I confess, I just could not get through the holiday without Charles Dickens. I have found that, in general, people either love or hate Dickens. There doesn't appear to be a lot of middle ground. If you are unsure about him please give The Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain it is much scarier than A Christmas Carol and just as long.
The Dickens I know and love does come through, this story is about the spirit of Christmas more than the holiday itself. The main character, Mr. Redlaw is consumed by grief over the wrongs done to him in life. Rather than an actual ghost he is haunted by a phantom twin who helps him to spread bitterness to others around him. Forgetfulness is the Phantom's solution for skipping the sadness in one's life but it becomes a curse that Redlaw spreads to others. Milly is Dickens typically perfectly good female character, she and a young boy are immune to the curse. They are instrumental in leading Redlaw to the change that makes him more loving and humble in the end.
I read this story from The Ultimate Christmas Collection on my Kindle. Gutenberg has it in several formats as well. You can also download it for free here, where you can take part in a discussion forum.
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