Christmas Carol — Preface (Part 1 of 2)

by

Charles Dickens

Preface

I have endeavoured in this Ghostly little book to raise the Ghost of an Idea which shall not put my readers out of humour with themselves, with each other, with the season, or with me. May it haunt their house pleasantly, and no one wish to lay it. Their faithful Friend and Servant,

C. D.

December 1843

List of Characters

BOB CRATCHIT, clerk to Ebenezer Scrooge

PETER CRATCHIT, a son of the preceding

TIM CRATCHIT (‘Tiny Tim’), a cripple, youngest son of Bob Cratchit

MR FEZZIWIG, a kind-hearted, jovial old merchant

FRED, Scrooge’s nephew

GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST, a phantom showing things past

GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PRESENT, a spirit of a kind, generous, and hearty nature

GHOST OF CHRISTMAS YET TO COME, an apparition showing the shadows of things which yet may happen

GHOST OF JACOB MARLEY, a spectre of Scrooge’s former partner in business

JOE, a marine-store dealer and receiver of stolen goods

EBENEZER SCROOGE, a grasping, covetous old man, the surviving partner of the firm of Scrooge and Marley

MR TOPPER, a bachelor

DICK WILKINS, a fellow apprentice of Scrooge’s

BELLE, a comely matron, an old sweetheart of Scrooge’s

CAROLINE, wife of one of Scrooge’s debtors

MRS CRATCHIT, wife of Bob Cratchit

BELINDA AND MARTHA CRATCHIT, daughters of the preceding

MRS DILBER, a laundress

FAN, the sister of Scrooge