The Medlock Post Ep. 95: Mankind was My Business
"A Christmas Carol," a globally celebrated
timeless tale of heartwarming human redemption crafted as a haunting holiday
ghost story, was published in London on this day in history, Dec. 19,
1843.
Except for the biblical narrative of the birth of
Christ itself, "A Christmas Carol" may be the world's most well-known
and most frequently retold tale of the holiday.
English author Dickens, 31 years old at the time, had
recently gained literary celebrity following the release of "Sketches by
Boz," "The Pickwick Papers" and "Oliver Twist."
"'A Christmas Carol' was written over a few short
weeks to ensure its publication before Christmas 1843, but its message has
stood the test of time," notes the Charles Dickens Museum of London.
"Recognized by critics on its publication as ‘a
national benefit to every man and woman who reads it a personal kindness’, the
story has been retold and adapted ever since."
