The Chimes

After A Christmas Carol, The Chimes is the second of Dickens’ Christmas Books. Set on New Year’s Eve it tells the story of Toby Veck a humble porter who makes a meagre living, waiting for jobs as he sits on the church steps; inspired by the church bells to hope for better times.

This is Dickens at his most uncompromising. Ever the social reformer, he presents stark differences between the hard, the uncaring and the ignorant well-off, with the down-trodden poor who take pleasure in simple comforts and companionship, to live as well as they may. Although this is a dark tale it does conclude with a surprising and uplifting happy ending.

Ultimately it is a tale of the triumph of hope over adversity, and being Dickens, there are ghosts and goblins who are very much part of the story.