The Chimes

What it is

The Chimes: A Goblin Story is a novella by Charles Dickens, published in 1844, the second of his five Christmas books. It was written during his year-long stay in Italy. Shown here is the engraved title page.

Why it matters

The story follows a poor porter, Trotty Veck, who is led to believe the working poor are naturally wicked, until goblin spirits of the church bells show him visions correcting this view. It is a sharper social and moral attack than A Christmas Carol, aimed at officials and economists who blamed poverty on the poor themselves. It shows Dickens using popular fiction deliberately to challenge attitudes toward the poor in his own time.

Look closer

• Why might Dickens have chosen a fantasy device—goblins and visions—to make a point about real social problems?
• What does the decorative, fairy-tale imagery of the title page suggest about how the book was presented to readers?
• What attitudes toward poverty is Dickens criticising through characters like Alderman Cute and Sir Joseph Bowley?