Author’s Note
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is, to me, one of the most perfect stories ever formulated, or told. I read it every year at Christmastime, and I never tire of it. How many stories can one read, and re-read, and still feel the full impact of emotion conveyed within the text?
In a way, Saturnalia is my homage to this great storytelling tradition.
At first, I was reluctant to undertake this project. I thought it a little foolhardy and presumptive. Who am I to follow in Mr. Dickens’ footsteps? But then I started to think about the tale in the context of ancient Rome which is, after all, the world in which I ‘live’ most of the time.
I felt a huge burden before starting, of course. Such titanic footsteps to follow! But then I started to really enjoy the research and the cre
