Fifty years on, still being dissected

I have read The Female Man a couple of times; my only interaction with A Christmas Carol is the Muppet version. Mendlesohn’s explanation of how Dickens’ work works - what each section, and each ghost, is doing - and the way this matches what’s happening in Joanna Russ’ The Female Man is compelling, changes the way I think about the second novel, and also delights me - because Russ’ work is more than 50 years old and we’re still finding new things to say about it. You don’t need to have read Russ to appreciate the essay… the essay may make you want to find a copy, though. (The same cannot be said for me and Dickens, admit.)