Charles Dickens Books

This book takes elements generally considered bedrock of the original--Scrooge's unrepentant stinginess, his unequivocal redemption, and even the angelic benevolence of Tiny Tim--and flips them around to reconsider the tale in a new way. Along the way, there's some sly dabbling in Dickens' fictional universe and digressions into Victorian economics that make the book an almost didactic experience. Part courtroom drama, part philosophical debate, Professor Bueno De Mesquita has crafted a sharp-witted coda to Dickens' ghostly little book.

The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge is a perfect Christmas read. Dickens and Tiny Tim are villains and you really believe they are. Scrooge turns out to be a great guy, and Eppie -- well you'll love her. The author makes them all sound straight out of Dickens almost as if Dickens himself wrote the book. Really worth getting!

The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge challenges our presumption of Dickens' classic tale, "A Christmas Carol". Was Scrooge really a friendless miser? Set as a Faustian trial, Tiny Tim must prove before a court of the Almighty that Scrooge's soul is worthy of entry into heaven. Set against our prejudices, and a court room of Scrooge's detractors, Tiny Tim composes a defense based on primarily on Dickens' own words, supplemented with contemporary evidence from Christmas 1843. With perhaps overtones towards governance, Prof. Bueno de Mesquita -who is a distinguished political scientist-- questions whether conspicuous generosity to some at the expense of others is superior to even handed meanness. As the story unfolds Scrooge's salvation remains perilously balanced with threats always emerging from unsuspecting quarters.
Although the Dickensian style is somewhat ponderous, this is a fascinating tale that confronts our understanding of righteousness. It is well worth a read.

Buttercup sings to the Captain of HMS Pinafore, "Things are seldom what they seem, Skim milk masquerades as cream." This is what Bruce Bueno de Mesquita would have the reader believe about the reviled Ebenezer Scrooge. In a dramatic trial, with Tiny Tim acting for the defense and Professor Blight serving as the righteous prosecutor, the reader in the jury box is asked to reconsider long-held beliefs about the alleged miser and merciless employer immortalized in Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. For this page-turner novella, a knowledge of Dickens is helpful but not required. In the end, you decide if Scrooge deserves a place in Heaven, or elsewhere. A perfect Christmas stocking stuffer and a great gift any time of year.

I can count the number of books I have read in one sitting on the fingers of one hand, and this book is one of them. This magnificant novel takes off where Dicken's A Christmas Carol left off. This beautifully written and fast paced book presents the compelling story of God's trial for the soul of Ebenezer Scrooge, offering Tiny Tim as his defending attorney. Skillfully drawning upon meticulous historical research, Bueno de Mesquita establishes the counterintuitive argument that perhaps Scrooge, and thus Dickens, may have been misunderstood. Part mystery concering the outcome of the trial, part morality tale about the true meaning of kindness in life, and part fascinating historical education, this book will be a delight for fans of the original Dicken's book as well as for those who have never read it, and can thus approach this book on its own terms. This novel cleverly encourages readers not only to reevaluate Scrooge, but also inspires us to rethink the critical judgments that we often make too easily of others. This is a book that stays with you long after you read it. Scrooge reminds us that there are many ways to be the best person we can, and as many ways to bring out the best in those we care about.

Imagine sharing a cup o' Joe with some of history's greatest authors, spiritual leaders, philosophers and stage and screen stars. It can be done. Sort of. The Dickens tome is one in a series of "Coffee With . . ." titles that brings the rich and famous (and dead) back to life. These completely different bios us imaginary conversations, offering readers the once-in-a-lifetime chance to converse and caffeinate with the likes of Dickens, Plato, Hemingway, Shakespeare, Einstein, Aristotle and Monroe (Marilyn, not James). They are little books big on gimmicks and delightfully entertaining. We like to think of the tomes as literary ways to buck the stars.

Bought for my wife's collection of Dickens related literature. So far she is enjoying the read.

I ENJOYED...AND STILL ENJOY READING THIS SMALL SIZE BOOK BECAUSE IT FITS IN A JACKET POCKET..AN EASY WAY TO ENJOY FREE TIME AS A SUBTITUTE TEACHER BETWEEN CLASSES...AND A GREAT WARM-UP FOR CLASSES I AM NOT FAMILIAR WITH. THE PRINT AND PAGE LAY-OUT IS PREFECT FOR THE READER NOT TO RECEIVE "TIRED EYES". AND IT IS A WELL FORMATED BOOK BASED ON A REAL PERSON IN FICTION FORM. FROM CHILDHOOD TO VICTORIAN WORLD OF AFFAIRS. THANKS FOR THE INVITE TO REVIEW...TAH TAH FIGART "THE SUB"

This is a short and charming book that is part of a series that Duncan Baird is publishing. There are also Coffee with books about Shakespeare, Oscar Wilde, Michelangelo and Groucho.

Imagine a traveller in Cobham, Kent, in the summer of 1870. He sees a charming inn called the Leather Bottle on the side of the road and decides to stop in for a cup of coffee or a pint of porter. And there he meets the ghost of Charles Dickens, dead these seven weeks. And why not? Dickens himself has taught us that spirits can do anything. And so begins a delightful and informative conversation between a stranger and Charles Dickens.

We are privileged to listen in on the conversation that ensues. The stranger has quite a knowledge of Dickens's life and works. Almost as much as a Senior Lecturer in English at a major university would have. Asking insightful questions he chats with Dickens about important questions about his life and his career - (over a bowl of steaming punch - the coffee of the title is never served.)

The first thing one notes from the conversation is how friendly and engaging Dickens is. He puts the stranger totally at ease. Which, according to a foreword by Peter Ackroyd, is exactly what the historic Charles Dickens would have done.

Dickens would jump from subject to subject and this little book records brief conversations between the Inimitable and the traveller about literature, the theatre, creative writing, religion, travelling, America, social issues, education, politics and the author's love of walking. It also touches on his illustrators, his publishers, his circle of friends and the women in his life. Not a word about Ellen Ternan of course. Few people knew about her in 1870 and although the traveller starts to ask about rumours he has heard, the Inimitable promptly quotes himself and declares the whispered rumours to be abominably false.

Unfortunately, the one question that I hoped the traveller would ask Dickens is never asked. And so we never hear what Dickens's spirit would have said about what really happened to Edwin Drood.

Having coffee with Dickens? What larks! This little book is just right! Short enough to finish with a pot of coffee and long enough to touch on fifteen major points in the life of the famous Victorian author including such tantalizing topics as 'An Inky Quill Pen and Two Dueling Toads', 'A Paltry, Wretched, Miserable Sum', 'The Attraction of Repulsion' and 'Why Oliver Asked For More'. Acclaimed novelist Peter Ackroyd provides the forward, filled with the compelling `aroma' of what is to come...what would it be like to speak to Dickens? Paul Schlicke, Senior Lecturer in English at the University of Aberdeen and current chairman of the Board of Trustees of The Charles Dickens Museum in London, addresses that question after giving us an informative introduction and `Life in Short', providing a solid foundation for the conversation to follow.

Written as a chance encounter at the Leather Bottle, a favorite watering hole of Dickens featured in the Pickwick Papers, a stranger invites the ghost of Dickens, 'shades of Jacob Marley', to share a coffee...or something stronger, and engages him in a lively and telling exchange. Dickens doesn't miss a beat, answering each question with the exuberance and vivacity he was known for as evidenced by his letters, speeches and essays. He remains in character throughout, refusing to comment on his affair with Ellen Ternan and chiding the interviewer severely for even asking. Each major point in his life is sufficiently covered just enough to whet the reader's appetite for, "More, please!" and the author does supply further resources in the back for those desiring a 'refill'.

Dr. Schlicke has kept the book light and airy and at the same time provided us with a fundamental understanding and insight into the life of this 'Inimitable' man. So pour yourself a cup of coffee, sit back and enjoy!

B. A. Zimmerman, Philadelphia Dickens Fellowship, February 7, 2008

It was a fun read, but seemed to me to fall apart completely in the end. When asked to explain the motivation for some implausible actions by the culprit, the best the detective can come up with are some lame suggestions and the admission that, "who knows 'ow 'is mind was racin'". Who indeed.

And there was a character who was apparently thrown in simply because he had been in the earlier books as he serves no purpose in this one other than to help explain some of the workings of early train service. A good bit of this sort of thing in the book.

This is the only book I have read in this series. Not too bad if you are looking for a quick read and like spot-the-allusions. A disappointment if you were expecting a mystery.

In 1853 London, Metropolitan Protective Inspector William Field asks Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins to identify the corpse of a white man found in a nearby opium den. The tie that the victim wears tells Wilkie that the dead man is a member of Oxford. Another associate of the two writers, Charles Dodgson recognizes the deceased as a history don at Oxford.

At the urging of Inspector Field, the three associates decide to investigate the murder of the don. Although they have worked previous cases, Dickens, Wilkie, and Dodgson remain writers/wannabe authors playing amateur sleuths. Their actions soon place their very lives and that of Dickens' mistress in danger from an unknown assailant.

The fourth Dickens-Collins Victorian mystery is a clever who-done-it, populated by literary references and their associated footnotes. The story line is fun although the use of Victorian era dialect makes one wonder if Dickens is heading in the direction of Chaucer and Shakespeare, difficult to read without a translator. The plot belongs to the trio of writers as the audience sees a glimpse of them beyond the classroom and outside their novels.

Harriet Klausner

The fourth adventure in William J. Palmer's exciting Victorian histo-fiction series is one you really don't want to miss.

Once again, the team of Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins is off to the races in "The Dons and Mr. Dickens (The Strange Case of the Oxford Christmas Plot)." This time, the duo are called back into detective action by their friend Inspector Field of the London Metropolitan Police to help solve a most puzzling mystery. An Oxford don is found murdered in London's Limehouse Hole, a most unseemly area for a don to be found in, dead or alive. And author Palmer, in true Dickensian style, gets the body identified and off they go to Oxford to investigate. Alas, a chief suspect (another don) turns up with a knife in his back (dead).

Told by Collins, Dickens's man Watson, the story picks up steam in his early Industrial Age police procedural, enlisting, along the way Charles Dodgson, a young Mycroft Holmes, and an energetic very young inspector Morse. Also assisting are characters from the previous books, the actress Ellen Ternan, Serjeant Rogers, and Tally Ho Thompson.

Palmer's flair for the Victorian make Dickens more joyful to read than Dickens himself, in some cases, and the author's ability to inject period humor (something not always found in Dickens--just try reading "Bleak House" or "The Old Curiosity Shop"!) makes "The Dons and Mr. Dickens" read quickly, smoothly, and entertainingly.

What are these Oxford dons up to? Well, as Agatha Christie would say, "Murder most foul," and it is up to the geniuses of the central characters to sort it out. What a fun read this series is, injecting conspiracies, mayhem, romance, and a few bodies as well, and this fourth one seems to be the most enjoyable--perhaps what a book of fiction should really be all about.

Very amusing. The Dons mentioned in the title, except for one now known MUCH better by his nom de plume, are appropriately corrupt/ineffectual, so gentle reader can safely trust that William J. Palmer has indeed been professing for many years, somehere, per the bio. Inspector Field is his usual gruff efficient sage self & the watch of Wilkie Collins, Cub Novelist, disappears promptly. An apprentice detective named Morse appears. One may predict that he will master his work, someday, plus enjoy his beer, ruefully, all around Oxford. Ellen Ternan, light of the life of late great Dickens, begins to materialize, participating as a character actress playing a lovely Irish barmaid snitch. Will she be ravished? Mr. Dickens is not sure he likes this role, much, but controls his inimitable self, barely. Petty deduction for gratuitous allusion, in French, but a good, even explosive, read.

It is quite evident in this latest addition to Palmer's stable of victorian mystery novels that the author enjoys an intimate knowledge of 19th century England in general and Oxford University specifically. Had I not read his Bio I would have believed that William Palmer was a "public school" boy raised in the UK. While somewhat less "bawdy" than his earlier contributions, Palmer nonetheless succeeds in incorporating the Dodgson character in to his standard Dickens/Collins partnership, and in the process delights us with even more details surrounding the "Sherlock Holmes type" of Opium prevalence during the period. All in all, this Christmas release is yet another credit to the numerous kudos earned by Palmer with previous books.

Jonathan Winters does a good job of narrating this Christmas classic, but the abridgment is pretty severe. Too much good stuff is left out. I prefer the unabridged Jim Dale version. My favorite is the unabridged cassette version read by Paul Scofield, but it seems to be out of print. If I could find that one on CD, I'd buy it in a heartbeat.

I've been a huge fan of Jonathan Winters all of my life. What is surprising in this CD is that Winters remains faithful to Dicken's text. I had fully expected him to get carried away and go off on his fantastic tangents like he usually does with his own characters like Maudy Frickert or Elwood P Suggins. He doesn't.
So, for those looking for a wild and crazy version of A Christmas Carol you COULD be disapointed. However, as a dedicated Winters fan, I enjoy this recording.

Jonathan Winters reads from Dicken's own version written for public readings, so it moves along nicely, never dragging or labored.

You'll want to pick up several copies of this CD for friends as a welcomed Christmas surprise.

Some songs, customs, and stories are so beloved, so familiar that they have become an integral part of our holiday celebrations. It wouldn't be the 4th of July without a parade; it wouldn't be Valentine's Day without a heart shaped box; and it wouldn't be Christmas without hearing "Silent Night" and a reading of "A Christmas Carol."

Every once in a while another version or recording comes along that makes the familiar seem new, we hear it as though for the first time. That is certainly the case with this performance of "A Christmas Carol" by the irrepressible Jonathan Winters. He inhabits every character from Scrooge to his housekeeper to Tiny Tim, offering in his own incomparable manner the way he thinks each character would sound.

Never has a Scrooge been meaner, a ghost more menacing or Tiny Tim more winning. Mr. Winters has been called "a one-man theatrical troupe" - indeed, he is as he not only presents amazingly different voices but sound effects as well. This is a one-of-a-kind version of "A Christmas Carol."

Enjoy!

- Gail Cooke

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!

Scrooge was a man whom lived in a small old house that at one time belonged to his departed business partner, Jacob Marley. Though he could meet the expense of the most expensive clothes available, he chose to dress in the fashion of a lower-class civilian. He worked in a counting house with only his clerk Bob Cratchit for business. Scrooge was a grumpy old man whom believed that Christmas is for rich people. He also thinks that Christmas is also just a reason to miss work and get gifts to one another and also to exchange the gifts. Every time the Christmas holiday would come Scrooge would get the same feelings as the years before which are not very Christmas spirity. Most people respected his dislike for Christmas holidays, and continued to dislike him, despise him, even hate him. He doesn't believe in all of the good cheer, happiness and charity that the season promotes, and he makes sure everyone knows how he feels about the Christmas spirit. His money was what he lived by. One night Scrooge was visited by his friend, which was Marley, who was also grumpy and cold as Scrooge was. When Marley visited Scrooge, Marley told Scrooge that if he continues to be stingy and so selfishly he would continue with greed as his assemble. He also tells Scrooge that three spirits will haunt him. On Christmas Eve, Scrooge received three visits from three specific ghosts. The ghost names where the Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. Those ghost showed him the true meaning of Christmas and the true meaning of his life. They showed him his error in valuing money over people. Scrooge saw his long forgotten past, realizing all the good quality he had deserted, and all he had done to guide him where he was now. He saw his childhood, his grief and pleasure. He saw his relatives and acquaintances. He also saw himself turn from all these through his greed as his age progressed.

Even though you wouldn't know it from the information shown above, this is an abridged adaptation, apparently prepared for young children. Which is fine if that's what you want. The illustrations are first rate and the quality of the book is excellent. However, if what you want is a graphic representation of Victorian London, rather than the screenplay for "Mr McGoo's Christmas Carol", then look elsewhere.

A Christmas Carol, written by Charles Dickens is a book of being given a second chance. Ebenezer Scrooge, the main character of the book, is a grumpy old man who feels he has no time for anyone. As an owner of a firm called Scrooge and Marley's, Scrooge runs the business while Marley has been dead. On Christmas Eve, exactly seven years from Marley's death, his ghost visits Scrooge. He tells him that soon three different ghost will visit him during the night.
As promised, the ghosts of the past, present, and the future visit Scrooge. He is visited by the ghosts because of his rude attitude and his disregard for anyone's attempt to be nice, which we all find ourselves doing now and then. The past shows Scrooge how he used to be, which was somewhat pleasant but still lonely for Scrooge. The present shows Scrooge his actions in a way Scrooge has never realized, most of which are to his dislike. The future shows the time when Scrooge is dead and no one cares for him, actually they are happy that he is gone. All of these visions has Scrooge sobbing in tears and ready to make changes in his life.
The book is cleverly written and fun to read. It often makes you put yourself into Scrooge's situations. My favorite part of the book is when Scrooge visited the past. I think it would be great to revisit all of the things you used to have in life. My least favorite part of the book is when Scrooge is dead in the future, instead of mourning, everyone is interested in his death will. It would be horrible to leave earth in such a way that all anyone wants is your money.
As far as recommending the book for others, I believe its a great story especially for the holidays. If you are into the Christmas glee spirit then you would like the book, especially the ending. A Christmas Carol can make you angry, cry and laugh all throughout the book. Its a story of one man whos favorite words, "Bah Humbug" becomes sincere and realizes all that he can accomplish in life.

What a fun book to read. I love 'A Christmas Carol,' and this book puts everything 'Carol' right at your fingertips. For the most part, I agree with much of what the author says, but I feel that 'An American Christmas Carol' and 'Scrooged' deserve higher ratings. I also prefer the George C. Scott version above all others.
This book is broken down so the reader will not only be able to read about the many different film versions of a 'Carol' that have been released, but the cartoon, television, and even the original book version is reviewed as well. An example of what I learned is that I had no idea that there was a version starring Sir Seymour Hicks filmed back in 1935 until I read about it in this book. I then searched out and found a (rather poor, unfortunately) copy of THAT version. There is also a small biography of Mr. Dickens, so the reader will understand where many of his ideas for his novels came from.
The writing style is quick, informative (LOTS of trivia and pictures throughout!), and upbeat.
I don't know if this has been updated to include the Patrick Stewart version or not, as I purchased this book back in '97. I will definitely pick up a revised copy should one become available.
A great bathroom book!

i enjoyed reading this book as it shows a change in a mans heart. The book has a lot of humor in it and is understood by people of all ages you can read it time and time again and never get board. I like the way he sees things in a differend view after he had a visit from the three spirits.

This very slender book is not a bad afternoon read, but ultimately it fails in what it attempts to do.
The author himself comes off as pompous and disengaging, as his "trivia" book is little more than a brief collection of personal opinions of his favorite Christmas Carol versions. These thinly veiled reviews lack the calibre of even your local TV Guide synopses. The only real trivia examples here are in classroom style question-exercises included at the end of each chapter! While I have no problem with this, the author postures himself as the true expert on A Christmas Carol with no real exposition as to why said versions are his favorite! I am giving it three stars, though, as the subject matter remains enjoyable no matter how clumsily presented.
Also worth noting- The recent Patrick Stewart version is omitted from this collection. Sacrilege!

If you're a Fan of Dickens Christmas Carol, like I am, you might enjoy this book.

It has Chapters on Dickens, the story and it's creation and the many Film, T.V, and Cartoon versions. I don't agree with the author that the movie Scrooged is so avfull, I'm not saying it's a Great movie But I found it quite Funny actually.

But apart from that this is a Fun Book to read around Christmas time when you have reeread Christmas Carol, watched all your Christmas Carol Videos, stuffed yourself full of Marsipan, Chocolate and Sherry and been visited by the Ghost of Christmas past.

This was my summer reading. Never once touched the actual book... read about the characters and the main plot and some important details in about 20 mins. When school started, we had a test on the book, results: A! I totally would suggest this book!

These Cliffsnotes have definitely helped me as a student to understand the book. It can get hard to read if you're a younger person who doesn't know much about the language Charles Dickens used.

I thought this was a great book. It was a really good summery on great expectations. I know how some people get really confused when reading books like this because it is sometimes hard to understand the language. So I highy reccomend this book.

These Cliffsnotes have definitely helped me as a student to understand the book. It can get hard to read if you're a younger person who doesn't know much about the language Charles Dickens used.

English not being my native language, I never had to read Dickens in high school. I decided to try Great Expectations as my first introduction to the great English author, on the recommendation of a friend of mine. And I was not disappointed!

That said, I had a bit of a difficult time at first getting used to Dickens's use of language, and I found the first part of the book a little hard to get into, but I didn't have to struggle too much or for too long: after a short while the characters came alive for me and the story became so absorbing, that I could not put the book down. The novel has a fantastic, very tight plot, and the characters are memorable. This always works for me as a reader!

Great Expectations was my first Dickens read, but it will certainly not be the last.

First of all (as I like to say!) I'm no smarter than you and I thought this book was great, that said, this book is not THE easiest to read in that it does take a while for things to get really interesting. I rated it 5 stars because it is excellent but you need to have some patience with this book, in the end it is much worth the effort....and keep me updated!

I wanted to revisit this "classic", having read it in high school and remembering it fondly. I was not disappointed, for I found the story more applicable to my life now, ten years later, than at the time of my first reading. Back then, it seemed a good yarn - lots of fun characters, intriguing plot twists - a grand adventure. Upon rereading, I was able to absorb the story while thinking about my own "coming of age", and weigh the morality of Pip's universe. At the same time, my original impressions were not misguided - the moral/societal questions Dickens explores are layered into the fun characters and strong plot development.

In addition, there are some interesting "reading group" questions at the back, as well as some interesting commentary by various authors since the time of the original publication. For that reason, I would recommend this edition.

the course of the year I try to read a few, "Important Novels" in order to get a fuller understanding of literature. Dicken's "Great Expectations" has been on my list for nearly a year. I completely dreaded reading what I thought would be a long and drawn out story about something I could careless about. Well, I was wrong.
"Great Expectations" is now #1 on my all-time favorites list. While, admittedly, it took me roughly 150 pages to get any enjoyment out of the novel- once I was in- I was hooked. Pip's journey through life is a very refreshing look at how distorted we let our lives become by focusing on the unimportant. Dicken's ability to slowly alter Pip's views on life, without changing his essential character/morales (Ex. How Pip looks to help his friend in his business pursuits). Some have called "Great Expecations" his masterpiece... but in my opinion, it may be the "Masterpiece" of English Literature.

I also wonder why this is required High School reading. While I loved this book at age 28, I think most 16 year-olds would find it unbearable. It seems like such a waist to ruin both the book and Dicken's name on minds that are not ready for such a reading task.

Kathleen Krull's Lives of the Writers Comedies, Tragedies (and What the Neighbors Thought) was an exceptionally informative book for young readers. Krull presented basic biographical information for up to nineteen well-known authors from the past and more resent times. Along with this standard information, Krull also offered not-so-common facts about the life, personalities, and actions of the authors. While reading the book, I found myself feeling as if I had came to know some the authors as a person rather than simply an author from the past. Also, I enjoyed the illustrators' drawings of the each author. The illustrations seemed to add a bit of humor and light-heartedness to the information. I believe this book would serve as a great introductory tool for students of various ages.

This is another charming addition to Krull's outstanding series. I have read all but one of the books and was very excited about Lives of the Writers, since writing is my area of expertise. The illustrations were lovely, as always, but the writing (of all things!) lacked vigour, droning on with archaic facts about the authors. Towards the end I had trouble identifying the authors or the books they are most famous for. Krull would have been better served to write about familiar, yet interesting authors, such as J.R.R. Tolkien or Lucy Maud Montgomery, as opposed to Zora Neale Hurston and Isaac Bashevis Singer.

Nevertheless, this is a good, witty, and light book, and it is a welcome addition to Krull's series.

This book is a fun and informative book. The pictures are filled with humorous meanings and hidden information. The book keeps the reader's attention by keeping the included information short and simple, but also makes sure that the reader gets as much possible about the author. This book is great for kids and students to use as a report source as it is filled with great information. Kids would rather use this book as an information source rather than an encylopedia since the information is easy to understand. Authors in there are some you may not know, ( Murasaki Shikibu) and some well know ones ( Charles Dickens). I am glad I purchsed this book. I really liked the pictures which are so vibrant with color. This would make a great buy.

"How can you print a piece of your own soul," Dickinson, p. 51

This is the 2nd in the Krull and Hewitt's "Lives of ..." series. The book contains 19 chapters on 20 writers in birth order: Murasaki Shikibu (973?-1025?), Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616), William Shakespeare (1564-1616), Jane Austen (1775-1817), Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875), Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849), Charles Dickens (1812-1870), Charlotte & Emily Bronte (1816-1855 & 1818-1848), Emily Dickinson (1830-1886), Louisa May Alcott (1832-1888), Mark Twain (1835-1910), Frances Hodgson Burnett (1849-1924), Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894), Jack London (1876-1916), Carl Sandburg (1878-1967), E. B. White (1899-1985), Zora Neale Hurston (1901?-1960), Langston Hughes (1902-1967), Isaac Bashevis Singer (1904-1991)

This is a perfect book for young adolescents and pre-teens who as they grow and mature frequently feel awkward. Krull introduces us to the idiosyncrasies of the literary. Some of the authors were loners, eccentric, a wee bit peculiar. Michael Jackson's behaviors might seem normal when held in comparison. Some retreated into themselves. Some sought out adventures. Some as adults were unsuccessful at the ordinary.

Some worked at a young age to support the family. Some took daily walks, very long daily walks. Some were not healthy and therefore wrote in bed. There were some similarities and some differences, but they all shared a singular conviction to write and write they each did well.

Hewitt's delightful portraits of the writers are precious. My favorite portrait is of Frances Hodgson Burnett of "The Secret Garden" fame. Her hat is the secret garden.

Given the high price of the book, I was surprised that Krull did not include a list of the authors' books and/or poems and the publication years. END

This edition is simply beautiful and we're really glad that we got it. The illustrations are gorgeous. This book is a keepsake. Charles Dickens is, without a doubt, one of the greatest storytellers ever. This story is one of the best ever. Our entire family is loving this story - 3 generations of us! - the oldest being in his late 70's and the youngest is 8. Proof a great story. Everyone loves the pictures. Amongst the most beautiful ever!

There's not much to say about Dickens' classic that has not already been said. But what one can say is that the illustrations from Roberto Innocenti are wonderful, with an astonishing attention to detail and a keen sense of period (one of the illustrations, the one set at a corner of a busy and snowy market street, has almost 100 characters in it, and a richly detailed portrayal of common life).

A very dear friend of mine gave me a copy of Roberto Innocenti's lavishly illustrated take on Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." A holiday classic in its own right (check out the wonderful 1938 cinematic adaptation starring Reginald Owen, newly released on DVD for the first time), Innocenti's incredibly detailed watercolours bring Dickens' London to life: we peer through windows to see mothers caring for sick children, see delights piled up in shop windows, and small details that give depth to the story (the Dutch-tiled fireplace in Scrooge's home, the Cratchit threadbare hovel). The paper stock is very good quality, as is the ink. A worthwhile investment for children old enough to appreciate this timeless tale, sure to become a treasured symbol of Christmas.