Some Christmas Stories

By Charles Dickens

No author is more associated with Christmas-time than Charles Dickens.
Collected here are six of his festive short stories to get you in the holiday spirit:
• A Christmas Tree
• What Christmas Is As We Grow Older
• The Poor Relation's Story
• The Child's Story
• The Schoolboy's Story
• Nobody's Story

• Language: English
• Publisher: AUK Classics
• Release date: Jun 19, 2012
• ISBN: 9781781667545

Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens was born in 1812 and grew up in poverty. This experience influenced ‘Oliver Twist’, the second of his fourteen major novels, which first appeared in 1837. When he died in 1870, he was buried in Poets’ Corner in Westminster Abbey as an indication of his huge popularity as a novelist, which endures to this day.

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A CHRISTMAS TREE

I have been looking on, this evening, at a merry company of children assembled round that pretty German toy, a Christmas Tree. The tree was planted in the middle of a great round table, and towered high above their heads. It was brilliantly lighted by a multitude of little tapers; and everywhere sparkled and glittered with bright objects. There were rosy-cheeked dolls, hiding behind the green leaves; and there were real watches (with movable hands, at least, and an endless capacity of being wound up) dangling from innumerable twigs; there were French-polished tables, chairs, bedsteads, wardrobes, eight-day clocks, and various other articles of domestic furniture (wonderfully made, in tin, at Wolverhampton), perched among the boughs, as if in preparation for some fairy housekeeping; there were jolly, broad-faced little men, much more agreeable in appearance than many real men - and no wonder, for their heads took off, and showed them to be full of sugar-plums; there were fiddles and drums; there were tambourines, books, work-boxes, paint-boxes, sweetmeat-boxes, peep-show boxes, and all kinds of boxes; there were trinkets for the elder girls, far brighter than any grown-up gold and jewels; there were baskets and pincushions in all devices; there were guns, swords, and banners; there were witches standing in enchanted rings of pasteboard, to tell fortunes; there were teetotums, humming-tops, needle-cases, pen-wipers, smelling-bottles, conversation-cards, bouquet-holders; real fruit, made artificially dazzling with gold leaf; imitation apples, pears, and walnuts, crammed with surprises; in short, as a pretty child, before me, delightedly whispered to another pretty child, her bosom friend, There was everything, and more. This motley collection of odd objects, clustering on the tree like magic fruit, and flashing back the bright looks directed towards it from every side - some of the diamond-eyes admiring it were hardly on a level with the table, and a few were languishing in timid wonder on the bosoms of pretty mothers, aunts, and nurses - made a lively realisation of the fancies of childhood; and set me thinking how all the trees that grow and all the things that come into existence on the earth, have their wild adornments at that well-remembered time.

Being now at home again, and alone, the only person in the house awake, my thoughts are drawn back, by a fascination which I do not care to resist, to my own childhood. I begin to consider, what do we all remember best upon the branches of the Christmas Tree of our own young Christmas days, by which we climbed to real life.

Straight, in the middle of the room, cramped in the freedom of its growth by no encircling walls or soon-reached ceiling, a shadowy tree arises; and, looking up into the dreamy brightness of its top - for I observe in this tree the singular property that it appears to grow downward towards the earth - I look into my youngest Christmas recollections!

All toys at first, I find. Up yonder, among the green holly and red berries, is the Tumbler with his hands in his pockets, who wouldn't lie down, but whenever he was put upon the floor, persisted in rolling his fat body about, until he rolled himself still, and brought those lobster eyes of his to bear upon me - when I affected to laugh very much, but in my heart of hearts was extremely doubtful of him. Close beside him is that infernal snuff-box, out of which there sprang a demoniacal Counsellor in a black gown, with an obnoxious head of hair, and a red cloth mouth, wide open, who was not to be endured on any terms, but could not be put away either; for he used suddenly, in a highly magnified state, to fly out of Mammoth Snuff-boxes in dreams, when least expected. Nor is the frog with cobbler's wax on his tail, far off; for there was no knowing where he wouldn't jump; and when he flew over the candle, and came upon one's hand with that spotted back - red on a green ground - he was horrible. The cardboard lady in a blue-silk skirt, who was stood up against the candlestick to dance, and whom I see on the same branch, was milder, and was beautiful; but I can't say as much for the larger cardboard man, who used to be hung against the wall and pulled by a string; there was a sinister expression in that nose of his; and when he got his legs round his neck (which he very often did), he was ghastly, and not a creature to be alone with.

When did that dreadful Mask first look at me? Who put it on, and why was I so frightened that the sight of it is an era in my life? It is not a hideous visage in itself; it is even meant to be droll, why then were its stolid features so intolerable? Surely not because it hid the wearer's face. An apron would have done as much; and though I should have preferred even the apron away, it would not have been absolutely insupportable, like the mask. Was it the immovability of the mask? The doll's face was immovable, but I was not afraid of HER. Perhaps that fixed and set change coming over a real face, infused into my quickened heart some remote suggestion and dread of the universal change that is to come on every face, and make it still? Nothing reconciled me to it. No drummers, from whom proceeded a melancholy chirping on the turning of a handle; no regiment of soldiers, with a mute band, taken out of a box, and fitted, one by one, upon a stiff and lazy little set of lazy-tongs; no old woman, made of wires and a brown-paper composition, cutting up a pie for two small children; could give me a permanent comfort, for a long time. Nor was it any satisfaction to be shown the Mask, and see that it was made of paper, or to have it locked up and be assured that no one wore it. The mere recollection of that fixed face, the mere knowledge of its existence anywhere, was sufficient to awake me in the night all perspiration and horror, with, O I know it's coming! O the mask!

I never wondered what the dear old donkey with the

Reviews for Some Christmas Stories

[charlie68_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Some entertaining stories and sketches, most with tenuous ties to Christmas. Well-read by the narrator.

[thereadingmermaid · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Loved reading through A Christmas Carol. However the other stories we're a bit dry and difficult to get into. All-in-all a good classic read.

[syndelle777 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Loved reading through A Christmas Carol. However the other stories we're a bit dry and difficult to get into. All-in-all a good classic read.

[quaintlittlehead · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Five stars to "A Christmas Carol," and four each to the other two novellas in this volume, which seem just a little bit derivative of the former. I found it a bit difficult to keep up with the characters in the latter two stories and whether the events described were real or imagined in "The Chimes." But both stories were intriguing enough that I may come back to them again the next time the holidays roll around.The Barnes and Noble edition of this book contains an introduction by Katharine Kroeber Wiley, which, while seeming a bit opinionated in places, offers interesting facts that I did not know (such as the telling of ghost stories being an old English holiday tradition). Also included are a timeline of Dickens' life, a discussion of the most famous film adaptations, and a selection of critical comments and questions (though all but one of the critical comments discusses "A Christmas Carol" only).

[leslitgs · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Ebenezer Scrooge is a selfish, unhappy old miser who makes his way through valuing every aspect of his life to the measure of gold taken. But one Christmas Eve, he is visited by four ghosts who intend on showing Scrooge where he came from, where he is, and where he very may well be going. [Spoilers? Seriously though, if you don't know the premise of this story, that must be some rock you have as a roof.] This is the second piece of Dickens that I have read, the first being A Tale of Two Cities in tenth grade or something like that. And, while I cannot remember any specifics as to why, I must say that I remember thoroughly enjoying the story as well as the style in which it was written. Inasmuch, when I got it in my head to finally read this annually observed story [the basis for one of my favorite Christmas movies, possibly now two], I did not expect to suffer through it. And I did not. I found Dickens to actually be an easy read, if somewhat dry at times. His style, though dated, I am sure, is attractive and flowing. His descriptions bring the mind into the place at hand and set the mood, while the characters form and move about as per their flaws and and histories. I will need to, perhaps, read something somewhat lengthier by him before sending up a resounding cheer for his canon, but for now, at least, I am eager to bread more. Let us just see how long it takes me to get there. Now, beyond that, there is not a lot of brain power I can put into this review, because it is like preaching to the choir--everybody who watches TV has seen this basic plot: unpleasant man, four ghosts, redemption. It has been through several basic interpretations to film by different movie studios, TV channels, and even once by the Muppets. And television shows? It seems fairly mandatory for most cartoons, at least, to have a Christmas Carol episode, including but not limited to Animaniacs. It is just one of those basic plots that has been adopted by the visual media industry. Most recently created is Jim Carrey's rendition. Now, some may say, 'Wait a minnit. Wasn't it billed as 'Disney's?' On a technical level, yes. It was Disney's. But like with Shakespeare plays, since the story has been around for so long, you end up remembering it by performance of specific characters, such as Hamlet. [The plays that are remembered by the companies are generally ones with more than one main character, such as Midsummer Night's Dream or Much Ado About Nothing.] And it will be the Scrooge of a film that will make or break it [unless there is something so horribly horribly wrong that you cannot even pay attention to Scrooge. Like what, I don't know.] Inasmuch, I am going to tell you about Scrooges. Thus far, my favorite Scrooge is, in fact, Michael Caine. He played Scrooge in the 1992 muppet adaptation. I worry that some people believe I chose this as my favorite because of the muppets and not Caine, but it is him. Though they chose to make it a children's film and thereby skipped over certain scenes--ingnorance and want, for instance, and the deathbed--as well as filling it with the oddly shaped and voiced characters of the muppets, including but not limited to Kermit, Miss Piggy, Gonzo, Rizzo and some singing fruit, Caine played Scrooge straight. He was angry, he was hateful, he was saved. I heartily believe you could put his performance in a normal production and be more than happy with it. I have few qualms with Patrick Stewart's 1999 performance, and the rest of the cast was superb, but he did not, I feel, resonate with Scrooge. For me, this is saying something because Patrick Stewart is one of my all-time favorites. Brilliant, British and disgustingly skilled, he is just awesome. It was just that, in that rich, melodic voice of his, I did not hear Scrooge. In my mind, Scrooge is scratchy and tends to talk in a raspy voice because he cannot be bothered to use a proper one. And Stewart's face is just so blasted noble, his manner to dignified. He played it well, as well as perhaps he could, but he seems more destined to play leaders who don't skip when they are saved. It is a brilliant rendition, but just barely off. And I will finish on the 2009 Jim Carrey Scrooge. I did not like it. It bothered me that he was the only one without an accent. It bothered me that he was also the ghosts of past and present. It bothered me that they injected so much of his brand of humour throughout a story that is supposed to be steady and quite scary at times. Again, I think it was his voice that put me off. Admittedly, it may be because it is quite recognizable. And, with this film, to be honest, there were little things all throughout that bothered me, so I am unable to say anything beyond I truly did not care for his performance. The other characters, however, such as Oldman as Crachit and Firth as Fred, were spot on. the end, I love Caine. I like Stewart. I am irked by Carrey. And, if I were to assemble a new cast for a new rendition, I would actually like to see Oldman play Scrooge. Fred, I support Carey Elwes. Ghost of Christmas Present, I think I would like to see Neeson. Past maybe Julie Andrews. As for Crachit, I am not sure. I'll have to think on it. These are not hard-and-fast favorites. These are more just ponderies. I think it could be good. And never please, give your Ghost of Christmas Future eyes. Just doesn't work.

[pgchuis · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I just read a Christmas Carol (not the other stories) for a book club. I haven't read it before, although the basic plot was (inevitably) familiar. It is short and moralistic, but more complex than I had expected. I liked the criticism of the church for its attempts to prevent the poor using the bakeries' warm ovens on a Sunday and the reasons given by Scrooge's fiancee for breaking off their engagement. As the introduction to this edition makes clear, the story is about more than Scrooge being a miser, it is about life being about people and charity and happiness coming only through that.

[bagpuss-3 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

My annual Christmas read! This book is just brilliant - it has it all. Such a fantastic story and just the thing to put one in the mood for Christmas. If you haven't read it I urge you to do so (it's not very long, so there is still time!).

[matthew.ducmanas · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It's hard to read Dickens' A Christmas Carol without a strange medley of mental imagery running through my head from every filmed, illustrated, animated, and theatrical performance version of the classic story that I've seen over the years. However, the author's jaunty prose holds its own and the novella remains vibrant despite its countless adaptations. It's no surprise this charming tale has remained so popular. At some point I will read the two other novellas in this collection...

[kristelh_15 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A reread of The Christmas Carol, The Chimes, The Cricket on the Hearth. Stories of redemption and recovery. Christmas Carol is the individual (Scrooge), The Chimes is society, The cricket is a fairy tale so is the most light-hearted. Dickens was commissioned to write these Christmas stories. I have not read the last two.

[john257hopper · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Christmas BooksOnly A Christmas Carol is worth re- reading from this collection. 4/5A Christmas CarolAs timeless a classic as ever at Christmas. The ultimate secular story about redemption.The ChimesThis had some interesting things to say about class divisions in mid-19th century England, but delivered without the author's usual charm and warmth. This was very bleak until the last two pages. Worse than that, though, it was confusing. It also isn't a Christmas story, though it is a new year's eve one.The Cricket on the HearthCouldn't get into this. Interesting portrayal of a blind character, but overall too dull and I gave up on it.

[anneofia · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The three stories in this book include A Christmas Carol, first published in 1843, The Chimes (184-) and the Cricket on the Hearth (1846). I read them all as a kid and I loved them. I still do. Of the three, my favorite is the Cricket.

[bookseller525 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Who doesn't love A Christmas Carol, and the idea that even old Scrooge can be redeemed?

[1morechapter · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is just for Cricket on the Hearth.Dickens’ Cricket on the Hearth was his third published Christmas book, after A Christmas Carol and The Chimes, and it outsold them both.John the Carrier and his wife Dot are a couple with a new baby. Included in their home is a cricket on the hearth, who might turn out to be more than just a cricket. They are a happy couple until a misunderstanding arises, but of course, all is well in the end. Other characters include a toymaker and his blind daughter; the toymaker’s boss, Tackleton, who is a Scrooge-like character; and a young girl May (who is supposed to marry Tackleton) and her mother.The book was quite humorous at times and heartwarming. Although I appreciated this novella at the end, I had a hard time getting into this book at first. In fact, whenever I tried reading it, I would fall asleep. That might have something more to do with me than the story, though. Ordinarily I love classics. The book I read the story in also includes A Christmas Carol and The Chimes, so hopefully I’ll get to read those two titles next year.

[simonw11 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

If only I had been there to offer advice Charles Dickens could have been a truly great author. This read as part of the reading group, where it produced the best discussion for some time. Charles Dickens combined an incredible talent for characterisation with the self indulgence that can marr a rich and popular author. If only a writing group had been there to repeat the basic mantras “show not tell” and so on.