A Christmas Carol, written by Charles Dickens, is probably one of best known stories of modern times. With over 100 different cinematic and television versions, not to mention the countless references in sitcoms and other shows, it is hard to not encounter this story in one form or another every year around this time. But how much do you really know about the author of this novel and the nuanced details of its content? Prof. John Mark Reynolds, provost at Houston Baptist University, talks about his year-long immersion in Dickens, what he learned about this prodigious author, and provides a few interesting tidbits about this timeless story.
Following a short discussion of how Prof. Reynolds became interested in studying Dickens, we dive right into the life and times of this author who John calls â??a maker of the modern mind.â? He notes that the 19th century was a pivotal moment in human history and argues that a person who lived in 1800 would be much more comfortable living in the Roman Empire than someone in 1900, who would be more at ease in our contemporary world. The hundred years between 1800 and 1900 witnesses a dramatic shift in human culture and helps us understand the thought process and mindset that Charles Dickens brought to his work. John makes the claim that Dickensâ?? work gave England a â??way outâ? of this cultural turmoil that prevented revolution and social upheaval.
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