A Christmas Carol and the Reinvention of Christmas

Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol remains one of the most beloved and heart-warming festive stories ever written. A timeless tale of redemption, generosity and goodwill, it has delighted readers for generations and inspired countless adaptations for film, television, theatre, musicals and even ballet.

In this enjoyable and thought-provoking course, we will explore A Christmas Carol in the context of Dickens’ wider Christmas writings and examine why the story has retained such an enduring appeal. We will also discover how Dickens helped transform Christmas from a largely rural celebration into a festival suited to the rapidly growing towns and cities of the Industrial Revolution.

Along the way, we will consider the social concerns that inspired the novel, the memorable characters that populate its pages, and the lasting influence Dickens has had on the way we celebrate Christmas today.

A perfect course for the festive season, combining literary appreciation, social history and plenty of Christmas spirit with one of Britain’s greatest novelists.