I start my second annual read on Monday! 💙 Thanks for inspiring this new tradition for me, and for your beautiful meditation on the power of redemption. Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones, Russell!
This is Charles Dickens' watered down version. The original which he plagiarized was far more powerful. I found a great deal of evidence hiding underneath his redactions, when I transcribed his entire manuscript (which is made available online by the Morgan Library and Museum). Mynew book, presenting that evidence, is entitled "The Sacred Carol: Rediscovering the True Authorship of a Christmas Classic."
From a young American couple named Mathew and Abby Whittier. Both had been literary child prodigies, but published anonymously. Both were esoteric Christians. Mathew was a social reformer, a philosopher and a humorist. Abby was a Catholic mystic who, like Thomas Merton, respected other traditions (including spiritualism), and a charity worker. Their original version was not a ghost story, but rather a mystical redemption story.
The thought occurs to me that, yes, dear old Scrooge managed his redemption in one night, but he had magical interventions. And not only are they hard to come by, they are so unpredictable. Happy Holidays to you and yours, my friend!
Fair and excellent point, Jude. Yes, it happened in one night but Scrooge had plenty of help. Maybe we without evident supernatural assistance need more time and some self-forgiveness if things moreore slowly than we might hope. Happy Holidays!
I just started my 2nd annual read. I'd forgotten that my version was illustrated. Such a treat! Also, I'd left myself notes from last year's read. Also a treat. "Glows like a bad lobster in a dark cellar." What an eerie great line.
I start my second annual read on Monday! 💙 Thanks for inspiring this new tradition for me, and for your beautiful meditation on the power of redemption. Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones, Russell!
Oh I'm so glad you read it too! Thank you, and to you and yours, Michael!
This is Charles Dickens' watered down version. The original which he plagiarized was far more powerful. I found a great deal of evidence hiding underneath his redactions, when I transcribed his entire manuscript (which is made available online by the Morgan Library and Museum). Mynew book, presenting that evidence, is entitled "The Sacred Carol: Rediscovering the True Authorship of a Christmas Classic."
I'll have to check it out. Thanks!
Plagiarized from where? Fascinating.
From a young American couple named Mathew and Abby Whittier. Both had been literary child prodigies, but published anonymously. Both were esoteric Christians. Mathew was a social reformer, a philosopher and a humorist. Abby was a Catholic mystic who, like Thomas Merton, respected other traditions (including spiritualism), and a charity worker. Their original version was not a ghost story, but rather a mystical redemption story.
You know I love your annual Scrooge ruminations!
The thought occurs to me that, yes, dear old Scrooge managed his redemption in one night, but he had magical interventions. And not only are they hard to come by, they are so unpredictable. Happy Holidays to you and yours, my friend!
Fair and excellent point, Jude. Yes, it happened in one night but Scrooge had plenty of help. Maybe we without evident supernatural assistance need more time and some self-forgiveness if things moreore slowly than we might hope. Happy Holidays!
Self-forgivness... yes, that's a good thing.
I just started my 2nd annual read. I'd forgotten that my version was illustrated. Such a treat! Also, I'd left myself notes from last year's read. Also a treat. "Glows like a bad lobster in a dark cellar." What an eerie great line.