A Christmas Carol

by Charles Dickens

In the history of English literature, Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol, which has been continuously in print since it was first published in the winter of 1843, stands out as the quintessential... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0721456774
• ISBN13: 9780721456775
• Release Date: October 1996
• Publisher: Dutton Books
• Length: 56 Pages
• Weight: 0.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 4.7" x 7.0"
• Age Range: 7 to 9 years
• Grade Range: Grades 2 to 4

Customer Reviews

Better than Patrick Stewart's reading

Although I have never heard of the reader on this cd, he's great! The true mellow English accent creates the true "Dickens" feel to the reading. The reader is very, very good at changing voices (i.e.: from Scrooge's voice to that of Mrs. Cratchit). Patrick Stewart's version is very good--but this is far better. You won't be disappointed.

An Eternal Christmas Gift from Dickens

In his 'A Christmas Carol', Dickens seems to be sending a message of gratefulness for us having to celebrate Christmas Day once a year inspite of the bitterness, sadness and hatred we sometimes feel the whole year round. Just the thought of having Christmas itself is enough reason for us to be thankful and to forgive and forget, Dickens seems to be saying. Also in this book, Dickens seems to be telling grown-ups to take care of the children. Ebenezer Scrooge has an axe to grind with the world with all he had experienced in his childhood and early adulthood. Who would not feel the same way as Scrooge after all what his early life had offered him? As when the Ghost of Christmas Past is showing to Scrooge the school scene when all young Scrooge's classmates have left for the Holidays and Scrooge's younger sister is trying to make him come home, too, but he is not inclined to do so. Dickens was constantly haunted by his traumatic experiences as a little lonely boy working in a blacking factory in industrial-age London. Dickens knew he lost a significant part of his life -- his childhood -- that he seemed to have brezzed by it straight into adulthood. He knew how important childhood experiences were as foundation of everybody's personalities that he seemed he wouldn't want other children to experience the hardships he went through as a child. And, through his 'Carol', Dickens has forever reminded adults about this particular sentiment of his.Dickens shows us how the love of money, the root of all evil, transformed a bitter, vengeful Scrooge to an old, cold man. One very poignant, heart-breaking scene of the story is when Arabella, young man Scrooge's object of affection, explains how, because of Scrooge's yearning to become financially successful in her eyes, she feels like somebody has replaced her in Scrooge's heart.Embedded in the story is the Biblical promise of redemption and salvation once a man has been born again like a child. Indeed, Scrooge, at the end of the story, on Christmas Day, feels like he's little again when he realized that there is still a chance for him to change his ways after the visit of the last specter, the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come. If there is one book that should be read during Christmastime by both grown-ups and children, it is this book , 'A Christmas Carol'. Charles Dickens has, indeed, given us an eternal Christmas gift.

Magically Apt

Having seen the various movie versions over the years, I was pleasantly surprised at how enchanting, haunting and moving this story is. So much more exists in the story than is ever included in a film, that one finds it that much more entertaining although the story is so well known. Easily readable, but then that was Charles Dickens' style, I ploughed through it in an afternoon and reached the end before I truly expected to...

A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol is such a moving book. I think that anyone who enjoys such books should try and get around to reading it. It is a very inspirational novel and teaches a few very valuable lessons. I think it is wonderful how Dickens' includes so many "innocent" children in his novels. They just bring so much joy and warmth to the story. I want to conclude by saying..." For all you Bah Humbugs out there, there are more important things to life other than money and greed. And this book will seriously turn you around, and it will keep you hooked until you put it down."ÿ

Heartwarming conversion of a soul

Charles Dickens writes this story in such detail that you almost believe you have just enjoyed Christmas dinner at the Cratchits home. The characters have so much depth. The made for t.v. or movie screen renditions do not truly depict what Ebenezer Scrooge witnesses with the three spirits that causes such a change in his outlook on life. Such as Scrooge's emotions being quickened by the past heartache in his childhood; seeing how his bad choices caused the hardening of his heart and how deeply it cost him in the end; seeing what could have been his to enjoy and then thinking it could still be his with the Spirit of Christmas Present only to find out the future does not hold any love or joy for him by the Spirit of Christmas Yet to Come and instead his actions leave him robbed at death and no one left to grieve for him. Read the book to hear how this story was really written. Even if you have seen every Christmas Carol movie every made, the book will offer so many gold nuggets that you will think you are hearing it for the very first time. Pictures are beautifully detailed throughout the book. Excellent!!!