A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol tells the story of an old, bitter Scrooge who is visited by three spirits who try to teach him a lesson about life and show him to enjoy his holidays while he still can. While Dicken's Christmas classic can be read as a holiday mood-setting exercise, the book is also brilliant in terms of literary style and elements. Each page is practically dripping with symbolism: each of the spirits representing something as well as small details with hidden meanings. Take the Ghost of Christmas Future, for example. He is described as being covered by a "deep black garment, which concealed its head, its face, its form, and left nothing of it visible save one outstretched hand," symbolizing Scrooge's ever-looming death and dark future. A rich piece of literature, this book is recommended Dickens relies on a certain amount of satire, or sarcasm, to move the story along. He is still to be applauded for penning one of the most classic, and wonderful, holiday tales.