(A Christmas Carol, 1951, the best film
version of Charles Dickens’ novella, starring
Alastair Sim, in black & white, not colorized)
Why read the book? Just watch the movie or check out this Cliffs Notes summary in poetic form, found in How to Become Ridiculously Well-Read in One Evening, edited by E. O. Parrott.
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
by Charles Dickens
Ebenezer Scrooge
Was nobody’s stooge;
It drove him into one of his rages
When somebody asked for more wages.
Bob Cratchit
Was especially liable to catch it
For expecting his pay
To cover Christmas Day.
But a series of Christmas specters,
Acting as Scrooge’s spiritual directors,
Asked him, who was the cripple: Tiny Tim?
Or him?
And suddenly he became a hearty
Benefactor at the Cratchits’ Christmas party.
Trade unions may boast,
But the best negotiator is a ghost.
~ Paul Griffin, English poet
