A Christmas Carol

by Charles Dickens, Charles Zachary Barnett, Monica Dickens, et al.

Book Overview

Imaginative, heartwarming classic tells of the eerie encounters of Ebenezer Scrooge, an arrogant and insensitive miser whose ghostly journeys through the past, present, and future provide glimpses of his life as a schoolboy, apprentice, and young lover. His visions ultimately transform him into a generous and caring individual -- loving all and by all beloved. Unabridged edition.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0671455990
• ISBN13: 9780671455996
• Release Date: January 1983
• Publisher: Little Simon
• Length: 122 Pages
• Weight: 1.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 8.3" x 10.1"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

A perfect story for every Christmas season!

It’s been a few years since I read this book, but I am so glad to be reviewing it in December of 2022 because it is such an awe-inspiring story, one with an important message for each and every one of us! I have seen quite a few film versions of A Christmas Carol that became favorites, including the 90s TV movies, Ebbie; Ms. Scrooge; and the 1999 version of A Christmas Carol that features Patrick Stewart as the famous miser. Another favorite is Scrooged, the 1988 comedy with Bill Murray. Considering how much I love the story that all of these different films have to tell, I had wanted to read the classic book by Charles Dickens for years. It was probably as recently as five years ago that I finally got the chance when I found an unabridged paperback edition for sale in a Goodwill store. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the 1999 version of A Christmas Carol was the most faithful adaptation of the book, but what’s even better is that Charles Dickens’ simple, elegant prose and narrative made the short book even better than ANY movie adaptations that have ever been filmed, particularly in pointing out scenes I don’t remember from any adaptation, as well as providing readers with a deeper, more intimate insight into Ebenezer Scrooge’s emotions and thoughts than any movie ever could, despite the emotional richness of some of the best film versions. The movies I mentioned are still my favorites, but those who appreciate a truly wonderful and exciting literate interpretation of Scrooge’s story will treasure this classic!

Ordered a christmas carol, received a different version.

I wasn't sure about this site but thought of giving it a try. Bought Christmas carol (needed a specific version in order to return a copy that I some how lost), and what they shipped me was a different version from what I ordered. I also paid 3 times the cost of book in shipping to receive it asap but the book showed up 4 days later. Not happy with this experience.

A Must Read

I have always enjoyed this book! Remember as a kid reading it every Christmas! Such good memories. This is a must read for everyone of all ages!

Wonderful Christmas Story

I really enjoyed this book. I’m not sure why I waited so long to read it. It puts me in the Christmas spirit. This book just puts you in the Christmas spirit. I definitely recommend it!

A totally decent classic, recommend trying the audio too

I don't think I've ever read this one before - which is kind of shocking! I really enjoyed it, going in knowing the basic premise, and having seen it performed (and A Muppet Christmas Carol of course!). I have been making it a goal to read more Classics, even though I think they are overrated, because they are such a well-known, referenced thing, that I wanted to see more of the original works. I read Little Women at the beginning of the year, and when Tiny Tim was talked about all I could think about was Beth. Sweet, sickly, using the death/potential of death as a plot device, and I'm not sure how I feel about that, but I did find it interesting to think about. I listed to the Tim Curry narration of this, and that was amazing, definitely recommend the audio for this.

Classic Story

Charles Dickens is one of my all-time favourite authors. He depicts character, people, and life in such vivid colours that you almost feel a part of the story. This is a great book to read during the Christmas holidays. I've always loved reading it, listening to the audio book or watching the old black and white film. It's a must-have for any home library.

Even the Blind Mans Dog avoided Scrooge!

This is the most heartwarming story EVER written about Yuletide, the story is truly magical. It captures the very essence of what Christmas is all about. I like to start reading it every December, just to get into that "Christmassy" mood, it's a lot more effective then "Bottled" Christmas spirits. But let us not forget as the author is at pains to point out; Marley was dead,.... to begin with. ~~~~ "I am the Ghost of Christmas Past." "Long Past?" inquired Scrooge: observant of its dwarsfish stature. "No. Your past." (One of many simple but great lines, that stay with you when you've finished.) Reading this story certainly changed my life, and saved me the need for three visits! "God bless us everyone".

A Part of Western Culture

Critiquing Dickens' Christmas Carol is a misnomer. Rather, it is Dickens who critiques us with this masterwork. A Christmas Carol has burrowed into the very heart of our Western Culture to where few people would be confused if you referred to someone as a "Scrooge," that is to say a skinflint, miser. Aside from presenting us with some of the most memorable images in literature as Scrooge is taken by the Ghosts of the Past, Present and Future to review his life and probable ending, we are brought along with his and given opportunity to review those elements in our own lives. A Christmas Carol was not just a nice story of the Christmas Season to give warmth and cheer. Far from it! Dickens had an agenda. Just as in his other famous works, like Oliver Twist and David Copperfield, Dickens longed to make a social statement to draw attention to the poor in England, their plight and hardship. A Christmas Carol is about Scrooge as a person, but also as representing a class of the wealthy whose abundance is wrested from the large working poor such as Cratchett and his family. THEY are the point. THEY are the ones Dickens sought to draw to public attention. Heaven help us is we simply see this book as nostalgia and fail to see the point Dickens had to make then and which still applies today!

This book is just fabulous!

This is one of the best stories ever written. Ebenezer Scrooge, is the biggest grouch on the world, almost murdering carolers that come to his door for the fact he just can't stand to be Merry, even at Christmas time. The 3 Ghosts (Ghost of Christmas Past, Christmas Present, Christmases to Come) take him to it's own time space, and show him how the Christmas was, and the funeral of Scrooge, only to find that he was unliked and hated, so that no one came to the funeral. This is a truly inspiring story, so I greatly encourage you to get this!