Christmas ghosts
Books about Yuletide spirits, but like, the real kind.
You know how in “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” there’s that line about “scary ghost stories of Christmases long ago”? It turns out this was a totally normal thing until some dumb tradition shift in the early 20th century. Well, come to think of it, we do now have “Elf on the Shelf,” so at least there’s still a creepy supernatural being watching from the shadows.
Obviously, Charles Dickens was into Christmas ghosts in a big way, so we’ll lead with him here. Do not let your brow furrow into humbuggery. Bear with me! We’re talking ghosts!
If you’re already thinking about reading goals for next year—stay tuned for next week, as I have some thoughts that might help you think more OR, spoiler, think less about all of it!
Do you have living, non-ghost friends who like to read? Forward this email to them or share on your socials by hitting the button below!
🎩 A Christmas Carol
Charles Dickens, 1843
“Marley was dead: to begin with.” LOL! What an opening sentence.
I just reread this redemptive tale of miserly old Scrooge, and it is delightful! As with all things Dickensian, the primary goal is to throw light on the very real problems facing the lower classes of London in the mid-19th century. And A Christmas Carol in particular is meant to inspire anyone with anything to devote at least a little time at Christmas thinking about those less fortunate. Dickens was successful during his lifetime, but his early life was pretty tumultuous, and he famously devoted a lot of his famous-person time to talking to and learning about the poor (see EELS: Little books, lotta steps).
Dickens wrote this in just six weeks, so dare I say that it’s actually a little loosey-Christmas-goosey, but it’s an easy, quick read, especially since you already know the story backwards and forwards. He’s also got a bunch of other Christmas ghost stories that I have not read, but will get around to some day. Especially if that above-linked book ends up under my tree in 2024.
Recommended for: Those who want to don a top hat and a scarf and bark, “YOU THERE, BOY. WHAT DAY IS IT” in a work meeting, which I may or may not have done this week, to mild, confused smiles. Can’t win ‘em all.
Recommended format: Let’s talk movies. Everyone’s got their faves (mine is The Muppet Christmas Carol—no wait, it’s Scrooged—but this year I have discovered The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017) which is a very meta movie about Dickens writing the novella, while the plot plays out in his head. You haven’t seen this because it has a really terrible corny name, but It’s funny, clever, absolutely teeming with waistcoats, and stars Christopher Plummer as Scrooge (!!!!). Five stars, terribly named movie!
You there, boy! Want to see what books I’ve recommended in the past? Guess what—I’ve created a handy spreadsheet with all sorts of helpful info to help you choose your next read, and if you’re an EELS subscriber, I’ll give you access to it. It’s free, it’s easy, maybe it’ll help!
❄️ Mr. Jones
Edith Wharton, 1928
I picked this little book up at Wharton’s home, The Mount, in Massachusetts earlier this year. It’s pocket-sized, and proclaimed itself to be “A Ghost Story for Christmas.”
“Don’t mind if I do!” thought I, and promptly forgot about it until last week. Well, it turns out, there’s a whole series of these—Victorian-era and otherwise writers who published ghost stories for Christmas that this Canadian store Biblioasis puts out as a small press. They’re all designed with illustrations by a cartoonist who just goes by Seth. Tess, literally nothing has been more up your alley. Here’s the link.
Anyway, the story, yes. It’s Edith Wharton, so of course it’s good. Oddly for Edith, It takes place in England, and features a lady who inherits a house from a distant relative. The house, the servants say, is run by a sort of butler named Mr. Jones, and no, you can’t see him. He’s, uh, too sick. Things get weirder from there. So weird that the questionably talented 1990s band Counting Crows will ultimately write a hit single about it. I know! So weird!
Recommended for: Those who want to discover a deep cut by a very good author, and also just read something fun for one hour.
Recommended format: I think it would be tough to find this in any other format but print.
👆 A Prayer for Owen Meany
John Irving, 1989
I was trying to figure out what book to round out this issue, when my friend Ross just happened to text me with a reference to A Prayer for Owen Meany. What the heck? I do not believe in ghosts, but this weirded me out. Are the ghosts of Christmas trying to tell me something? The pivotal and by far the most memorable scene in this book literally depicts a theatrical production of A Christmas Carol in which the titular character plays a diminutive but terrifying version of the Ghost of Christmas Future.
I’ve read several John Irving books, and I like them fine, but this one is different. There’s some cool anti-war, anti-hero stuff going on, and some savior complex stuff, and just a lot of things in general. But even if you read it for the Christmas pageant alone, you’re doing yourself a favor. Save it for next December, if you want. You can thank me then.
Recommended for: Those who can handle a lot of all caps writing. If you can’t, you might want to consider…
Recommended format: ... the audiobook.
🌲 And now, a bonus trivia answer 👻
At some point in your life, you will be asked how many ghosts are in A Christmas Carol, and the trick answer is four—the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future, but also the ghost of Jacob Marley, Scrooge’s partner.
But at another point in your life, you may be asked how many ghosts are in The Muppet Christmas Carol, and the answer is five—Jacob Marley’s character is split into two Marleys. There, now you can smugly win your pub trivia, lay a finger on the side of your nose, and disappear up the chimney.
Happy holidays!
That was the thirty-second EELS! I would be just so grateful if you’d share widely with your networks! As always, send any and all questions, feedback, and shouted book recommendations by hitting reply.
📚 Susan
The post about the number of ghosts in a Christmas Carol is incorrect. When Marley leaves Scrooge via the window, "The air was filled with phantoms, wandering here and there in restless haste, and moaning as they went.". So nobody knows how many ghosts are in a Christmas Carol. The answer of "four ghosts" is the response to how many spirits visited Scrooge.
So honored for a shout-out in this most hallowed edition of EELS! And I added Mr. Jones to my to-read list immediately. Now I'm dying to rewatch The Man Who Invented Christmas, too.