reminiscent of Dickens and his writings, such as poor social conditions or comically repulsive characters.

On 8 June 1870, Dickens suffered another stroke at his home after a full day's work on Edwin Drood. He never regained consciousness, and the next day he died at Gad's Hill Place. Contrary to his wish to be buried at Rochester Cathedral "in an inexpensive, unostentatious, and strictly private manner," he was laid to rest in the Poets' Corner of Westminster Abbey. A printed epitaph circulated at the time of the funeral reads: "To the Memory of Charles Dickens (England's most popular author) who died at his residence, Higham, near Rochester, Kent, 9 June 1870, aged 58 years. He was a sympathiser with the poor, the suffering, and the oppressed; and by his death, one of England's greatest writers is lost to the world." His last words were: "On the ground", in response to his sister-in-law Georgina's request that he lie down.

(from Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Kenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/4 Interesting, definitely Dickensian in tone, but the ending fell flat for me. But I have my yearly Dickens' Christmas reading done, but I still think I need to read a full length Dickens' short story on Christmas Day.

[Janelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short Christmas story from The Pickwick Papers. Gabriel Grub is the sexton of the title and while digging a grave on Christmas Eve he encounters the goblin king.

[Lori Keeton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short story but is also a chapter from Dickens first novel The Pickwick Papers. Dickens wrote this when he was 25 and 7 years later his A Christmas Carol was written. Gabriel Grub could be considered a predecessor to Scrooge. Several similar themes are present in the two stories but this first will never outdo his most well-known Christmas story.

[[ J o ] · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Story of the Goblins Who Stole a Sexton was originally published within the novel Pickwick Papers (as a story told by one of the characters) and was the pre-cursor to A Christmas Carol, pre-dating it by several years.

It follows the same lines: a humbug 'Scrooge' character-a grave digger, who hates Christmas, cheer and happy children-is visited by spirits (here in the guise of the original folklore spectres of Goblins) and is shown the error of his ways through visions. It is vividly imagined and has some of the most evocative description I've ever come across in such a small space. The characters are not terribly advanced, but since it is a short story it matters little. A story for all, even those of us who are a little more bah humbug than we are ho ho ho.


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[Hazel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me ha encantado, poco más puedo decir. Un cuento que contiene una moraleja preciosa.

[Jason Donoghue · Rating 1 out of 5]

A one star rating is honesty to high for this story, my own father who can hardy read or write could come up with a better story than this one.

Would honestly encourage people to avoid reading this.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

From BBC Radio 4 Extra:
A less than merry grave-digger is persuaded to change his ways.

Ralph Richardson stars in this tale from 'The Pickwick Papers' by Charles Dickens.

Music composed and conducted by Christopher Whelen.

Goblins: The Ambrosian Singers.

Adapted and produced by Charles Lefeaux.

First broadcast on the BBC Home Service in December 1962.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09k8r00

[Dylan Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first christmasy read of 2014!

Dickens is clearly a master of plot and narrative structure. This is a really quick, festive, meaningful christmas read that you should read if you are looking to get festive!

I read this for the A Very Dickens Christmas Read-a-long!

[Bettie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Goblins kidnap a surly grave-digger to teach him some valuable lessons. Clive Francis reads Charles Dickens' seasonal tale. Part of The Pickwick Papers.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/...

[Jason Pierce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Update, second read, 7/1/18:

Read in The Pickwick Papers.

Sexton is such a strange word. It's a church groundskeeper and gravedigger, and it doesn't seem like such a person would get a ton of sex unless he's a necrophiliac which, hopefully, most aren't. Models, celebrities, prostitutes; these are the professions more worthy of such a moniker.

Still, the name works if you look at it the right way. A sexton is in the unique position to lay someone without getting laid himself, and I imagine sextons in Harlem, Chicago, Compton, and Florida do a lively trade laying many. Still, I suppose that would mean such a person should be called a layton. I wonder what the death rate is in Layton, UT?

These were things that crossed my mind this time.

Original review, 11/26/14:

Read in A Christmas Carol and Other Christmas Classics.

3.5 stars, rounded up to four.

Eight pages in my edition, and filled with just the right amount of Dickens silliness. This is pretty much a... Hmmm... How to put it? It has parallels with A Christmas Carol. Remember the LOST TV show? They had flashbacks for a while, then flash forwards, then eventually flash sideways? It's like a flash sideways. Curmudgeon gets visited by goblins who show him joy in other people at Christmas time via a movie projector (such as they were in the days way before they were invented. Dickens was ahead of his time). And they also kick the hell out of him for good measure just in case the cerebral aspect of the lesson doesn't sink in. Dude then has a change of heart, not to mention rheumatism apparently brought on by the beat down.

I just now researched this a bit, and now all of the above is no surprise. Turns out this story is told in The Pickwick Papers which I have yet to read, and served as the model for A Christmas Carol. I also saw that part of Dickens' inspiration for this was Rip Van Winkle, and I even noted as I read that it felt Washington Irvingesque. I can't tell you how much it thrills me to know that I was on the same page as good old Charles, and that makes me really hope what I read was true and not just internet make believe.

Check it out. I like to think of this as A Christmas Carol for Dummies.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

And so begins my Christmas readings and what better way to start than with Dickens. It's only a short story but still packs a lot of thought and meaning into it. I also really enjoyed the writing style, even if his sentences are a bit too long winded at times.

I read this as part of the the A Very Dickens Christmas Read-a-Long which began today. I've never actually read any of his work before so participating in a Dickens Christmas-themed read-a-long seemed as good of a start as any.

[Amanda B · Rating 2 out of 5]

First Christmas read for 2018....2.5\5

[Siân · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this as part of Everyman's Pocket Classics 'Christmas Stories'.
This is Charles Dickens's version of Washington Irving's humorous tale of the supernatural 'Rip Van Winkle', and is not only an enjoyable little Christmas story, but the forerunner of the famous 'A Christmas Carol', which expands on the theme of spiritual and social renewal for a misanthrope.

[Latasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

omg! can we please get a jim Henson or tim burton adaptation of this please?!

[Bethany Fletcher · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s very, Christmas Carol-y. This either inspired him to write the full Christmas Carol or was based upon it. Bitter old man gets stolen by mythical beings on Christmas Eve and is taught a lesson.

[Tish · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've not read alot of Dickens but if 1 thing is clear, he certainly can write a dark Christmas tale.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love that Dickens sermoned the high moral ground. The same man who tried falsely to have his wife committed to an asylum.
I hope the goblins got him.

[Silvia Tamayo · Rating 1 out of 5]

Muy parecido a Canción de Navidad pero sin conciencia de clase 👎🏻

[weemarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book shelf read 📖

I was a bit Christmas booked out but also have a lovely wee book of Christmas stories so wanted to read one. This was a good one to pick up!

A cute wee short story for Christmas morning. I enjoyed this, and the parallels it has with Scrooge in A Christmas Carol (a story I adore). You can definitely tell that's it's a Dickens story, and see the clear influence it had on A Christmas Carol.

I enjoyed it!

[Paola Micheli · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

[Lara Maynard · Rating 4 out of 5]

What could be more Christmas than Dickens? This is short story precursor to A Christmas Carol involving goblins, a graveyard and a sexton who may have had too much to drink at Christmastime. Good stuff.

There are several recorded readings of this on Youtube, including at least one or two old radio productions worth checking out.

[Jeanette · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very quick read, all of 5 minutes. if only man could be changed to kindness in one night as easy as this, then we would all seek out the goblins and not run from them.

[Cyndi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this imaginative Christmas story. Would be cool if Tim Burton got ahold of it. The movie would be amazing!

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Upon seeing the children at play on Christmas Eve, Gabriel Grub, the sexton in question, reacts

Gabriel smiled grimly, and clutched the handle of his spade with a firmer grasp, as he thought of measles, scarlet fever, thrush, whooping-cough, and a good many other sources of consolation besides.

No more is needed to tell the reader what manner of man we are dealing with. He is a precursor for Scrooge, wishing anyone who is merry in the "surplus population" dealt with in much the same way Scrooge expresses. In fact, there are a number of parallels in this short entry from The Pickwick Papers that recall A Christmas Carol, but there is also a borrowing here from Washington Irving, I believe. For it was Rip Van Winkle who mostly came to my mind with this story of a man stolen away by goblins and returning penitent.

It is fascinating to see early ideas that make their way into what is possibly Dickens’ greatest, and certainly his best known, work, A Christmas Carol.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Story of the Goblins Who Stole a Sexton is a short Christmas story that appears in Dicken's first novel The Pickwick Papers, which can be read apart from the larger work.

It is a tale retold by Mr. Warble at a Christmas Eve party, where the wassail is flowing and the fire is burning bright and warm. The story is about one Gabriel Grub, the sexton (aka church caretaker and grave-digger) of an old abbey. Gabriel is a morose and "surly fellow" who found more cheer in digging graves alone than in the company of other people. One Christmas Eve, Gabriel was, or so it is told, stolen by goblins. It is a short read, and a clear precursor to the more popular A Christmas Carol.

[Bern · Rating 3 out of 5]

As scholars have noted, this little story is essentially the prototype to Dickens' later A Christmas Carol. Having read the Pickwick Papers - from which this story is pulled from - back in September, I have to say the story is more affecting when it is placed back in the original book. If only because the fragmented version I read (from the Penguin Black Spine edition of Dickens' Christmas writings) took out the part before the story in which Dickens talks about Christmas and its nostalgia and joy. In my opinion that is the best part of the Pickwick writings on Christmas. It even brought a bit of tear to my eye. Also, as this just tells the goblin story, you don't see the Christmas antics of the Pickwick club. Which, since this is just the goblin story, perhaps shouldn't be used against it.

[Izzati · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not listen to the audiobook, I actually read the story itself in a book full of Dickens' Christmas stories. I just need to write a review for nearly every book I finished reading, and this particular title is hard to find on here, so this will have to do.

The best part of the story was actually the rhymed poem and this remark by Gabriel Grub:

"Brave lodgings for one, brave lodgings for one,
A few feet of cold earth, when life is done,
A stone at the head, a stone at the feet,
A rich, juicy meal for the worms to eat;
Rank grass overhead, and damn clay around,
Brave lodgings for one, these, in the holy ground! "

"A coffin at Christmas! A Christmas box! Ho! ho! ho!"

The rest was not very worth noting for me. Maybe part of me is actually Gabriel Grub, before he was an altered man.

[Connie G · Rating 3 out of 5]

An English Christmas Eve tradition in Dickens' time was to tell scary stories about ghosts, goblins, and supernatural events. "The Story of the Goblins Who Stole a Sexton" can be read as a stand-alone story, or as a chapter of "The Pickwick Papers."

The Sexton - a mean, grumpy man - was digging a grave and drinking gin on Christmas Eve. A group of goblins convinced him that there was a better, kinder way of living his life. The idea behind this early short work was expanded later when Dickens wrote "The Christmas Carol" about ghosts showing Scrooge the error in his ways. "The Story of the Goblins Who Stole the Sexton" is an entertaining work that would be fun to read on Christmas Eve or Halloween.

[Bailee Parkes · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute precursor to A Christmas Carol, some interesting bit about this in the introduction of the Penguin Classics edition how it’s like A Christmas Carol in the visions of the poor family celebrating that moves the sexton to a change of heart, but it has no personal connection like Carol, and no positive effect that ripples out from the change of heart. It’s more of a postcard for the Christmas spirit. That’s definitely a good way to frame it, I think. Though, I will add that the sense of horror is really well developed here, especially the opening as he’s digging the grave with some great atmospheric description.

[Gemma · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was very similar to A Christmas Carol in that the purpose of the story is to teach a mean and unpleasant man about the goodness of mankind and how to be a better person.
In this short story we are introduced to Gabriel Grub (a fab name for a gravedigger!) who lives a solitary life surrounded by death, with little tolerance for the joviality of others. On Christmas Eve he is approached by a group of goblins who teach him a moral lesson.
The set up to this story was great, I just wish it had been fleshed out more.