If you think of Charles Dickens and only picture Scrooge and Tiny Tim, you're missing one of his weirdest and most fascinating Christmas tales. 'The Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain' is the last of his five Christmas books, and it swaps jolly spirits for something much more unsettling.

The Story

Professor Redlaw is a brilliant but deeply unhappy man. He's haunted by memories of betrayal and loss. On a lonely Christmas Eve, a phantom—a ghostly mirror image of himself—appears. The ghost offers a bargain: he will remove Redlaw's painful memories forever. Redlaw agrees. But this 'gift' has a poison pill. Redlaw loses not just his sorrow, but also his ability to feel compassion. Worse, this curse is contagious. Anyone he interacts with starts forgetting their own hardships and, in turn, becomes cold and bitter. The story follows Redlaw as he spreads this emotional plague, until he must find a way to break the curse.

Why You Should Read It

This isn't just a simple ghost story. Dickens is really asking us: what makes us human? Redlaw thinks shedding his pain will set him free, but instead, it strips away his kindness. The most touching moments come from the minor characters—a poor student and a disabled custodian—who show that struggling with hardship can actually make you more generous, not less. It's a surprisingly deep look at how our scars shape us.

Final Verdict

This is for the reader who loves a classic with a dark, psychological edge. It's shorter than a typical Dickens novel, so it's a great entry point. If you enjoy stories that mix a creepy atmosphere with big ideas about memory and forgiveness, this forgotten gem is for you. Just don't expect a perfectly tidy ending—Dickens leaves you with some haunting questions of your own.