For as long as I can remember I have seen versions of A Christmas Carol performed. The classic Charles Dickens tale of redemption for the holidays has been performed in plays and on TV. Yet for as long as I can remember I have never read the actual text of the story. This is extremely ironic, as I have owned a copy of it since before I could even read! Yes, the picture accompanying this post was given to me as a child, and it has remained with me over the myriad of moves over my life. On a recent work trip I packed it in my carry-on bag to read on the flight.

Would reading the actual, non-adapted words of the author be unique experience from seeing George C. Scott amongst others reciting the words of Ebenezer Scrooge? And would it be possible to have takeaways from such a seminal story? Yes, and yes.

Enjoyed read the original story – It was a pleasure to read the actual words of Charles Dickens now over 180 years from when it was originally published. Where the presentation was classic British English, it was a nice contrast to the adapted and embellished narratives I have watch on big and small screens and live in such venues as the Goodman Theater in Chicago.

Staves not Chapters – Each of what I would traditionally consider a chapter in the book was called a stave. As I am unfamiliar with the term, I had to look it up. I found this great description of what a stave is, as it’s rooted in music, and relates to the title being a carol and thus a song. This is something I never picked up from any performance.

How to get the good out of other – I have always felt that most people have good at their core, and for whatever reason it has been hidden or warped by layers that have cocooned it over the years. In the original words that unraveling of Scrooge’s bitterness happens rather quickly upon encountering the Ghosts. From personal experience, however, people don’t change that rapidly. Then again, how many ghosts have they seen?

My copy of A Christmas Carol was published in 1966 and cost a whopping 50 cents. Illustrations from the period of the 1800’s when the book was written are included in each paragraph, er, stave. In the middle of the book is a “reader’s supplement” which includes additional notes and illustrations to help paint the picture of life in that period.

If you’ve never read A Christmas Carol and you are someone who celebrates the season as a religious or secular holiday, I highly recommend getting a copy of it. Where giving away to others what I read is a tradition here at The Hot Iron, I am going to pull a Scrooge and keep this copy in the home – I have owned it this long, and will pass it along to my family.

This is from The Hot Iron, a journal on business and technology by Mike Maddaloni.

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