A Christmas Carol in Prose

This story is so famous that most people, me included, go through life without spending the time to read the 60 odd pages that include the story by Charles Dickens but it is well worth it. The book is split into the chapters containing the episodes with the various ghosts and the results as a conclusion.

Highlights from the story

Marley's ghost
Scrooge is sketched out as a miserable miser who refuses to show kindness to anyone, especially if it is going to cost him money. His business partner Marley has been dead for seven years leaving him to run the business on his own

As he gets home from work the door knocker appears as Marley’s face and then the ghost of his old colleague appears wrapped in chains pulling cash boxes and ledgers and warns Scrooge that a miserable after life awaits unless he changes his ways

Scrooge seems to doubt Marley’s existence but is left exhausted and disturbed after his friend wails and leaves via the window to join a mass of other chained tormented souls that include other business associates Scrooge knows

Christmas past
The ghost of Christmas past appears and takes Scrooge back to his youth, which was miserable and lonely until his sister came to rescue him and then he is seen growing up and enjoying the festive season until one year, gripped by greed, his girlfriend leaves him

He is taken back to his room again exhausted but after pleading with the ghost to take him away from the scenes of family joy that he has deliberately excluded himself from

Christmas present
The next ghost is of Christmas present and Scrooge is shown two families - Bob Cratchitt his clerk and his nephew Fred - and understands how he is thought of as a miserable person who inflicts pain on his employees and indifference on his family

Tiny Tim, Bob's crippled child is the focus of the family and Scrooge who realises that without money to provide medical help he will die

Christmas future
Scrooge has died and the servants have stolen his things and his business friends couldn't seem to care less and no one really misses him

Tiny Tim has died and Scrooge is finally taken to his own grave where he is desperate to change things and promises to learn the error of his ways

Conclusion
He wakes dicovers the spirits have visited him all in one night and then spends Christmas day making up for his mistakes and sends a turkey to Bob and then turns up unexpectedly for Christmas lunch with his nephew Fred

He becomes the happiest man around and gives Bob a pay rise and from that day on enjoys and shares in the spirit of Christmas

Maybe it's the beer I enjoyed after my business meeting but I had a tear in my eye on the way home at the description of Scrooge changing and becoming like a father to Tiny Tim, who he saves from death. Perfect for getting you full of the Christmas spirit.