Charles Dickens Books

I have this in my classroom to listen to while we read the book, before we go to the play...my tape broke:>( I'm glad a CD was found! This is an excellent version!

This is a real treat: the classic story and a very talented man reading/performing in all its characters as if there were a whole host of different voices. A favorite to hear every year.

With the myriad excellent film and stage versions of "A Christmas Carol" out there, the enduring power of Dickens' prose is often overlooked. Mr. Stewart's reading puts they focus right back on the text itself (in his stage performance, he opens the prop-less, set-less show simply by holding aloft his script like a trophy). The pointed social criticism--still relevant after 150 years--and wry wit of Dickens' work comes through loud and clear in Mr. Stewart's commanding voice.

Sitting down and listening to this version is like hearing a beloved uncle tell your favorite story. A fine way to spend a quiet holiday evening.

Patrick Stewart performed Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol on stage as a one man show for several years during the holiday season. To my regret, I never saw that show. But he did record an audio version of the show, which is what we have here. I'm sure it's not as enjoyable as seeing Stewart performing live in person, but it's great in it's own right. There are some abridgements, but unless you have the book memorized, you aren't likely to notice. Stewart does different voices for different characters, including the women and children. It's a virtuoso performance which will be enjoyed by all.

I bought this on audio cassette tape 15 years ago. I have also seen Mr. Stewart's one-man show in LA. I have listened to this 100's of times (literally) and it never fails to move me. I could listen to Patrick Stewart read the phone directory, and probably find it enjoyable, but his performance of this classic work is nothing short of amazing. I feel like I am in the story myself and it is so entertaining. My cassettes died the other day so I am happy to see that this brilliant work is still available in some form. Thank you, Patrick, for this wonderful gift, and thank you Amazon, for carrying it. I would have been heartbroken not to be able to replace it.

Have been collecting movies based on the Dicken's Christmas Carol for years. Looked for an unabridged copy of the book in hardback and was delighted to find this one. The price was great and service was fast. I am very pleased with this purchase.

This a excellent rendition of the story wonderful illustrations and the text is large and easily read. A heirloom piece...

I, like so many others, love the story "A Christmas Carol", and I love a lot of the movies that have been done on this story, the version with Alastair Sims being my all time favorite. But I've always wanted the buy the book, and I wanted to find one that was as beautiful as the story, and this book is! Beautiful pictures, nice thick pages, nicely bound, and just pretty to look at. And the story is the unabridged version, so its Dickens actual words total and complete, and you can't beat the price! I would totally recommend this version! Buy it, you won't be sorry.

I seemed like it took forever to come but I love it. It was in great condition. The book was well made. I liked the artwork and of course the story.

I read this book in honor of Christmas, and it really put me in the Christmas mood! It's light, fun, sad, and presents an important message about Christmas. During this time of rampant commercialism and long lists to Santa, it's easy to forget that the greatest joys of Christmas come from the giving. This book illustrates the euphoria that Scrooge feels when he finally is able to give gifts, either of time, money, food, or whatever, to other people. Christmas is not about what you can get...it's about what you can give. If you want a story that will remind you of the real meaning of Christmas, this is it! In terms of story-telling, this book has classic Dickensian characters and ample humor and drama, making it a classic in its own right. If I had any criticism, it would be that the story seems to wander a bit and move even a little too fast. But it really doesn't take too much away from the experience.

Absolutely, hands down the best reading of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol". Jim Dale is the most versatile voice actor working today and puts forth a tremendous performance in this novel. My family and I listen to this every year and never tire of this rendition. A must have for your family holiday travels.

Another "how does he do it" in Christmas Carol. Brings the story to life as no other presentation.

LOVE Jim Dale. What a fantastic audio. A pure joy to listen to EVERY Christmas!

Jim Dale is a very fine oral interpreter, it is a skill to read some of the most beloved books and make people love them more and discover something new.

This is a 3 disc set of A Christmas Carol, audio version and Jim Dale gives each character its own unique voice and he is pleasant to listen to and he adds charm, warmth and humor to this very well known story.

Treat your self, treat your family. We will be listening to this during our holiday traveling.

Fabulous from beginning to end. Jim Dale's performance makes the characters in the book come to life. I highly recommend it.

I've read this book twice, about 10 years apart, and have been captivated both times by the beauty of the language. Emotions that I could not put into words are expressed so vividly and eloquently that it almost shames me to think how degraded the English language has become in only the last 100 years. The humor in the book is so carefully and intelligently woven into the story that it seamlessly lightens the sometimes heavy subject matter and saves it from becoming overwhelming. I wish there were authors today who could write in such a charming and passionate manner, so that this quality of literature might be produced continually. If you've not read "David Copperfield," do so. You will not be disappointed. It's well worth each and every one of the thousand pages.

I'm searching for another copy of this wonderful book, and hoping the footnotes will be as good as those of Our Mutual Friend (Penguin Classics, Adrian Poole). Actually, that's the purpose for my review--after reading reviews from those who enjoy Dickens, may I suggest Our Mutual Friend as a future read? It's a wonderful book, just as enjoyable as DC, if not more so.

What a wonderful read. Times were tougher then but so were the people. Intriguing all the way through. I've been trying to catch up on some old classics and I couldn't have chosen a better one. I'm going to read more of Charles Dickens.

I have read three other Dickens books so far - Great Expectations, Tale of Two Cities, and Oliver Twist. I can firmly say that this is this book that has had the largest impact on me as a reader and as a person so far.

As I read this book, I noticed that it contains many elements of those other novels that Dickens wrote. It has the social commentary of Oliver Twist, the thematic complexity of Great Expectations, and the gripping and emotional story of Tale of Two Cities. I will also throw in the fact that I think Copperfield has the best humor out of all these books.

In David Copperfield, Dickens tells the quintessential tale of Growing Up. I am sure that you all have read a book that involves some sort of "coming of age" theme where the main character matures and develops throughout the novel. But this story tops them all. With this book, Dickens brings us the most colorful cast of characters that he's ever conceived. They each have their own personalities, motives, interests, and even senses of humor. The beauty of it all is that many of the characters that David meets, you have met in your own life, too. While they are in no means simple archetypes, they can surely be related to real life. A few of my favorite characters are the deceptive James Steerforth and Uriah Heep - two large influences on some of the choices David makes. And we should not forget the virtuous Agnes - his "Good Angel."

Through this cast of characters, Dickens shows us that a large part of growing up and experiencing life is defined by the people that you meet and the friends that you surround yourself with. Dickens shows masterfully that you must be careful whom you trust and whom you let influence your life. He also shows the importance of relying on family and your closest allies during your darkest times.

Through fateful interactions with these characters, David grows up. He learns about the world, love, and human nature. He witnesses the miracles of life, and the tragedies of death. In turn, the reader matures and learns about such things as well. We see the world clearly through David's eyes.

Even though the story is being narrated in retrospect by an older, wiser David, we still experience events how David experienced them the first time. The chapters where we observe David's childhood very accurately allow us to see the environment through a child's trusting eyes.

Unlike other main characters of Dickens books such as Oliver Twist and Charles Darnay, David is susceptible to making mistakes in life and being naive. David is a good and honorable person with a moral conscience, but he is just as susceptible to the vices of this world as everybody else. But this is part of growing up, too, isn't it?

As you journey with David through his life, there will be times when you laugh, feel happy, and feel very angry. And then there will be times when you will have to put down the book for a short time and reflect on the events that occured. This is a rich book, with several plots and characters to keep track of. There are certain chapters that are more exciting than others. But, if you voyage till the end with David, you will in turn be richly rewarded.

The historic Penguin with explanatory notes and crisp delineation of the illustrations. The notes are well organized and straightforward, and you will need them.A writer it is said, only gets to spin his own tale once, my feeling is that Dickens does that here with the unforgettably grittiest descriptive narrative scenes in all of Victorian literature.

Drayton has revitalized the classic Christmas Story bringing it into the 21st century. He reminds us how, in our faster and faster paced society, it is so much easier for us to fall into the trap of power, greed, and the acquisition of material things; sacrificing those things that are really meaningful in life: family, friends, and community.

Coming Unscrooged is a must read for every CEO as a touching reminder that increasing shareholder wealth does not mean sacrificing our humanity.

MAYOR (Miss At Your Own Risk :-)

Coming Unscrooged is a great read for anyone who is concerned with there own personal focus and values. An egotistical and self absorbed scrooge can surface in anyone of us, creating hardship and pain that can last a life time. Become "Unscrooged" today by reading this emotional and moving story that will remind us all what really is important in life.

Even though we anticipate the ending in "Coming Unscrooged", this book really makes us understand the beginning. We all know that the same fate awaits every one of us. It is only the visionaries who have a true sense of purpose for what is really important in life. Coming Unscrooged gives us all a purpose wake up call in life. I recommend this book to every person who wants to truly unlock the feeling of personal and professional purpose.

THANKS Drayton, for penning a compelling, thougth provoking book on our fast changing business world. It is almost embarrasing for all of us to read something where we can see glimmers of our own lives that need greater attention and re-prioritization. I have passed out dozens of "Coming UnScrooged" to my clients and hope someday it is put into movie form. GREAT job Drayton!!!

This is an updated version of Charles Dickens classic, placed in modern context. In almost melodic prose Mr. Boylston does a terrific job of updating the classic tale, bringing all the characters directly into the twenty first century.
But, alas, the human factor of it all has not changed, and Drayton amplifies the call for the reader to not be consumed by the external, materialistic representations of "success", but to honestly assess ones life based upon other, more instrinsic, values.
This is a book that should be on every "Executives" short list as a modern, easily digestable harbinger of what may be in store should they not increase their level of individual and other awareness.
Not just for the executive, this book is also a must for all those surrounding the highly driven, "success" oriented person. Spouses, colleagues, subordinates, and aspiring executives would do well to read this book for a reminder of the pitfalls that often accompany "success", and what to do about them.

I'm going to gush. This is one of my favorite books on literature.

Initially I had trouble getting past the title. Was this going to be a sort of "Dickens for Dummies"? No. The author skillfully interweaves Dickens biography with trenchant, readable criticism about the prose.

She also is skilled at placing the man and his work within his 19th century contexts. For example, her little sidebar on the Victorian idea of death being "slipping away" is extremely helpful.

She accomplishes a lot in a few pages...dipping into about a hundred years of criticism and commentary to pull out the best nuggets.

And this book is funny.

And she underlines a lot of the sex that lies underneath the surface of this writing.

And she loves Dickens.

Buy it.

+++++

The author, Norrie Epstein, in the book's introduction tells us the purpose of her book: "[This book]...is an attempt to reveal some of the contradictions and nuances of the man and [his]novels. Its title...refers not only to our feelings for Dickens--and his toward us--but to my desire to make a complex figure more understandable and...friendly."

There is another reason for reading this book: so as to fully appreciate the novels written by Dickens. As Epstein says, "Knowing the man behind the words does change [each novel's] significance."

Epstein fulfills her purpose admirably!! Why do I say this? Here are my reasons:

(1) THE AUTHOR'S WRITING STYLE. The author writes in a relaxed and leisurely but enthusiastic way such that Charles Dickens (1812-1870) seems to come alive.

(2) THE BOOK'S ORGANIZATION. This book progresses linearly from Dickens' birth to his death. To do this, Epstein divides the book into three parts. The first part is entitled "Early Life" and tells us about Dickens' life from 1812 to 1840. Part two titled "Middle Years" goes from 1840 to 1855. The third part called "Final Years" deals with his life after 1855.

Along the way you'll find copious quotations from those who admired Dickens and his writings. For example, guess what famous Russian author said, "If it were possible I would like to devote fifty minutes of every class meeting to mute meditation, concentration, and admiration of Dickens."

I found two sections particularly informative and enjoyable. One of these sections is entitled "How to Read Dickens." It gives eight important pointers on how to get the most out of Dickens' works. Another section is entitled "A Select Filmography." This section describes films inspired by Dickens' works. These films are those made between the years 1895 and 2000.

(3) DISCUSSION OF NOVELS. Sixteen novels are thoroughly discussed throughout the book. In part one, seven novels are given attention, most notably "A Christmas Carol" and "Oliver Twist." Part two looks at five novels, "David Copperfield" being the best known. The final part critically discusses four novels, most notably "A Tale of Two Cities" and "Great Expectations."

Note that in part one there is also discussion of Dickens' first published book "Sketches by Boz." As well, this part also includes a glimpse into his book called "American Notes" that would later become "a public relations nightmare."

(4) BLACK AND WHITE ILLUSTRATIONS AND PHOTOGRAPHS. These are peppered throughout the book. I especially liked the reproduced November 1994 cartoon from "The New York Times" that featured Newt Gingrich as Scrooge.

(5) SIDEBARS. These can be found throughout the book. They highlight interesting bits of information that the author wants to bring to the reader's attention. The sidebar that caught my attention was entitled "If You Liked the O.J. Simpson Trial, You'll Love Bleak House." In this sidebar, the Simpson trial is compared to Dickens' novel "Bleak House."

(6) INTERVIEWS. These, too, are found throughout the book. My favorite is an interview with a famous actor (hint: he played "Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the starship Enterprise") who feels he must "read" the novel "A Christmas Carol" every year.

(7) TRIVIA. And lots of it!! What I especially enjoyed was that there are complete sections devoted to trivia. For example, in the discussion of Dickens' first serial novel "The Pickwick Papers" there is a complete section devoted to interesting trivia called "Pickwickiana." The same thing occurs under the discussion of his last novel "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" where the trivia section is called "Droodiana."

In conclusion, this is the definitive book for any Dickens' fan or anyone who wants to know more about him. Old Ebenezer himself guarantees that after reading this book you will become an aficionada of Charles Dickens. And that's no humbug!!

+++++

From their limited exposure to Charles Dickens during their school days, lots of people equate him with boredom and drudgery. Charles Dickens, friendly ?!!? Well, if you haven't yet discovered what a great writer he actually was, you're missing something special. The Friendly Dickens is an amusing, painless way of getting reacquainted with him. Lighthearted but well researched, it reveals Dickens as his fully human, creative, ambitious, gifted, romantic (yes, romantic) self. Any man who could bestow upon his characters such names as Wackford Squeers, Seth Pecksniff, Volumnia Sparsit, and Mr.
McChoakumchild just had to have imagination and a sense of humor. Even if you aren't inspired to run out for a new copy of Great Expectations, you'll probably enjoy The Friendly Dickens all on its own.

Miss Epstein has a gift for communicating, in a lively and acessible manner, her knowledge about and enthusiasm for her subject. Her scope ranges from the broad social and economic factors affecting daily life down to such tiny details as the amount of horse manure tons left every year on the streets in Dickens' London. She is just as good about the books themselves, providing fresh and sensible interpretations of novels as familiar as "Great Expectations" and "David Copperfield" or as obscure as "Barnaby Rudge" and "The Mystery of Edwin Drood." Her Dickens filmography is the best we've ever had. This is a useful and delightful book.

With the Friendly Dickens, Norrie Epstein succeeds in what must surely have been one of her goals: she makes you want to read every Dickens novel you haven't yet read and reread every one you have. Along the way she gives you an overview of Dickens' life and of his times, in an enjoyable, idiosyncratic style that makes highly engaging reading. Want to know how Dickens wrote or why Victorians got off on deathbed scenes? It's in there, along with sections on food, drink, sex, freaks, Dickens' illustrators, a filmography, and more. Of particular interest are the explanation of just why Pickwick was so popular and the musings on Victorian mores versus contemporary ones. About the only thing that could have made this book more complete was a recipe for rum punch.

I enjoyed this, but would say it's definitely not for the casual "Carol" fan. That said, if your home video collection includes more than three version of the "Carol", you'll probably enjoy this book.

Dickens dose a great job introducing this book. He has very high vocabulary and his words are sometimes very confusing. However, that should not cloud over the book because it is a great read. In my opinion it is a must read. I think if any Christmas hater reads this book they will love it. It certainly was interesting.

This volume assuredly would be a welcome addition to the libary of anyone who loves Charles Dickens and/or the history of film. The style of writing is quite engaging, yet it does not descend into sentimentality or nostalgia.

The opening chapters, which provide a relatively brief yet surprisingly insightful treatment of Dickens' Christmas writings and social conscience, are a concise picture of the setting in which Dickens brought his classic to life. For those unfamiliar with the period, I would find this to be an essential background, lest A Christmas Carol be reduced to a fairy tale, as it is in certain film treatments. Those who are acquainted with these matters undoubtedly would find the quotations from Dickens' more obscure Christmas writings, and references to such other Christmas scenes as those in The Pickwick Papers, to form a comprehensive image of the combination of commentary and imagination in these works, and underlying themes which influenced a Christmas Carol itself.

The treatment of film adaptations, including the earliest silents, is extremely well researched and comprehensive. Even the biggest fan of "Scrooge pictures" would find some in this collection which were unknown. The classic films (for example, Alastair Sims' version) are analysed with an insightfulness that would increase anyone's understanding and enjoyment of their content.

As a Dickens lover, and also as one who is a "Christmas nut" (for whom the insights in this volume were a welcome and lovely nutcracker), I would highly recommend this book on all counts.

Fred Guida has presented an incredibly well researched and beautifully written book that blends the literary history of this story along with the history of its various screen presentations. Thank you for this unique presentation.

I've been a fan of the 1953 version of a the Carol for as long as I remember. It was family tradition every Christmas eve to watch it. I've looked at as many possible versions and have yet to find it's match. This book is an amazing resource of all the various interpretations of the Dicken's classic has gone through from early lantern projected pictures, through the silent era, talking films, television, and animated specials. The early version were fascinating and I found it a special bonus that the author made note of various television shows which featured a special Christmas episode inspired by A Christmas Carol. Who could ever forget the "Six Million Dollar Man" Christmas special using the ideas from the novel. This brought back a lot of great television special memories. I was even able to track down two hard to find T.V. animated specials shown in the early 1970's but not seen since. (I found them on Amazon). All in all a great read, especially for fans. I did not agree with all of the criticisms, and the text is a rather dry read, maybe a little too academic. But still great stuff!!

'A Christmas Dinner' is full of unique illustrations that bring the Christmas season of another time to life again. The recipes are wonderful and can once again become 'new'. I have a dear friend whose mission is to search recipes from the past and this book will, without a doubt be a perfect Christmas gift.

I just loved the look of the book-- You could practically "taste" the yummie recipes-- mouth watering good. This is a great book for a Christmas gift-- you are giving more than a cookbook -- it is a piece of art-- fabulous illustrations.

Since Charles Dickens really invented Christmas as we know it, I can't believe these recipes and things have just been unearthed! What a delicious find for all of us who want a uniquely beautiful and memorable holiday gift. It reads as good as it looks, yummy!

I had never heard of this work by Charles Dickens. It says that he was really young when he wrote it (23 years old), and I think that's pretty neat. The book itself is very attractive and the illustrations are great. I found it to be a solid book and a good Christmas gift for pretty much anyone.

I think this is a really cool book. I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like it. I came acrossed it when I was looking for Dickens Christmas stories for a project, but what struck me was all the extras. It has food essays, cultural analysis and a bunch of recipes, for really good sounding holiday dishes that I've never heard of before. I can't really cook to save my life but, I have some friends that can and love to throw themed dinner parties. I am definatly gifting them this book this year.

I was and am extremely pleased with this purchase. The book is leatherbound and flawless. I am very particular about the books I choose to read and how they are packaged and presented. This purchase met my requirements and is now a proud edition to my modest library.

A Christmas Carol is one of the best known holiday stories and still one of the best. Dickens perfectly unfolds his characters and gets the reader into the Christmas mood. He also does the unthinkable by making us sympathize with the moody, unfestive Scrooge. The original version is the one to get, though, as the abridged version makes Scrooge's exciting encounters with the spirits (especially his meeting with Marley) far too short. This book is certainly affordable and will get you into the Christmas spirit, as well as help you rediscover the true meaning of the holiday.

I think this is a great book written by Charles Dickens. Dickens is awesome at describing the setting in the story which gives you a real feeling of the story. The story is about a mean old man named Ebeneezer Scrooge. But with the help of a few ghosts and his dead business partner Jacob Marley, can Scrooge change his way of life before Christmas? This is an awesome book, and I recommend it to anyone who loves a good book to read just before Christmas.

Most people in the western world are probably familiar with the tale of Ebeneezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens. The story has been made into dozens of television and film versions, but I think the written version still stands above film.

Dickens' language is very descriptive, and he paints clear pictures of his characters. Take Scrooge, for example:
"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."

Another strength of Dickens was showing the common man, sometimes with quiet dignity, as in the case of Bob Cratchit, and sometimes at his lowest, as in the case of the workers at the pawnbrokers hawking Scrooges goods.

The images of Jacob Marley's ghost "wearing the chains he forged in life" are very vivid, as are the souls that Scrooge sees out his window.

Scrooge is forced on a journey by three spirits, the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future. All of the scenes have distinct images and evoke intense emotions within Scrooge. The reader feels part of his change. I never did quite understand why his father treated him so poorly, but that he did contributes to the man Scrooge becomes.

In the end, Scrooge is a changed man and goes out of his way to share his generosity.

I recommend this book for children and adults alike, because the story is timeless and Dickens practicallly defined the quintessential Victorian Christmas. The name Scrooge and 'Humbug' will forever be linked, and the name has come to define someone miserly or without holiday spirit.

What day is it?
It's Christmas Day!

When I read the Dicken's classic, A Christmas Carol, I was thrilled. The story I had watched so many times on TV had unfolded in my hands. If you loved the movies than you will love the book even more. It is a true classic for all ages

Charles Dickens was formulative in the creation of the image of an Old Fashioned Christmas for our culture and "The Christmas Carol" was instrumental in that movement.
It is second only to the Gospel in Christmas literature.
But there are many points that we tend to gloss over because we don't live in either England, or in the Victorian culture.
The "Annotated Christmas Carol" is a gem because it explains many of the points that we miss -- the significance of much of the symbolism, especially during the Ghost of Christmas Present's visit. What is Brawn, for example?
This is a fascinating addition for those who love this wonderful story.

I was fortunate enough to have been able to borrow this book from a friend, He suggested it for research use into the figure of Marley's Ghost which I am playing in a local production. This book is full of everything you might want to know about "Christmas Carol". It is broken into five chapter's, four of which deal with each of the spirits contained in the story. Picture's and drawing abound in this text, making it invaluable to me as an actor trying to create a character. Right down to an original drawing of Dicken's on his death bed and re-prints of sketches from the very first printing of the book, it's all there and by the author himself...what could be more diffinitive? If you can procure a copy I highly recommend it.

Charles Dickens almost singlehandedly rescued what we in the early 21st Century consider "traditional" Christmas celebrations from extinction. His crusade against the Industrial Revolution's Utilitarianism, and Mammonism (Scrooge is the archetypal Utilitarian) is part of the reason behind this story. Some folks who know something of early Victorian England see that when they read this classic. But for most of us this underlying theme, plus the colloquial 19th Century English are a mystery.
The "Annotated Christmas Carol" neatly solves this issue by fully explaining the story behind the story, and defining some of the more obscure contemporary references. Dickens basically wrote the story because he needed money quickly: his previous novel was only lukewarmly received by the public. Additionally, his desire to awaken a social consciousness in the British upper-class led him to a short story format. Given his long standing committment to keeping the celebrationsn of Christmas alive, the result is, for the English-speaking world anyway, as much a tradition as a tree and presents.
The format is exactly as that for the first edition published in 1843, along with reproductions of Leech's original illustrations. Well researched and written notes in the columns allow the reader to follow along with explanations of terms, identification of likely locations, and the development of the ongoing theme. The book could likely benefit with a new edition, as the commentary seems to be written around 1975 or so. Even so, this is a book that any Dickens enthusiast will want to own, any Christmas Carol enthusiast for that matter...
Highly Recommended.

A Christmas Carol is one of the greatest works of the 19th Century and is easier for most Americans to read then most of his novels. However, American English of today is vastly different from the English prose of Dickens. Also Dickens often makes references to events or historical figures that most Americans are ignorant of. Open up the first page of one of CD's most brillant works, MARTIN CHUZZLEWIT, and see if annotated Dickens isn't a product whose time has come. Well, there was one product out there under this category and it is now longer in print -- THE ANNOTATED CHRISTMAS CAROL. The book unlocks the brillance and reality of CHRISTMAS CAROL almost as well as The ghost of Christmast Past unlocks Scrooge's long supressed childhood memories. I am not much of a writer and sometimes am not much of a reader, but I recognize the value of annotated Dickens and am amazed that this wonderful edition of A CHRISTMAS CAROL is no longer in print. Please, let's get this out in paperback, along with annotations of all of the novels of CD. I am currently struggling through DOMBEY AND SON, and the footnotes that PENGUIN provides are just not enough. Please let's make the great literature more accessible to everyone. MARTIN CHUZZLEWIT and A CHRISTMAS CAROL should be read and UNDERSTOOD by every member of Modern Civilization.