Spirit of Christmas

By Marilyn Berry

A king wants his son to understand the true meaning of Christmas so he sends the prince on a quest. The prince is to find an old sage who will tell him the meaning of Christmas. The King gives his son three gifts that he is supposed to give to the sage for telling him the meaning of Christmas. On the way the prince encounters several people that he is able to help but in order to do so he gives away the gifts he was supposed to give to the old sage. The prince returns home and has to tell his father he failed because he gave away the gifts. His father is elated because his son understood the meaning of Christmas. The audio ePub includes every word in the book and a musical background.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Peter Pan Press
• Release date: Nov 12, 2020
• ISBN: 9780739600610

Book preview

Reviews for Spirit of Christmas

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

From Gutenberg, the 1843 edition, with John Leech illustrations. I decided to watch as many visual versions of the story as I could this year (on #11 as I type this - the oldest surviving adaptation, a 1901 short ... gotta love the internet), and I realized that I'd not read this since I was 13, so forty years is long enough.

I give five stars for inspiring so many adaptations. That and so pretty good writing. "The dealings of my rade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!" And things weren't much different in 1843 England than from today's tea partiers and FoxNews watchers: Dickens named a creature hidden in the robes of Christmas Present "Ignorance", crying "...but most of all beware this boy, for on his brow I see that written which is Doom..."

Trivium point I had long forgotten: Cratchit's name isn't mentioned until Christmas Present.

[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.

[scolgo · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Finally got around to this classic and, even though I was familiar with the story from having seen the myriad of film versions, I enjoyed reading the source material quite a bit. It's very well-written - if a bit wordy in spots, (it is Dickens after all! :), but it's a fun little morality tale that carries a good message of Christmas cheer to last all through the year.

[seraphinac.b4 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

A mean'ol man named Scrooge disdains Christmas and Christmas spirit. During Scrooge's sleep three ghosts visit him. The first ghost is of Christmas past who brings Scrooge to his previous Christmases. The next ghost is of Christmas present. The final ghost is of Christmas future. In the future peolpe are rejoicing over the death of the greedy man. When Scrooge wakes up on the Christmas morning he realizes his ways and gives out money and visits his nephew for dinner. I found this book a quick read. I would not recommend this book because the story is just the same as anyone knew it. Besides that, it was a great movie. But, this book also was death defyingly boring. It is a good classic if you are into those types of books. This book was not thrilling, it is not like it was glued to your fingers either. I will not read this book to my children.

[amaraduende · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

We listened to this on the way to my parents' house for Christmas. It was perfect. Dickens has an amazing way with descriptions... he's just delightful. My only complaint about the audio version I listened to (read by Anton Lesser) was that it was so quiet one second and then SO LOUD the next! His variation in voices was great, but he needed to think about poor people trying to adjust and readjust their volume constantly so as to be able to hear it but not get blasted out of their seats.

Read this Christmas season 2011. It was really delightful.

[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.

[jfoster_sf · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was so much fun to read, especially after watching Mickey's A Christmas Carol so many times I know it by heart=) I'm sure everyone knows the story, so I"ll just say that its one of those books everyone should read, and everyone will love.

[sturlington_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

So my animosity toward all things Dickens continues. It's not that I don't like this story. Who could dislike it, having seen it umpteen-million times since childhood and knowing that it's basically responsible for Christmas as we know it today? But really, Dickens is so sentimental and so melodramatic. Every character stands for something but isn't really a person. Tiny Tim--need I say more? I read this, and fairly quickly too, and I finished it, which I haven't done with a Dickens work since I was forced to read Hard Times in college. But yet again, I am reminded that Dickens' style and subject matter is the antithesis of what I like to read. I should honestly stop trying, but his belovedness confounds me. Now you'll be saying that I'm the Scrooge!

[canadian_down_under · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Every year my mother, bless her heart, sends me a Christmas book. They are always written by contemporary authors like Mary Higgins Clark. Sometimes I am able to make my way through these novels but most times I give up after a couple of chapters and donate the book to my local library.The truth is there is only one Christmas book as far as I'm concerned and that book is "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens. I read this book for the first time a few decades ago and I read it most Christmases now.Why do I love this book so much? Because it is the only one I have ever read that imbues the Christmas spirit in ME just by reading it! That is quite a feat especially now that I live in Australia after spending the first 35 years of my life in Canada. So now there is no snow or Christmas lights (it gets dark here about 10:00 by the end of December) to get my Christmas spirit sparked. But Dickens does it for me every time.

[cbl_tn · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I've seen multiple television and film adaptations of A Christmas Carol, but I don't think I had read the original story/novella before now. While this was my first experience with the book, it won't be my last. Dickens' tale is full of nuances that are missing from the adaptations I've seen. The humorous parts were funnier and the melancholy parts were more heart-wrenching than the movies. I wish I could have experienced the book just once without images from the films crowding my mind. I'd like to form my own image of Dickens' descriptions of Scrooge, his office, his home, Marley's ghost, and the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future.

[jjpciii_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A book which might be avoided by some readers because of the cliches that the text has generated. Any such bias should be overcome though. It is a witty engrossing read, with some enthralling passages, most notably in those parts where Dickens describes family and social scenes. It is also sensuous in some places, and is all the more rewarding for it.

[brakketh-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An enjoyable tale about a vicious man who sees the error of his way with a little spiritual help.

[bibliophile26 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Great classic story!

[krissa_6 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I liked it. I like the language. It made me slow down and appreciate it. I knew the story, but I was surprised at how much I didn’t know (mostly little things). It was what I would class as a comfort read. I don’t think I would read it every year (but I don’t tend to read books twice) but I will definitely be reading more 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.

[maydacat_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Some tales are meant to read aloud, and never is this statement truer than when it is applied to "A Christmas Carol." One would be hard pressed to find anyone would does not like this perennial story, and we all have our special favorites, be they illustrated texts or even movies. But everyone should add this audio version to his or her collection. Award-winning Jim Dale renders a masterful performance in this unabridged version which can be enjoyed at any time of the year.

[richard015 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Scrooge is very cold man and likes money the most. And he does'nt like christmas! But one day,three ghosts came to him,and they took him to christmas of past, present and future.I always enjoy this story. I was surprised to know this story had been written in 1843 and has been popular. This book made feel christmas mood and happy. I think children can learn so much for this classic.

[kelley.logan · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is an every Christmas classic.

[akingzett16 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Great story to read around Christmas (of course). Exciting adventures take place ALOT in this book.

[berthashaver · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A delight to re-visit this classic Christmas story.

[murderbydeath · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Well, I don't need to tell anybody here about Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol. I might be the only person living who hadn't already read it at some point. I'll just say Tim Curry is brilliant (also not news) and he elevated the story to art. My reaction throughout the story was surprise, as I had always had the impression that Scrooge was a hostile witness throughout the first two ghosts' visits. That's what I get for comparing the real thing to a TV adaptation. Anyway, if you're looking for a brilliant audio production of a classic for Christmas, look no further than this little gem.

[jfslone · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A classic tale of human values and morality, set in the midst of everyone's favorite holiday season. Dickens manages to weave a tale that speaks to those of every generation and location. It's a quick read, but don't be fooled, it's jam-packed with heartfelt emotion and wonderful language.

[matthewp3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was an ok book. It was about Scrooge who was a lonely mean bossy old man, who no one liked. One day he gets a visit by one of his dead worker, and he warned him that Scrooge is going to be visited by three ghost. The ghost of Chirstmas Past, Present, and Future. After meeting with all the ghosts they changed his life. He started to be nicer and be more giving.

[bill5bradford · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Who does not know the story? This is my fourth time through A Christmas Carol and each time reveals something new. I am currently in the midst of reading God and Charles Dickens: Recovering the Christian Voice of a Classic Author by Gary Colledge, and this time through the Christian references were much more poignant. The illustrations in this edition were a very nice addition, and it is nice to see a standard Kindle edition with them. The book would always get 5 stars, and the Kindle version does as well.

[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!

[irunsjh · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this book a lot. It was a quick read that is very close to the movie if you have seen it. A solid recommendation for sure.

[girl_detective · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What I appreciated this year in A Christmas Carol was how secular, not religious, its story was. I liked Dickens’ dry, ironic humor, used to politely skewer certain people or their habits. This contrasted with his rich descriptions. I love this edition with Schart's lovely illustrations.

[cebellol · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The timeless classic of a grumpy old man who gets a wake up call from a ghostly friend/former business partner & some other ethereal beings.

I know the back of the novel I have says that its the "unabridged" version, but this seems much shorter than other copies I've seen, so I can't honestly say if that is true or not.

[renbedell · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A very nostalgic read. Charles Dickens is a great author, his writing, descriptions, story, and message are great. It is easy to see why this is a classic. The movies hold true to the overall feel of the book.

[maybedog · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I agree that in this day and age the story is trite, predictuable, overdone and a bit Pollyanna but I think it was quite original for its time and many a story nowadays has gained inspriation from this tale.