"A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens...part 1

Over the course of these next few days, throughout our land will be the my favorite movie of all time....on our TV's. I have probably watched "A Christmas Carol" over 100 times with various versions of the story over the years. George C. Scott happens to be my favorite...most likely because I simply loved "this guy" in almost any acting role......After all, how can any American not like "Patton"?....

 Passion: a powerful emotion that has the ability to reveal itself in our lives in various forms. Passion can thrust itself with a love for others that can literally change the world's views on a particular matter, passion can produce a joy that effects the suffering of those around us and free them from the burdens they might face in life. Passion can have a negative effect as well and produce a fury of hate and anger with its only goal of destroying mankind.
 Passion is an intense emotion...having strong...idealistic...and timeless enthusiasm...whose mission can be carried through...to the end.
  Charles Dickens....was a man of passion........

 Charles Dickens began to write "A Christmas Carol" in September of 1843. In just over a 6 week period, this great novel was complete. Dickens wrote how he wept and laughed...and wept again as the story unfolded. He would often take long walks at night through the streets of London, covering as much as 15 to 20 miles on each walk...going over in his mind the message he was about to send...that would literally change the course of history in how Christmas was perceived. Those long walks and thoughts were gathered on those nights "long after the sober folk had gone to bed" as Dickens keenly observed.

 It was on this date...December 19th, 1843...a mere 170 years ago...the world was introduced to perhaps the most powerful and captivating Christmas story ever to be told...other than the original night itself, when the shepherds came to see the "babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."

 Chapman and Hall were the first publishers of this great and passionate novel and by Christmas eve...the first 6000 copies were already...sold out.
 In 6 weeks after the publication, the story came to the London stage and ran for more than 40 nights...only to move on to America, where "A Christmas Carol" was introduced in New York, at a place called the Park Theatre.

 As the critical analysis began to come forth in relation to Dicken's "new novel", Frazer magazine ( not a big fan of Dickens) posted: " Dicken's novel on Christmas is of a national benefit to every man and woman who reads it as a personal kindness."
 Even the phrase, "Merry Christmas" had not reached its wish on a national level, yet, after the reading of "A Christmas Carol", the whole world responded with words to one another...."Merry Christmas!"

 Since its original publication on December 19th, 1843....Dicken's novel of "A Christmas Carol"...has never been...out of print.

 Charles Dickens himself was on stage to read and watch his great novel unfold to those in London, and he had his "own brand" of passing on the Christmas message...to the world.
 For example, it is written that Dickens on his "performance days" would have a strict routine as to how he prepared for his nightly performance. He would start the day with 2 tablespoons of rum flavored with fresh cream...for breakfast, then he would follow that with a pint of champagne. 30 minutes before his performance, Dickens would drink a raw egg beaten...in a tumbler of sherry.
 During the 5 minute intervals of the various acts, Dickens would take the time to drink a type of "beef tea", and before he retired to bed would have a bowl of soup.

 Charles Dickens always presented himself to the audience in this manner: dressed in full evening attire, a bright color (flower) attached to the buttonhole of his jacket, a purple waist coat, and a watch chain...with a whole lot of "bling".
 His stage props included a reading desk, carpet, gas lights, and a pair of large screens behind him...to help elevate his voice forward...on to the audience.

 Charles Dicken's last reading of "A Christmas Carol" was on March 15th, 1870, at Saint James Hall in London. At the conclusion of the play, Dickens said: " From these garish lights, I vanish now for evermore, with a heartfelt, grateful, respectful, and affectionate farewell."
  The audience responded with a loud standing ovation, clapping, hollering, and stomping their feet to his final adieu.
  Dickens passed away 3 months later at the age of 58.

 In 1874, the great Scottish novelist and poet, Robert Louis Stevenson (author of Treasure Island, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, among others), had read "A Christmas Carol", and wrote to a friend with these words: " I want to go out and comfort someone...I shall never listen to the nonsense they tell about not giving money...I shall give money, not that I haven't done always, but I shall do it with a high hand now."

 So....what caused this Christmas novel....to touch the hearts...of so many?.....