What does Dickens mean by "servant" in A Christmas Carol? [closed]

Solution 1:

The full preface reads:

I have endeavoured in this Ghostly little tale to raise the Ghost of an Idea, which shall not put my readers out of humour with themselves, with each other, with the season, or with me. May it haunt their houses pleasantly, and no-one wish to lay it.

Their Faithful friend and Servant, Charles Dickens

Its in the third person plural since he's referring to his readers and so 'their'. 'Faithful friend' is an indication of warmth and sincerity of friendship. Whilst 'Servant' is an indication of politeness that came from letters addressed by writers to their patrons in an earlier age, say in Shakespeares time. In a sense, his readers are his patrons.

Solution 2:

A perfectly clear and fair question though there are several answers to it via Duck Duck Go.

He is telling the reader about his intentions to other readers. This is how he ends up speaking of himself in the third person; their faithful friend and servant. It was common back then, you can read his other works, to address one's self as an other's servant if only initially upon meeting them out of politeness. If you see films of this story people just introduced will say "Your servant." This corresponds to the more recent usage "At your service."

I'm including a copy of the aforesaid preface by way of completeness, and so I can use the word aforesaid again.

From Dickens: I have endeavoured in this Ghostly little book, to raise the Ghost of an Idea, which shall not put my readers out of humour with themselves, with each other, with the season, or with me. May it haunt their houses pleasantly, and no one wish to lay it.

Their faithful Friend and Servant, C. D. December, 1843.