Charles Dickens formalised his Christmas views in a series of little novels, the first of which was the renowned ""A Christmas Carol."" Following that were four more: ""The Chimes,"" ""The Cricket on the Hearth,"" ""The Battle of Life,"" and ""The Haunted Man."" The five are now referred to as the ""Christmas Books."" The title creature serves as a sort of compass for life at John Peerybingle's and his...

Charles Dickens formalised his Christmas views in a series of little novels, the first of which was the renowned ""A Christmas Carol."" Following that were four more: ""The Chimes,"" ""The Cricket on the Hearth,"" ""The Battle of Life,"" and ""The Haunted Man."" The five are now referred to as the ""Christmas Books."" The title creature serves as a sort of compass for life at John Peerybingle's and his considerably younger wife Dot's house. When things are going well, the cricket on the hearth chirps; when things are bad, it is silent. Tackleton, a jealous old man, poisons John's mind concerning Dot, but the cricket restores John's trust through its magical abilities.