A Christmas Carol Author:Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol is a novella by English author Charles Dickens first published by Chapman and Hall and first released on 19 December 1843. The story tells of sour and stingy Ebenezer Scrooge's ideological, ethical, and emotional transformation after the supernatural visitations of Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of Christmases Past, Present, and Y... more »et to Come. The novella met with instant success and critical acclaim. The book was written and published at a time when Britain was experiencing a nostalgic interest in its forgotten Christmas traditions, and at the time when new customs such as the Christmas tree and greeting cards were being introduced. Dickens' sources for the tale appear to be many and varied but are principally the humiliating experiences of his childhood, his sympathy for the poor, and the Christmas stories of Washington Irving. The tale was pirated immediately, was adapted several times to the stage, and has been credited with restoring the holiday to one of merriment and festivity in Britain and America after a period of sobriety and somberness. A Christmas Carol remains popular, has never been out of print, and has been adapted to film, opera, and other media.« less
I've done a staged reading of this book so many times that it was nice to just sit down and read it. I love this classic tale. It's the only Dickens I've actually been able to make it through thus far. Dickens may be overly word (in my opinion) but I can't get enough of this story. I may have to make it a tradition to read it every holiday season.
I read this every year and every year I love it more and more. We all know the story, of course (if you don't know it, you must be living under a rock!), but to read the real Dickens version is a true experience. His use of detail and vivid imagery is brilliant, and you really see Scrooge's change as he experiences his past, present, and future. A Christmas delight!
Beautifully photographed gift version with ribbon marker by Barmes and Noble of this fun Christmas classic, that we learn being cheap with our fellow man does not pay and Scrooge learns to let his heart grow to love and help others.
What can I say, its a classic. Im not huge on classics, but I did enjoy this one. Having heard the story and seen any number of movies, I of course knew what to expect. But I was surprised by a couple of little things.
Summary from the Back of the Book:
"Bah!" said Scrooge. "Humbug!"
With those famous words unfolds a tale that renews the joy and caring that are Christmas. Whether we read it aloud with our family and friends or open the pages on a chill winter evening to savor the story in solitude, Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol is a very special holiday experience. It is the one book that every year will warm our hearts with favorite memories of Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim, Bob Cratchit, and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future - and will remind us with laughter and tears how the true Christmas spirit comes from giving with love.
This edition includes a heartwarming account of Dickens's first reading of the Carol, and a biographical sketch.
It is much easier for children to listen to Dickens on audio than it is for them to try to read it on their own. We listened to the story after seeing the movie and play. A nice way to show the langage of Dickens to children, once they are familiar with the storyline, the language is easier to understand.
This is my second time reading this book. The first time I read this book, I was in high school. This time I read it aloud to my children who are 8 and 9 years old. They really enjoyed the book. We did spend a lot of time pausing in the reading to answer questions about antiquated words and phrases. The English language has changed so much since Dickens' time!! I can't believe the expressions that have fallen off our radar.
We had a fun time reading this in preparation for Christmas. I hope that the message of the book was clear for my children even if the old-fashioned wording made it hard to see.
This is a BOOK. The description the system offered seems to refer to an audio recording, but the ISBNs match. Pamela Kennedy has rewritten Dickens' timeless story of greed and regeneration in a way very accessible to children, especially when paired with Russ Flint's bright and colorful illustrations.
Better than any production or movie bearing its title, the original work is sophisticated, poignant and captivating. More than just a ghost story, Dickens uses his great skills to create a character in Scrooge that has depth and redemption. A short read, it is worth reading aloud to anyone who will listen.
After all the years of watching the move, it was wonderful to read the book. Amazing how closely the movie follows the book. Totally enjoyed it and I think you will too! This book has extras: annotations to interpret some of Dicken's words for the reader, an Appendix of his letters and a report from 1842 on child labor in England. This edition is very "keepable".
This story is truly a classic. I doubt there are many people who don't know the story of the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge and how visits from his deceased business partner Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come help put him on the path to changing his life. Dickens does go off on a few tangents where he examines the social maladies of his time, and although it may be distracting to the modern reader because it isn't directly related to Scrooge, it does help give you a sense as to why Dickens may have written the story in the first place. The ultimate message of this story is one that I think still resonates all these years later, perhaps even more so today with the current economic situation (I read a news article earlier today that said people are being "Scrooge-like" in their holiday shopping, not spending much and not buying as much for toy drives or spending as much on charities than in years past). If that's the case, then the message that Dickens gives us in this story about cheerfully helping others if you are in a position to do so still rings true. All-in-all it is a great read, and a short one too. It's easy enough for a younger reader looking to start something a bit more "grown up," and can certainly be read-aloud to the entire family in the spirit of the holidays.
Super, timeless story! I like Dickens' minute descriptions of everything & everyone. The moral of the story is wonderful -- to spread your love and kindness with all now for tomorrow is an unknown. As Scrooge saw, his trip to the future showed his isolation, with no friends or family. He had time in his reality to change his course in life. We can learn a lot from this classic.
This is an abridged version of the Charles Dickens Christmas classic. It's perfect for younger readers but I would recommend the full version for adults to read.
In a specially adapted version by Malvina G. Vogel
BLESS US EVERYONE, That's not the way old Ebenezer Scrooge starts out thinking about Christmas. To the miserly merchant, Christmas is just an excuse for people to have a day off from work. He has no use for traditional joys. But a series of encounters- both warmly human and other -worldly-change Scrooge's mind and spirit forever, in this , the most beloved of all Christmas stories.
