‘I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach.’

Charles Dickens – A Christmas Carol, Stave 4, Dec 19, 1843

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A Christmas Carol has spurned many adaptations on the big and small screen and there are many versions I recall. In 1938 Reginald Owen & Gene & Kathleen Lockhart were among the cast and in 1951 Alastair Sims famously donned Ebenezer’s nerdy night cap. Albert Finney got all musical on us in 1970. Mickey Mouse had a go too as did The Muppets and Michael Caine in 1992, taking us right through to Jim Carrey and Robert Zemeckis’ animated interpretation in 2009…but there’s nothing like reading the book.

Don’t get me wrong, I watch Scrooged every Christmas, with the brilliant Karen Allen supporting Bill Murray’s wickedly funny turn in the lead role. It’s a great Christmas movie, but my Brain Feeding seasonal recommendation has to be the original classic, the inspiration for all of the forementioned.

So say goodbye to chapters and hello to staves and immerse your minds in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, in all its whimsical splendour.

‘Old Marley was as dead as a doornail. Mind! I don’t mean to say that I know of my own knowledge what there is particularly dead about a doornail. I might have been inclined, myself, to regard a coffin-nail as the deadest piece of ironmongery in the trade.’

Charles Dickens – A Christmas Carol, Stave 1, Dec 19, 1843

It’s a pretty quick read actually, so it’s ideal to tuck into in front of the fire as the family drift off for an afternoon snoring contest. So if you wish to visit the ghosts of literary past, turn your attention to this masterpiece. Turn away from the box of goggle for a moment and get inspired this festive season by the masterful wordsmith that is Mr. Charles Dickens.

Merry Christmas

Tom

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