A Christmas Carol

By Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens’ timeless classic, A Christmas Carol, is a beloved tale, which has captivated generations of readers for over 150 years.

It is the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserable, stingy and bitter old man who has no friends. One Christmas Eve he is visited by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of Christmases Past, Present and Yet to Come. They take him on a troubling journey in order to show him the error of his stingy and mean ways. By visiting his past, present and future, Scrooge learns to love Christmas and all the people around him.

Rediscover this timeless story of Scrooge and his transformation into a gentler, kinder man after his ghostly visitations. The tale renews the joy and caring that is Christmas along with a festive generosity of spirit.

• Language: English
• Publisher: G&D Media
• Release date: Dec 22, 2019
• ISBN: 9781722524029

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.

Book preview

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Reviews for A Christmas Carol

[andy5185 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Never gets old for me.

[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.

[andrew1theqm · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A book that stands the test of time and I read this with the approach of Christmas! A very enjoyable book even if you know exactly what is going to happen, worth worth it and it is quite a small book.

[elizatanner · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I recently received a new version of a great classic, A Christmas Carol By Charles Dickens. This particular version is illustrated by Francine Haskins with an afterword by Kyra E. Hick. This version has wonderful illustrations that belong in everyone's collection. Thank you to Kyra E. Hick for bringing this to my attention so that I may share it. Francine Haskins brings to live a Christmas Carol for ALL to enjoy regardless of where we live.

[1avidfan · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wonderful illustrations by PJ Lynch sets this edition above the others. The full page illustrations throughout the book helps bring the story alive with the scenes of Victorian England.

[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!

[saresmoore · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was my first time actually reading A Christmas Carol, although I've been familiar with the story from a young age. I enjoyed both an illustrated version and the audiobook, narrated by Tim Curry. I can assuredly say that no adaptation does this story justice. Dickens is a master of words and I felt utterly transported by his descriptions. I highly recommend reading this one if you never have. And then I recommend watching Scrooged, just because. Merry Christmas!

[abergsman-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Dickens never disappoints. While I have seen many of the multitudes of movie adaptations, I have no clear recollection of ever reading the novella. So I sat down and read it this year. It's actually amazing how much this classic novella has influenced English (and American) culture, and Christmas traditions. At the time of publication, many of the nostalgia and tradition associated with Christmas had been in decline.

Dickensian characters are always a delight, and this certainly holds true for A Christmas Carol. Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim, the Fezziwigs, they all hold their own in comparison to other great Dickensian characters.

It was interesting to read Dickens immediately following Twain, who were contemporaries. I appreciate them both.

[margaretfield · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

so well crafted. great writing; great articulation of an idea

[stephlaymon · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

review A Christmas Carol is remarkably shorter than I would have guessed and had I known, I would have fit it in earlier. The story is an incredible journey of transformation of heart, all within a couple of hours read. Lovely!

[soubhikiewiet · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It was so much fun to finally read this classic. I have seen it as a play and in several versions of television Christmas special, but of course the original book wins the prize!

[sboren-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Every year at Christmas the kids and I reread A Christmas Carol By Charles Dickens but this year I won a copy of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, Illustated by Francine Haskins and  Afterword by Kyra E. Hicks on Library Thing. This popular classic was not changed it was wonderfully illustrated with contemporary line drawings as it brings all of the characters to life as Black Victorians. The Afterword highlights over 100 African Americans, Black British and Canadian actors that have performed A Christmas Carol over the last century demonstrating this story belongs to everyone. Review also posted on Instagram @borenbooks, Library Thing, Go Read, Goodreads/StacieBoren, Amazon, and my blog at readsbystacie.com

[faith_murri · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

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.
This was surprisingly quite funny! The narration was done in that particular style that seems to have been largely abandoned by modern authors: third-person told from a first-person non-character narrator. I love this style! Many of my favorite classics (Peter Pan, The Chronicles of Narnia, etc) are told in this style, and it always lends itself a storybook quality that is sorely lacking in today's literature.

The story itself was something I am at this point extremely familiar with, as it has permeated all corners of Western civilization at this point, but still, there were some things that are often excluded in most adaptations, such as the children of mankind: "They are Man's," said the Spirit, looking down upon them. "And they cling to me, appealing from their fathers. This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want. Beware of them both, and all of their degree, but most of all beware this boy, for on his brow I see that written which is Doom, unless the writing be erased." (Except for that one with Jim Carrey, but it added that weird chase scene.) Those parts not oft-explored were really interesting and added a great deal of meaning to the story.

I am quite glad I read this. This was my first Dickens experience and it has fully convinced me that I really need to read more classics! Time to read them instead of watching their BBC Masterpiece Classics adaptations!

"There are some upon this earth of yours," returned the Spirit, "who claim to know us, and who do their deeds of passion, pride, ill will, hatred, envy, bigotry, and selfishness in our name, who are as strange to us, and all our kith and kin, as if they had never lived."

[therebelprince · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The 8th of Dickens' 24 major works, and the 1st of his 5 "Christmas novellas".... well, this is just wonderful, isn't it? Next to the characters of Oliver Twist, Scrooge and his ghosts - not to mention that little brat Tim - must be the most well-known Dickensians of our cultural consciousness. This is just first-class stuff, showcasing Dickens' skill for shorter fiction. Scrooge is perhaps Dickens' first real character. No, he's no Emma Bovary, I'll admit. But the short bursts we get of his life, combined with the ultimate causes of his change, give more insight than we saw in Oliver, Nicholas, Nell, and Barnaby. I think every person in the Western world has read this novella but, if you haven't, what are you waiting for? (The other four Christmas novellas... yeah, not so much.)

[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.

[birdo82 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

There's not much left to say about this quintessential Christmas tale by the inimitable Charles that remains unsaid, but it's always a treat to revisit the source of so much of our western Christmas morality.

[lorisbook · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

There are many books about the Christmas season that are well written. One of them at the top of my list is "A Christmas Carol". Mostly because I believe it speaks about generosity. But also because it ties in things that are important to me about the season, like gathering together with family and supporting children in need.I've viewed the mid - Victorian story on film and stage, but the book is my most beloved. And, it has been translated into several languages.I love the wordiness of Dickens and feel that he makes us aware Christmas is a time when, "Want is keenly felt, and Abundance rejoices". And, I expect it would have been great to live in a time to hear Dickens recite this himself. Yes, Ebenezer Scrooge, is haunted by his business partner Jacob Marley with the ghost of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet To Come. In reading this, you know that Scrooge is melancholy. But after their haunting visits he learns of his own ignorance and wants and is a changed man. This story make us all realize the lessons life teaches us in controlling the shadow of our own growing tree. As this book points out in the beginning, where our shadow may fall.Purchased

[hobbitprincess · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A wonderful story. If you haven't read the original, do! It's better than all the movies. Dickens had a sense of humor after all.

[lisadean_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A Christmas Carol is by far the most well written short story I have ever read. The last time I read this story I came away with a greater appreciation for Dickens' breathtaking skill as a writer. His use of words and phrases and the rhythm of his writing draws you in and the story itself keeps you there.Determined curmudgeon Ebeneezer Scrooge is literally spooked back into humanity after being visited by three Christmas ghosts. Through these uninvited supernatural guests Scrooge is forced into painful self-examination and is given a chilling warning of what will happen if he does not change his ways. Though set during the Christmas season, A Christmas Carol, carries lessons that are applicable for every day. From the first time I read it in my teens until today the overarching message I take away from the story is the importance of relationships in our lives. When we shut out others through selfishness or fear of being hurt we become impoverished regardless of what our bank statement says. A Christmas Carol is a story well worth coming back to any time of the year and is a good reminder of what really matters when we get too caught up in the stresses of the holiday season.

[britt84 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great story, love the way the ghosts show Scrooge that he's going wrong, and how Scrooge alters his life for the better.In a very short novel we get to know many different characters, and we get to know them well and feel for their troubles like they're our friends.Though Scrooge is horrible at first, I also felt for him; it seems like he just doesn't know any better, but he is still being punished. The last ghost is especially horrific, and I really felt for Scrooge.Fortunately he gets his second chance, and all's well that ends well :)

[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.

[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.

[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

[sweetiegherkin · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Ebenezer Scrooge is the definition of a miser, reluctant even to wish anyone a merry Christmas for Christmas is but a “humbug.” But on Christmas Eve, he is shocked by a visit from the ghost of his former business partner, Jacob Marley, who had been like Scrooge in life. Marley warns Scrooge that if he doesn’t change his ways, he’ll be cursed like Marley to walk the earth wearing chains, regretting that he hadn’t been kinder in life. To further prompt Scrooge toward goodwill to men, he is visited by three more spirits – the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future – who show him the cheer others feel on Christmas but also warn him of what may be if he doesn’t become more giving.A Christmas Carol has been told and adapted so many times as to become trite, but the original is still great to read, even if you know what's coming. The last time I read it I was 14, so coming back to it after all this time, I'm realizing just how funny Dickens can be. For instance, there is his musing right in the beginning as to the expression dead as a doornail: “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.” It's this humor that is often missing in all the adaptations, which are either completely serious or completely silly, rather than the perfect combination of both. In many ways, A Christmas Carol is a morality tale, warning us about being too greedy instead of sharing our wealth with the poorest and neediest in our communities. It’s interesting how this book was so influential in our celebration of Christmas and has even affected our language so that “scrooge” has now become synonymous with miser. But despite all this, do we always remember to take the real story to heart? Do we remember to take care of those living in poverty all the year long, as Scrooge finally does at the end?For this re-reading, I listened to the audio version read by Frank Muller, who was excellent. If A Christmas Carol isn’t already a part of your holiday tradition, I highly recommend that it become so.

[susiesharp_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Because everyone knows this story whether from reading it or seeing one of the 100's of movies based on this book I will just be reviewing the audiobook version I listened to narrated by, Tim Curry. I must admit to being a huge Tim Curry fan I will watch anything if he has a role in it so when I found this audiobook at audible I had to get it. I was not disappointed!Tim Curry’s narration is absolute perfection ‘nuff said!5 stars

[gma2lana · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed reading this classic tale. I have seen many versions, plays, movies, but never actually read the book. The book was just as good as all of the versions I have visually watched.

[bcteagirl_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a lovely and fun book, and would be a great introduction for anybody intimidated by the larger size of some of Dickens other books.I only started reading this book last year (I don't know why!) and was surprised just how much it added over and above any of the movies. I suppose I should not have been surprised. I really should have known better. At least it was a pleasant surprise. Last year I was impressed with the newness of it all, and this year I seem to have taken more time with it. Dickens I think is an author best read more than once, I have a feeling each time I read this book I will see fun details I either missed or had forgotten over the course of the year. I felt myself almost compelled to read this book aloud to myself, and if I had smaller cousins would probably attempt to rope them into a storytime.

[mbmackay · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Dickens' first, and most famous Christmas book. Short (72 pages in my Project Gutenberg edition) and lacking all subtlety as to the moral purpose intended by the author! Interesting to see a sharp dig at moralisers preventing Sunday trading, which for people of limited means of storing food, meant difficulty accessing food. Known to much of the world as the source of Scrooge as the eponymous miser; and the ghosts of Christmas past and present. Read January 2012.

[alana_leigh_6 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The story of A Christmas Carol is one that most of us in the Western world know fairly well... in fact, I would wager that most children over the age of 7 in the US or UK could give a pretty good breakdown of the general plotpoints with ease. But did we actually read the Charles Dickens classic to gain this knowledge? Or is your understanding of the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future the result of a film adaptation? I'm not railing against movie adaptations, as I think A Christmas Carol translates brilliantly to film... to the point where we might all know the plot of this particular story as a result of a movie that puts a twist on the original tale. My personal favorite is The Muppet Christmas Carol, though a close second is Scrooged. My only previous read of the actual text of A Christmas Carol occurred back in sixth grade. It's a short little novella and was a good introduction to Dickens, as his other tomes seemed daunting to an eleven-year-old. One can easily breeze through A Christmas Carol in a single evening, curled up by the fire with Christmas lights twinkling and presents under the tree. That said, A Christmas Carol really isn't something I would opt to re-read year after year. Here's where those film adaptations become very, very useful. You watch the Muppets, Bill Murray, Ebbie, or Scrooge and you've had your yearly dose. This year, I noticed an Audible performance of A Christmas Carol done by Tim Curry and it simply had to be purchased and immediately loaded on to my ipod. I listened to it over the course of three days, knitting a Christmas present on my commute to work. I was surprised at how few details slip through the cracks in various performances and I was comforted by how familiar the words were to the point where I could have recited many passages along with Curry. (And some of them were even ones I could do without Gonzo's voice.) The story is timeless and it's hard to imagine the holidays without this particular tale in existence, when in fact it was only published in 1843. This might be a bit blasphemous to say, but it's second only to the actual origin story of Christmas in terms of our association with this time of year. Beyond Christmas, think of the cultural contributions of this novel to our general lexicon. Think of such outstanding quotes as "Mankind was my business," "as solitary as an oyster," "there's more of gravy than of grave about you," and even "'Bah,' said Scrooge. 'Humbug!'" Tim Curry gives a fun reading with voices that are never too ridiculous. I'll admit that I hoped for a little bit more, though I'm not quite sure what. Some flash, a bit more panache, something. I've listened to Curry read the first in the Series of Unfortunate Events and that was pure magic. Here, it was certainly amusing enough but I didn't feel the same delight for which I had hoped. I'm not sure I could reconcile the visual of Tim Curry anywhere in the story but as a voice in your ear, it's a fine way to experience A Christmas Carol for the first time in its original form or as a re-telling that isn't brought out with the rest of the Christmas DVDs and tinsel each year. So on this Christmas Day, I leave you with this, quoted from memory:"And it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any many alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless us, every one!"