The Dickens Universe is an annual gathering of scholars, teachers, and members of the general public who share a love of Dickens’s writings and his era. This summer, the Universe features A Christmas Carol and will take place online.

Perhaps the best known and most widely beloved of Dickens’s works, A Christmas Carol is the story of one man’s conversion from miserly misanthropy to a belief in the goodness of humankind and an acceptance of his place in the larger human community.

A unique feature of the remote event is the opportunity for students worldwide to earn five credits in one week by enrolling in the UC Santa Cruz Summer Session course Charles Dickens (LIT 112C). Offered in conjunction with the annual conference, this intensive, one-week online course will focus on A Christmas Carol, its many adaptations and re-interpretations, and its continuing relevance today.

The class includes lectures by distinguished scholars, panel discussions, film screenings, and a small undergraduate seminar and writing workshop. Summer Session tuition and fees apply. Contact summer@ucsc.edu if you need support enrolling in the course.

The schedule for the week is online and includes an appearance by Miriam Margolyes, who played Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter films. An avid Dickens fan, Margolyes has attended the Universe in the past and will be delivering a reading on the final day of the conference.

Whether through the Universe or the course, UCSC offers the opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of Charles Dickens this summer.

For more information, contact Courtney at the Dickens Project office, (831) 459-2103 or dpj@ucsc.edu.