The Chimes

"The Chimes" is an 1844 novella by Charles Dickens. It is the second of Dickens' five Christmas Books, the first and best known of which is "A Christmas Carol". The novella is divided into four parts which are called "quarters", in reference to the quarter chimes of a striking clock.

The story of "The Chimes" concerns a working class man, Toby Veck, who comes to believe that he is worthless and worries that working-class people are wicked by nature. On New Year's Eve, some goblins show him visions of what will become of his loved ones if they are allowed to continue believing that they are worthless and wicked. In common with "A Christmas Carol", social commentary forms an important part of the novella and its main character is a man who changes his point of view after a night time encounter with some spirits.