Charles Dickens Books

I am not going to review the Charles Dickens novel 'A Christmas Carol' in this review. I did that already (see my other reviews to read that), and, of course, I gave it 5 stars.
What I'd like to comment on is the extra's this version brings. For instance, the original art work from the first edition by artist John Leech are here, placed where they were originally. There are also the actual 1843 and 1844 critics reviews in this book so one can see what was originally thought about this classic at the time of its release.
Author Richard Kelly gives his perspective on the reasoning behind Dickens writing this ghostly Christmas story - the why's and wherefore's of the characters and scenes, which, for me, gave a little more of an understanding of what may have been going through Mr. Dickens mind at the time.
Mr. Kelly also writes a bit on child labor, education, and the workhouse, which, again, opens the mind a bit more in reading this story.
There is also a chapter that has many writings by Dickens contemporaries, such as Washington Irving, and their own descriptions of Christmas in their time.
Believe it or not, there is quite a bit more in this book than what I've told you, including, of course, "Carol" itself. It makes a very interesting read and can help one to understand the purpose behind Dickens original classic, as well as of the times in which he wrote.
A lot to read at a very good price. There are many many versions of 'A Christmas Carol' available, but this one takes it a bit further than most.

The Christmas season wouldn't be complete without listening to this excellent book on tape. Miriam Margolyes is masterful at creating voices that make you forget the reader is a woman! I love this audiobook!

This is an unabridged version of the Dickens classic. Not the best choice for kids--I'd go with the abridged Patrick Stewart version for that--but the reader/actor does a fantastic job on this full-length version.

This book is an abridged version of Charles Dickens' original. It is not only shorter, but parts of the language are modernized and therefore easier to understand. It contains all the major important events in the story and is full of illustrations that show a child what London looked like at the time the book was written. The captions of the photographs, drawings, and paintings also explain passages of the book, for example the story mentions an almshouse; the illustrations show what it looks like and explains who it was for and why. One of the characters works at a milliner; a drawing shows what a milliner's shop looked like, another shows a silk bonnet made in one of those stores. We see paintings of the streets of London, the clothing of poor and rich people, the food they ate (e.g. brawn), etc.

The illustrations and sidebars give children a much better understanding of the story and the time in which Dickens lived. I highly recommend this book for young readers.

We would be hard pressed to find people not familiar with A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens, due to several movies the novel has spawned. I finally sat down and read the novel and am glad I did. The novel by the prolific and popular Dickens is well-written with great characters. That the author can generate such imagery and fully-realized characters in such a short story, is a testament to his staying power. This book packs an emotional punch, and is a great tale for the holidays, or any time you need to remind yourself to be thankful for what you have and those around you. A classic story and a must read. 5 stars.

I recommend this one without reservation. I bought this audo CD thinking it was simply a reading of the Dickens Classic, but was delighted to discover that "Focus on Family Radio Theater" is much more. They have recreated the feel of radio theater without the crappy sound listeners had to endure in the 40s. It was an unexpectedly delightful experience.

-The musical score is original and heart-swelling. Fully orchestrated, subtle and professional, they should have won an award of some kind.

-The sound effects are believable without being overwhelming...you don't really notice them on the first hearing and have to listen closely to single them out from the story line....excellent in every way.

-The narrator is excellent and the actors are too. They somehow manage to convey their characters using only their voices at least as well as most actors do on the silver screen. You can almost feel the nausia and annoyance welling up in scrooge when his nephew showers him with good cheer. Special kudos to whoever played the "Ghost of Christmas Past". This is usually an insipid, unmemorable part, but this lady somehow lets you feel her contempt and pity and annoyance with Scrooge and still feel that she is comitted to changing his character...but has little hope that he will change. You must hear her performance to appreciate it. The whole cast is good and several of them I would rate as excellent.

The director, or whoever interpreted the dialog did an excellent job as well as whoever scripted it to make it work without visual effects or constant narration.

Parts of this performance made me laugh out loud and others brought a tear to my eye. This is simply the best rendition of Dickens I have ever enjoyed.

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!

I picked this up just after Christmas because I wanted to re-read "A Christmas Carol." The two additional stories, "The Chimes" and "The Cricket on the Hearth," were new to me although I've read nearly all of the Dickens novels. Delightful! The usual Dickens themes - how human love and goodness can triumph over the evils of poverty, indifference, and avarice - abound. The characters are memorable and colorful, exaggerated yet poignantly familiar. What a great way to wind up the holiday season.

This elegant hardcover book with gold-embossed wreath is agreat gift. Its line-engravings, over 25 of them, make it a classiccollectibles. My family created our own Christmas Carol dinner using the book. Dinners and feasts based on the book are staged nationwide at historic hotels and as a part of Gerald Charles Dickens' American Holiday Tour. The book was written by his mother and father, past president of Dickens world-wide Fellowship.

Now here's an author who does her research. She is also a careful reader of the fiction she analyzes. I can't wait for her to write another book. When it comes out, I will be among the first to buy it.