A Christmas Carol: with original illustrations

By Charles Dickens

A CHRISTMAS CAROL is a novella by Charles Dickens, first published in London on December 1843. The novella met with instant success and critical acclaim. A Christmas Carol tells the story of a bitter old miser named Ebenezer Scrooge and his transformation into a gentler, kindlier man after visitations by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come. The book was written at a time when the British were examining and exploring Christmas traditions from the past as well as new customs such as Christmas cards and Christmas trees. Carol singing took a new lease on life during this time. 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 various Christmas stories and fairy tales.

Dickens was not the first author to celebrate the Christmas season in literature, but it was he who superimposed his humanitarian vision of the holiday upon the public, an idea that has been termed as Dickens' "Carol Philosophy". Dickens believed the best way to reach the broadest segment of the population regarding his concerns about poverty and social injustice was to write a deeply felt Christmas story rather than polemical pamphlets and essays. Dickens' career as a best-selling author was on the wane, and the writer felt he needed to produce a tale that would prove both profitable and popular. Dickens' visit to the work-worn industrial city of Manchester was the "spark" that fired the author to produce a story about the poor, a repentant miser, and redemption that would become A Christmas Carol. The forces that inspired Dickens to create a powerful, impressive and enduring tale were the profoundly humiliating experiences of his childhood, the plight of the poor and their children during the boom decades of the 1830s and 1840s, and Washington Irving's essays on old English Christmas traditions published in his Sketch Book (1820); and fairy tales and nursery stories, as well as satirical essays and religious tracts.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wisehouse Classics
• Release date: Dec 23, 2019
• ISBN: 9789176370520

Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens (1812-1870) was an English writer and social critic. Regarded as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era, Dickens had a prolific collection of works including fifteen novels, five novellas, and hundreds of short stories and articles. The term “cliffhanger endings” was created because of his practice of ending his serial short stories with drama and suspense. Dickens’ political and social beliefs heavily shaped his literary work. He argued against capitalist beliefs, and advocated for children’s rights, education, and other social reforms. Dickens advocacy for such causes is apparent in his empathetic portrayal of lower classes in his famous works, such as The Christmas Carol and Hard Times.

Book preview

IT

THE PREFACE

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

STAVE ONE

MARLEY’S GHOST

MARLEY WAS DEAD: TO BEGIN WITH. THERE IS NO DOUBT WHATEVER ABOUT THAT. The register of his burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner. Scrooge signed it: and Scrooge’s name was good upon ’Change, for anything he chose to put his hand to. Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail.

Mind! I don’t mean to say that I know, of my own knowledge, what there is particularly dead about a door-nail. I might have been inclined, myself, to regard a coffin-nail as the deadest piece of ironmongery in the trade. But the wisdom of our ancestors is in the simile; and my unhallowed hands shall not disturb it, or the Country’s done for. You will therefore permit me to repeat, emphatically, that Marley was as dead as a door-nail.

Scrooge knew he was dead? Of course he did. How could it be otherwise? Scrooge and he were partners for I don’t know how many years. Scrooge was his sole executor, his sole administrator, his sole assign, his sole residuary legatee, his sole friend, and sole mourner. And even Scrooge was not so dreadfully cut up by the sad event, but that he was an excellent man of business on the very day of the funeral, and solemnised it with an undoubted bargain.

The mention of Marley’s funeral brings me back to the point I started from. There is no doubt that Marley was dead. This must be distinctly understood, or nothing wonderful can come of the story I am going to relate. If we were not perfectly convinced that Hamlet’s Father died before the play began, there would be nothing more remarkable in his taking a stroll at night, in an easterly wind, upon his own ramparts, than there would be in any other middle-aged gentleman rashly turning out after dark in a breezy spot—say Saint Paul’s Churchyard for instance—literally to astonish his son’s weak mind.

Scrooge never painted out Old Marley’s name. There it stood, years afterwards, above the warehouse door: Scrooge and Marley. The firm was known as Scrooge and Marley. Sometimes people new to the business called Scrooge Scrooge, and sometimes Marley, but he answered to both names. It was all the same to him.

Oh! But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge! a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner! Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire; secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster. The cold within him froze his old features, nipped his pointed nose, shrivelled his cheek, stiffened his gait; made his eyes red, his thin lips blue; and spoke out shrewdly in his grating voice. A frosty rime was on his head, and on his eyebrows, and his wiry chin. He carried his own low temperature always about with him; he iced his office in the dog-days; and didn’t thaw it one degree at Christmas.

External heat and cold had little influence on Scrooge. No warmth could warm, no wintry weather chill him. No wind that blew was bitterer than he, no falling snow was more intent upon its purpose, no pelting rain less open to entreaty. Foul weather didn’t know where to have him. The heaviest rain, and snow, and hail, and sleet, could boast of the advantage over him in only one respect. They often came down handsomely, and Scrooge never did.

Nobody ever stopped him in the street to say, with gladsome looks, My dear Scrooge, how are you? When will you come to see me? No beggars implored him to bestow a trifle, no children asked him what it was o’clock, no man or woman ever once in all his life inquired the way to such and such a place, of Scrooge. Even the blind men’s dogs appeared to know him; and when they saw him coming on, would tug their owners into doorways and up courts; and then would wag their tails as though they said, No eye at all is better than an evil eye, dark master!

But what did Scrooge care! It was the very thing he liked. To edge his way along the crowded paths of life, warning all human sympathy to keep its distance, was what the knowing ones call nuts to Scrooge.

Once upon a time—of all the good days in the year, on Christmas Eve—old Scrooge sat busy in his counting-house. It was cold, bleak, biting weather: foggy withal: and he could hear the people in the court outside, go wheezing up and down, beating their hands upon their breasts, and stamping their feet upon the pavement stones to warm them. The city clocks had only just gone three, but it was quite dark already—it had not been light all day—and candles were flaring in the windows of the neighbouring offices, like ruddy smears upon the palpable brown air. The fog came pouring in at every chink and keyhole, and was so dense without, that although the court was of the narrowest, the houses opposite were mere phantoms. To see the dingy cloud come drooping down, obscuring everything, one might have thought that Nature lived hard by, and was brewing on a large scale.

The door of Scrooge’s counting-house was open that he might keep his eye upon his clerk, who in a dismal little cell beyond, a sort of tank, was copying letters. Scrooge had a very small fire, but the clerk’s fire was so very much smaller that it looked like one coal. But he couldn’t replenish it, for Scrooge kept the coal-box in his own room; and so surely as the clerk came in with the shovel, the master predicted that it would be necessary for them to part. Wherefore the clerk put on his white comforter, and tried to warm himself at the candle; in which effort, not being a man of a strong imagination, he failed.

A merry Christmas, uncle! God save you! cried a cheerful voice. It was the voice of Scrooge’s nephew, who came upon him so quickly that this was the first intimation he had of his approach.

Bah! said Scrooge, Humbug!

He had so heated himself with rapid walking in the fog and frost, this nephew of Scrooge’s that he was all in a glow; his face was ruddy and handsome; his eyes sparkled, and his breath smoked again.

Christmas a humbug, uncle! said Scrooge’s nephew. You don’t mean that, I am sure?

I do, said Scrooge. Merry Christmas! What right have you to be merry? What reason have you to be merry? You’re poor enough.

Come, then, returned the nephew gaily. What right have you to be dismal? What reason have you to be morose? You’re rich enough.

Scrooge having no better answer ready on the spur of the moment, said, Bah! again; and followed it up with Humbug.

Don’t be cross, uncle! said the nephew.

What else can I be, returned the uncle, when I live in such a world of fools as this? Merry Christmas! Out upon merry Christmas! What’s Christmas time to you but a time for paying bills without money; a time for finding yourself a year older, but not an hour richer; a time for balancing your books and having every item in ’em through a round dozen of months presented dead against you? If I could work my will, said Scrooge indignantly, every idiot who goes about with ‘Merry Christmas’ on his lips, should be boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through his heart. He should!

Uncle! pleaded the nephew.

Nephew! returned the uncle sternly, keep Christmas in your own way, and let me keep it in mine.

Keep it! repeated Scrooge’s nephew. But you don’t keep it.

Let me leave it alone, then, said Scrooge. Much good may it do you! Much good it has ever done you!

There are many things from which I might have derived good, by which I have not profited, I dare say, returned the nephew. "Christmas among the rest. But I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round—apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin, if

Reviews for A Christmas Carol

[p_s_patrick · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

If all the best qualities were taken from each of the various TV and film versions, and combined together, then that is roughly what we get in the original book. Scrooge’s sarcastic wit, miserliness, and meanness, the door-knocker turning into Marley’s face, the biting cold winter, the merriment of Fezziwig’s ball, Tiny Tim, the classic Christmas traditions, the fantastic spirits, and the ending we all know and love.As a short story of only 90 pages it works very well. Some of Dickens’s writings can be a bit over-detailed and redundant, however this is relatively compact for him, and achieves the impact, the atmosphere, and the character development that sometimes take him a lot longer in other works. Deserving of its central place in the Christmas season.

[herebedragons · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

#65, 2006My son became interested in Charles Dickens after watching the recent “Doctor Who” episode which features Dickens as a character, and I thought we’d start with this book – mostly because it’s not incredibly long like some of Dickens’ other books. When my son started asking about Dickens, I realized that I’ve never actually read any of his books – I’m familiar with most of the stories one way or another, but I’d never actually sat down and read one. So, I was pleased to have this opportunity.We really enjoyed this book! I read it aloud to him at bedtime, over the course of several days, and it was loads of fun. There is wonderful dialogue, and while Dickens does get wordy in places – he must be the king of the run-on sentence, and all those lists of things that go on and on – I found it was easy to see where he was going and feel the pleasant flow of his prose as I read aloud. He has a powerful way of describing things that made them seem very real to me. (My son’s favourite part is the very first appearance of Marley’s ghost – in the door knocker; I’m not sure I have a favourite part – oh wait, yes I do. I enjoyed times when the ghosts echoed some of Scrooge’s less charitable words back at him. What a wonderful way of illustrating the point)!It’s a touching story, too – possibly more so in the book than in any of the film versions I’ve seen. The message of peace and goodwill towards others really comes across, and yet it’s not at all “preachy.” Speaking of films, we also watched two adaptations this past week, and I thought the one with Alastair Sim (1951, IIRC) was an excellent adaptation. There is a lot of dialogue that was taken directly from the text, and while there are some scenes created for the film, I thought they fit in well, and the film does a fine job of capturing the spirit of the book.This book deserves the label “classic.” We enjoyed it very much, and will likely read it again.Assuming, that is, we ever get through the next Dickens we plan to tackle – “Oliver Twist” – which has an awful lot of pages, and very small type! :DLJ Discussion

[helenliz_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I can't quite believe that I've not read this before, but I think this is the first time I've read it (and seeing as I listened to it, you could argue I've still not read it!). It is a story that has been on screen so many times that you can't not know it. My personal favourite being the Muppet version with Michael Caine as Scrooge, which actually is remarkably faithful to the original. What they miss is all the description that Dickens packs into this small volume. It takes a good 20% for Scrooge to even meet the ghost of Marley that sets up the three further encounters. I was stuck by the fact that noth the Ghosts of Christmas Past and Present are described in detail, where as the Ghost of Christmas yet to come is barely described at all. In the midst of all the description, it's a noticable omission. The scenes presented by the third ghost are really very dark, particularly when he discovers his own future fate. The final section, on Christmas day, has a roller coaster feel about it, as if you're carrering towards a conclusion and he's running out of words to do so. It's all a bit breathless, especially after the dismal previous chapter. Excellent and I will continue to enjoy the Muppet's version with all the good will that the season can offer.

[tshrope · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Jim Dale reads this audio version of the Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol, and does a fantastic job of it! Dale is the master narrator of the Harry Potter books and brings all of his character skills and perfect inflections to this reading too. Don’t miss listening to this version; it’s better than reading it yourself, and almost as good as the Muppet movie version!

[joemmama · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I received this lovely edition of "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens in the mail and was surprised to find so many interesting things, that never occurred to me inside. This is a special edition, with Christian insights by Stephen Skelton. While it includes the complete story, it also has sidebars crammed with information about the times and ideas of Dickens. It also includes discussion sections, with key Bible verses at the end of each chapter.Of course, reading this alone, I had a little trouble with the discussion (I am very chatty, after all) but I think I will be reading this aloud to my grandchildren, and discussing it with them. It will be a lovely cold evening activity that we can enjoy together.I found the explanations of some of the terms used very interesting. For example, a repeater, which could be a gun, a belch, or an Alzheimer's patient, is actually a clock. And a brazier does not hold your boobs up, as my granddaughter wondered.This book has not lifted my Christmas funk, but it has lightened the load a little.Many thanks to Julie at FSB Associates for sending this book for review!

[jmchshannon · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In the spirit of the day, I thought it would be fitting to take the time to re-read A Christmas Carol. The last time I read it, I was in junior high, and we had to do a detailed analysis of each section plus went to see the play performed on stage. While I have seen various versions multiple times since then (the Mickey Mouse version being my favorite), I figured it was time to remind myself just what the original entailed.Who does not know the story of Ebeneezer Scrooge and his ghostly visitors? This story has been told and retold so many times that it could become very easy to lose the original intent of the story - salvation and redemption. The version I read was an annotated version, written specifically with Christian insights and questions. While this aspect of the story now seems completely obvious to me, I had never put the Christian beliefs of salvation and redemption of man through Jesus' birth in the same context as Scrooge "seeing the light" and changing his ways. It is an interesting connection that now makes me appreciate the story and Dickens' writing ability that much more.According to my annotated version, Dickens was an extremely religious man and put many of his ideas of redemption, suffering, goodwill towards others, and salvation into the story. The repetition of the number three has obvious ties to Christianity. Again, this took my understanding of this extremely famous story to an entirely new level. The symbolism and message behind them is that much deeper. A Christmas Carol is not just another feel-good holiday story. It truly belongs to this Christian season of redemption. Another aspect of the story I had forgotten but about which I was reminded is Dickens based much of the stories of poverty, apprenticeship and other hardships on his own experiences. He lost a beloved sibling to illness due specifically to malnourishment from the family's poverty. Knowing this, Tiny Tim's plight is so much more poignant.In all, I am glad that I did not rely only on the movies this year to remember the story. There is so much more to the story than what the movies show. The annotated version and the connection to the true spirit of the season reminded me just hos special this story truly is. Thank you to Julie Harabedian at FSB Associates for sending me this review copy!

[srfbluemama · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is the first time I've read this classic holiday story, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. I can't believe I haven't read it before now. I think part of my hesitation was because I've seen the story dramatized in dozens of different ways during my lifetime (really, I've even seen the Flintstones version), and I was worried that it would be a little bit boring to read a story that I already "knew" on a basic level. But as I made my way through this short little novella, I realized that I was so very wrong. No matter how many dramatizations I've seen, they never could compare to the wonderful original written version.I'll forgo the story summarization for this review, since I think most people have probably seen the basic story outline as I have. Instead, I'll explain some of the things I really liked about the book version and specifically this "Special Edition" version.One of the things I really like about Dickens's story is that it is a story about hope. It shows that even the most morally repugnant person can have a change of heart and find forgiveness. Even though he seems like a cold, uncaring soul at the beginning, you can see how Scrooge's heart begins to change with the visitation of each spirit. He is grouchy and resistant when the first ghost arrives, but by the time the last ghost appears he is really ready to make a positive change in his life. My favorite character in the book is Scrooge's nephew, Fred. He is so cheerful and friendly, and never gives up on trying to win over his disagreeable uncle.This "Special Edition" includes extensive sidenotes by Stephen Skelton to define period terms we don't use today, explain how parts of the story reflected Dickens's own life, and to comment on the Christian themes in the story. The sidenotes were quite useful and extremely interesting. They really helped me to better understand the story and to see the ways that Dickens's faith influenced it. There are also thought-provoking questions at the end of each stave (chapter) for family or book group discussion. These questions are broken up into four groups: Telling the Story, Telling Your Story, Telling the Story of Christmas, and Living the Story. The questions would certainly provoke meaningful discussion between parents and their children during the Christmas season.This was a wonderful holiday read, and I am so glad I did not put it off for another day. I now understand exactly why this story has become so entrenched in our culture and society. It really deserves its reputation as a classic. Another book to add to my keeper shelf!

[vickiln · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Not only does this book have the original story, it also has discussion questions that can be used for Church groups or family devotion. This is a small book and as a result, the test is very small which made it hard to read for any length of time. I had seen the movie, but had never read the book so I was very thankful that Julie from FSB Associates sent me a review copy and a giveaway copy. I would recommend this to anyone who loves the original story and would like the Christian insights included in this book.

[evertrap · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An excellent story. My favorite quote: “His own heart laughed: and that was quite enough for him.”

[annadelcdye · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I have seen the movies lots of times, but reading the book for the first time was awesome. The way the old english is written gives it a special flavor. The story of a miser that hates Christmas and cares for nothing but money and how three ghosts help him change his ways, before is too late. A very good story and a great reading.

[jonfaith · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

He was so fluttered and so glowing with his good intentions, that his broken voice would scarcely answer to his call. He had been sobbing violently in his conflict with the Spirit, and his face was wet with tears.
It is hardly a surprise that the holiday arrived this year without my falling into the mood. Overwork and unseasonable weather has left me jarred -- quite removed from the trappings of the spirit. My wonderful wife bought me one of them there smartphones -- so I could join the century. I was simply pleased to be with her on a rainy morning with the thought of the trip to my family weighing rather ominously. I survived it all and actually enjoyed myself. I did not read Mr. Dickens there.

We came home and enjoyed Chinese take-away and it was then that I turned again to the Christian charm of social justice by means of poltergeists: spectral redemption. There are sound reasons why this tale has proliferated since its inception.

[tvnerd95 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is the way to enjoy this story – having Tim Curry read it to you. He does an absolutely fabulous job and it was just a total delight.

For the story – I love how creepy yet still uplifting the author was able to keep the story. He has really had you feeling for past Ebenezer. I would have liked more about Bob Cratchit because he always seems so much more developed as a character in the cinematic versions of the story. I kind of missed that.

Tim Curry gives this story a fabulous feel and it keeps you listening to very end. He gives each character a distinct voice and really does the creepy justice. Great way to enjoy a classic.

[susangeiss · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Such a pleasure to read these lovely words! You may know the story, but until you read Charles Dickens’ own words you haven’t truly experienced the magic.

[karenduff · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was brilliant, Patrick Stewart does an excellent job portraying the different characters.

[alliek710 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great classic that every kid needs to read. I learned about this for the first time in like the third grade when we did a play of it, and I loved it.

[overthemoon_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

received for Christmas from my parents 1957

[lorraine2kemp · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent morality tale, especially good at Christmas.

[tealover_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What could one possibly say, that hasn't already been told about this book? It's my 'all time favourite' christmas read! Countless times reread and never a second bored with it! It's an absolute 'must' for every fan of xmas!

[unlikelyaristotle · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Even though Dickens isn't exactly known for his conciseness, I can't help but love everything I've read by him (except for Great Expectations, which was more of a lukewarm appreciation, I guess). I'm not a Christian, but having lived in mostly Christian countries most of my life, I love it's traditions, especially Christmas!! And the reading of this book during the holidays has practically become that to many people. The many, many adaptations of this book in practically every holiday special of every sitcom ever aired is, I think, a testament to its greatness to all ye of little faith (in Dickens)!!

[jimmaclachlan · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I've read this a couple of times. Dickens was paid by the word & writes like it. He spends way too much time digressing into idiotic areas & filling up space. Example: "Marley was dead, dead as a door nail, although why a door nail should be deader than a coffin nail..." or something like that & goes on about it forever. Never does come to a conclusion - the proper one being a door nail is dead because it was hammered through the door & clinched on the opposite side, hence is dead. Coffin nails are hammered straight in, hence can move with the wood. His stories are classics, but I detest his writing style. Probably worth reading once.

[tjsjohanna_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Despite the fact that I knew the storyline from multiply adaptations, I found the actual story refreshing and interesting. What surprised me most is how ready Scrooge is to be a changed man. It is only with the ghost of Christmas Past that he is reluctant and unbelieving. After that, he wants only to be taught and to change. And he is humble enough to see all the worst about himself and not be angry or get defensive. It makes Scrooge a more sympathetic character. I also liked the way there is a very present narrator, adding his own observations of the various scenes.

[adriannebaker85 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Charles Dickens classic tale “Christmas Carol” has been transformed into picture book format illustrated by Roberto Innocenti. Scrooge, and old miser who would rather make money than spread any kind of Christmas cheer, is visited by three ghosts – Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Future. In each of these meetings Scrooge remembers more and more about his past, and learns more and more about himself. He is confronted in the end with the realization of what would happen to him after he dies. Awaking and realizing his visits were only dreams he decides to take matters into his own hands and change his outlook on life.I cling to nostalgia like a child to their favourite toy and always read “Christmas Carol” once a year at, you guessed it, Christmastime. I was delighted when scouring the shelves in the library’s picture book section to find this book – the entire novel written in this format. Mind you, it does not possess all of the typical qualities of a picture book (it has a lot of words and is quite thick) but nonetheless the publishers seemed to be successful in their attempt to make this story more accessible to younger readers who might find a novel to be too daunting to get through. It also lends itself well to some one on one reading of perhaps a parent to a child or an older sibling to a younger sibling. This story is one of those that is repeated many times, over and over into movies, TV, books, other formats… but I still find that the overall message that one takes from the story is really quite valuable and timeless.

[06nwingert · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The  Christmas classic. Dickens uses A Christmas Carol to highlight and underscore the economic conditions in Dickensian-era London. This book came to America in 1870, and, according to The Battle for Christmas, is the reason that Christmas is legal in America.

[shereadsnovels · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A Christmas Carol is the one classic that almost everyone knows, even if they've never read the book. It's shorter and easier to read than most of Dickens' other books and really is suitable for people of all ages. I loved it as a child and after re-reading it this week for the first time in years, I loved it as an adult too. No matter how many movies, cartoons or TV adaptions you may have seen, it's still worth reading the book for the richness and humour of Dickens' writing and for his wonderful descriptions and imagery. Although some readers might find it too sentimental at times, it's easy to see why this book has become a timeless classic, as it is everything a good Christmas story should be - heartwarming, inspirational and with an important message for us all.

[sebastianhagelstein · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It took a while to understand the language but I liked it once I did understand it.

[mamzel_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

As many times as I have watched the movie versions, I have never read the book until now. Not being a literature major in college, I don't know if it is the language of the time or the man, but the descriptions are refreshingly different. One that really stopped me was the lobsters that glowed green in the basement. I read the book in installments from Daily Lit.

[readerbynight · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I am so glad I decided to read this book again. This one is the original first edition text from 1843. This edition was reproduced from the original by Dover Publications in 1991 with the following note added:“The Christmas gift presented to the English-speaking world in 1843 by the preeminent novelist Charles Dickens (1812-1870) has never lost its power to delight. Adapted in numerous ways and for a great variety of media over the yeaars, this modern Christmas myth, which is linked to every Christmas celebration and whose characters have become household names, is still best enjoyed in its inimitable original wording. The text in the present volume is that of the first edition (Chapman and Hall, London, 1843)”.I quote this from the Dover Classics Edition because it is very true. Much as it wouldn't seem like Christmas without "A Christmas Carol" in one form or another, nothing tells it as well as Charles Dickens' original. My favorite movie version is the second made, with Alistair Sim, which sticks to the original fairly well. But the last time I read the book was in 1952. I loved it then and I love it now.Dickens' descriptions of mid-1800s London are so real and so chilling one wonders how the English survived those times. The attitudes are spot on, as Dickens' characters always are. What makes "A Christmas Carol" different is the absolute fear that Scrooge feels upon seeing his old "dead as a doornail" partner visit him on Christmas Eve. The feel of Dickens' writing is so powerful nothing can be ignored.The visits of the three spirits are amazing in the depth they are given and in what they accomplish and how. As most people do know the story in one form or another, I won't go into the visits other than how imaginative the story is in the way Scrooge's background and Scroogeness is dealt with so succinctly. This book is a must-read at least once in a reader's life, even if seen as plays, movies, even cartoons and remakes. Nothing is so satisfactory as the book itself.

[nodosaurus · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Since everyone knows the story, I'll dispense with the usual plot and character analysis. This book was on my to-read list for many years. I'm glad I finally read it. First, I was surprised how closely some of the movies follow the book. The only differences were some of the adventures with ghosts. For instance, the ghost of Christmas Past took Scrooge on a short trip to a ship at sea, which was never (as far as I know) portrayed in any movie. Many sections of the book take advantage of the written form to provide descriptions that couldn't be provided in video. And a proper portrayal of the ghosts would require some interesting special effects. I think that some of the extras provided by the films are good addition to the story. There is often an expansion of Scrooge's relationship with Tiny TIm, who becomes more of a focal point than in the book. Although the book is a good read, the story is well known enough that I think I would have gotten more value out of one of his others. But I'm still glad I read it.

[theboylatham_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

4/10.

A victorian morality tale about the old and bitter Ebenezer Scrooge and the profound experience he has one christmas eve. He is visited by three ghosts who tell him that unless he changes his ways he will be doomed.

[nosajeel · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This feels more like a book Dickens discovered than one that he wrote. Worth re-reading every few years.