Charles Dickens Books

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.

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.

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.

As a huge fan of Patrick Stewart in his various movies, I was curious of this audio-performance. And I wasn't disappointed. His rich voice and his stage-trained intonation give his performance such a superb quality that I can actually SEE the small fire, SMELL the food in the kitchen and SHIVER in the cold, while the ghost takes Scrooge to the various stations of his life. All is so very authentic that it gives me shivers and gooseflesh is crawling up my arms while listening...Get your copy if you like Dickens. To me it is the best performance ever.

Stewart does an amazing job reading the story. It must be an incredible one-man show. He does all the voices and the sound effects. For example, he just says "ding" for the ringing of the clock as it strikes the top of the hour, but in the way Patrick Stewart does it he pulls you into Scrooge's nervous anticipation of the striking of the final bell. Using different intonations and voices, Stewart draws you into the story. His enthusiam for the story is infectious. His voice is mesmerizing. I can not recommend this audio book enough.

A Christmas Carol

It was my goal this December to read to my children, ages seven, nine and 14, the Christmas Carol story by Dickens so that they would know the original before seeing the movie. I also thought this would be an accessible way for them to get oriented to English literature and prepare them for further reading.

The requirements of the Christmas Carol book to be purchased were that a) it be new as opposed to a ragged used copy, b) it be unabridged, c) it have good drawings; and d) if possible it be inexpensive. I first looked in the library, but their book was checked out, and anyway I was looking to start a family tradition of reading the story every year with our own copy if possible. The Candlewick Press edition with illustrations by P.J. Lynch appeared to fill the bill; I bought it; and it delivered the goods. The book is nice and readable-sized, the illustrations good, the type pleasing. Thirteen bucks. I was immensely satisfied with the purchase.

As to the fate of the reading, we handled one chapter per evening, there being five chapters; each took an hour or so to read. I found Dickens to be sometimes heavy going for the younger TV and video-generation kids to get a sense of what is going on. I did not recollect Dickens to be so when I read some of his works as a younger person, but apparently it's something you have to be exposed to and get to understand. Anyway I was happy to provide my children with the chance to get started. It gave me a measure of the gap between the reading preparation of today's youth versus my pre-Cambrian elementary and middle school days. On Christmas Day I showed them the George C. Scott version of the movie, and they all liked it. But all knew the basics from the book, which was my goal, even if the mid-1800s prose obscured many of the action points to the younger ones in their Sponge Bob and Hannah Montana mindsets.

So the effort was a success, and this edition of the book did what I had hoped by delivering up an excellent presentation at a very low cost.

Dan of Arlington

If you are looking to purchase a copy of "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens, then I believe that this would be a excellent choice for you. The book is very well bound and of excellent quality. The illustrations are wonderful and very well detailed. The pages are slightly thicker than normal so you are probably less likely to tear them. If you purchase this book, you will not be disappointed.

I purchased this book as a gift for myself so that I could enjoy this timeless Christmas tale over the holidays. This edition of A Christmas Carol was a wonderful purchase. The illustrations added to the enjoyment of the story and allowed me to visit another time and place while relaxing with this holiday classic.

I would highly recommend this book to young and old alike.

I think we have yet to experience the definitive film version of "A Christmas Carol", but we now have the definitive book version! Masterful illustrations complement the unedited text. Oh, and EVERYONE who purchases this book, PLEASE take off the dust cover and let this one age without it! WONDERFUL cover, perfect!

This book is beautiful! The pictures are amazing and held my children (6 and 4) captive while I read to them. I would recommend reading this story every year at Christmastime as a family.

This is a fabulous, UNabridged version of A Christmas Carol. Jim Dale does fabulous voice characterizations, and really captures the mood of each scene. Just love it.

This was a great way to share the beauty of Dickens with students that are not quite ready to read it on their own.

The quintessential Christmas story read by Jim Dale with all the skill (and voices) with which he read the Harry Potter novels. Wonderful to listen to as you do your Christmas decorating or baking. I bought copies to give as gifts for several people this year.

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

Wonderful! In this busy time of year it's hard to find time to sit down long enough to read through the printed Dickens. Having an unabridged copy of A Christmas Carol in an audio format is a great treat. I managed to listen to it twice, once on my own while wrapping gifts and baking, and once with my kids.
Jim Dale, as usual reads it beautifully, embuing each character with it's own personality.

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.

If you are used to reading contemporary fiction (as I am), this will be slower and harder to get into that you may be used to. I gave it the chance and it has become one of my favorite reads ever. Great characters, a compelling story and beautifully told. Easy to see why this is a literary classic.

Classic of the caliber of Great Expectations (Oxford World's Classics). Dickens does a great job of wrapping up all the story lines and keeping the mixture of comedy, tragedy, and mystery moving forward at a fast-enough clip for our 21st-century attention spans.

And no annoying "story-within-a-story" interludes to slow things down.

My favorite Dickens novel, and one I pull out again every few years for a re-read. I'm probably drawn to it at least partly because of Dickens' own partiality to it - he was quoted as calling it his "favorite child", and much of the material is said to be inspired by his own life experiences. It's the kind of tale rarely told anymore: just a simple, unvarnished, yet detailed portrayal of a life. Reading it is like perusing the diary of a person much like ourselves - someone who just lives his or her life from day to day, peppered with their own small dramas and adventures, with few things particularly tremendous or earth-shattering on any large scale, except to that person. The Story of Me, so to speak. Again, not the kind of story told very often anymore, presumably due to our need for more far-reaching plot lines and reading experiences that take us out of our normal range of experience. In the Victorian period, however, the serial novel - produced in bits via magazines - were the fad of the day, so readers looked forward to everyday goings-on of the young David Copperfield, whom we get to know, literally, from birth.
In what I think of as classic Dickens (and later, Alger) fashion, David as a young boy finds himself at the mercy of adults who should care for him but do not, and after a miserable childhood is eager to make his own way in the world, and this is when his life truly begins. Along the way he meets some of the most memorable of the many unforgettable characters with whom Dickens has populated his novels: David's loathsome stepfather and step-aunt, the Murdstones, the hysterically loquacious Micawber, David's dear nurse Peggotty, the frivolous Dora and her fiercely silly dog, the sensible, understanding Agnes, and the detestable Uriah Heep, among many others - Steerforth, Emily, Tommy Traddles, Ham, Mr. Peggotty, Mrs. Gummidge...the list goes on, each character more delightful than the next. Amidst the minutiae are the very real dramas of every day life - a young woman's ruined reputation, a mismatched marriage made and endured, the ever-hovering threat of poverty and disgrace in a tenuous world, betrayals in both love and commerce, and every small experience of love, struggle, and redemption are played out here.
For me David Copperfield will always be a treasure of a story, one that spotlights how each of our lives, no matter how seemingly small or unremarkable, are truly enormous oceans of experiences unique to each one of us.

I had read the Chinese version of "David Copperfield" when I was about 14, and enjoyed it very much, though it didn't leave much trace in my mind after I grew up. I was glad to be able to enjoy it a second time recently. This time I read the English version, that is, the original work of the great writer Charles Dickens. I was immediately subdued by Dickens' mastery of the language. Reading the book is just like having someone very talented in telling stories talking to you. The rhythms in the language of this book are simply beautiful. Very, very beautiful. Although there're a lot of long sentences in this book (the longest one seemed to be the one in the chapter of Copperfield's wedding, about 2-3 pages for a single sentence. Can you imagine that!), it seems very natural to read -- just like having someone very smart, very passionate and very eloquent talking to you. Although it's about 900 pages, although it's a novel published more than 150 years ago, it's not boring at all to read! I was taken by the story at the first page, and continued enjoying it during these several months, and finished the last page tonight with a satisfied smile, as if I had just finished a gorgeous banquet! No wonder Dickens was deemed one of the best English writers ever! He really had a wonderful mastery of the language, and was really good at telling stories!

This is one of Dickens best novels in terms of overall continuity but it also is his most static: almost all scenes occur inside prisons - mostly debtors prison - and there's a lot of it - 1000 pages. And there's not a lot happening in those prisons. I think that Bleak House, Our Mutual Friend and Martin Chuzzlewit are also long novels that are more entertaining (and of course there are all of the 'episodic' Dickens novels to read), but Little Dorrit is one of his better crafted works. If you seriously like Dickens, then this is worth the time.

While Hard Times was written at about the same time as Little Dorrit, the two could not be more different. Hard Times features 1-dimensional characters you couldn't care less about; Little Dorrit's father, the Father of the Marshalsea, is one of Dickens' most complex creations, and you sympathize with him at the same time as you dislike him. His mental breakdown at the end is particularly poignant. The Circumlocution Office in Little Dorrit seems to foreshadow Kafka's Castle, whihe factories in Hard Times are cardboard propoganda.

(Aside: the best Dickens film adaptation I have ever seen was of Little Dorrit. For some reason, that is still unavailable on DVD.)

Little Dorrit was not well received upon its original publication in monthly segments from 1855-1857 because critics and readers of the time were unhappy with the complicated nature of the story and its dark tone. To this day, it is one of the lesser known Charles Dickens novels, a fate it does not deserve.

Much of the novel takes place in the Marshalsea prison for debtors, an environment with which Dickens was familiar due to his own family history. William Dorrit, father of "Little Dorrit," has been confined to the prison for so long when the book opens that he has become known inside its walls as "Father of the Marshalsea." He has lost all hope of ever being released from the prison and has learned to enjoy the respect that he receives there from prison employees and fellow-prisoners alike. In fact, he has been imprisoned for so long that Little Dorrit, born inside the prison walls, is now a young woman working as a seamstress outside the walls in order to be able to bring her father some of the luxuries not provided to prisoners. She faithfully returns to the prison every evening in order to see that her father is as comfortable as possible.

Into this mix arrives one Arthur Clennam, only recently returned to London from several years in India when he meets Little Dorrit while visiting his mother. Clennam is struck by the selflessness of Amy Dorrit and befriends the family in an attempt to make their lives somewhat easier. But in true Dickens style, Clennam and the Dorrits will find their roles reversed after Clennam is swindled of his fortune and William Dorrit is found to be heir to a large fortune.

But this is only one of the book's major plotlines. Dickens also spends hundreds of pages introducing a predatory Frenchman and describing how this despicable man is attempting to extort money from Clennam's mother because he knows some dark secret of hers that she is desperate to keep hidden.

At its heart, Little Dorrit is a love story, one that seems destined for a sad ending because middle-aged Arthur Clennam feels that Little Dorrit can never see him as anything more than a friend and father-figure. She, on the other hand, living in complete poverty, does not feel worthy of Clennam's attention. Pride proves to be a two-way street, and when Little Dorrit finally admits her love for Clennam, he is broke and refuses her because he does not want to leave the prison at her expense.

Little Dorrit is filled with side-characters who have distinct personalities and stories of their own to tell. It is through them that Dickens so successfully recreates the world of early nineteenth century London as experienced by all class levels of its inhabitants. Admittedly, this is a long book (the Wordsworth Classic edition runs 740 pages but others clock in at over 1,000 pages) but it is well worth the effort. It is always a treat to lose yourself in the world of Charles Dickens and Little Dorrit is no exception.

I have always loved Dickens, but hadn't read any in a while, and never might have read "Little Dorrit" if I hadn't recently read a biography of Dorothy Day that mentioned that this was her favorite and that she kept a copy of it by her bed. Let me just say that I understand why someone whose life was dedicated to the homeless and downtrodden would have found this book - out of all of Dickens - the most inspirational. It is particularly masterful at depicting how being flung to the bottom of the heap can create psychological damage that no amount of wealth can ever undo. We see the corruptions both of extreme wealth and degrading poverty. And we are also shown most convincingly one small figure who remains uncorrupted by both extremes, who finds her greatest joy in service and in following the steps of the Master. (Little Dorrit has a wonderful speech to this effect as she confronts Mrs. Clennam's championing of Old Testament-inspired vengeance.) The characters are endlessly interesting, whether engaging or loathesome, and altogether, long as it was, I was sorry to see it end!

This is a long book - it feels like a 1000 pages - but it is a masterpiece. Dickens takes us from Marseilles, home to an evil man whose smile makes his moustache disappear under his top lip and draws us into a dark, damp, murky Victorian London where one's whole future existence seems to be mapped out at birth, and where to escape from one's perceived 'destiny' is both sacriligeous and impossible. The Marshalsea Prison is a place all of us can visualise - a debtors prison from which many fail to escape, the dubious honour of the Father of the Marshalsea bestowed on the longest-serving inmate. Little Dorrit - Amy - is the daughter of the Father of the Marshalsea and this is her tale, one which stretches across the grime of smoggy nineteenth century London to the pollution of Continental Europe. The cast of characters is fascinating and Dickens rarely misses a trick - each is easily comparable to people any of us knows today. I studied this book at school and I have read it four or five times since.

I disagree with those who say this was not one of Dickens's best novels; on the contrary, I feel it is one of his very best. I believe many critics and those who study Dickens would agree. I had a difficult time getting into the book after the initial few chapters but was richly rewarded as I continued on. The length of the book is quite intimidating; however, it is well worth the effort to read it. I could not put the book down as I came to the last 100 or so pages. I absolutely loved it by the time I finished the book. It is one of Dickens's darker novels, which may put some off. Even so, many, if not most, of his novels deal with unpleasant topics, and there is quite a bit of humor in the book to balance the darkness. In fact the book is full of balance, wonderful Dickens prose, masterful characterization, as well as one the best plots. I will read this novel again when I have the time to savor 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.

This excellent, readable book will serve as an introduction to first-time readers of Dickens, for those returning to his novels after long absence and even to those aficionados and scholars interested in fresh and insightful, though always level-headed, readings of their favorite author's work. Ms. Epstein's coverage of the soio-economic background of Victorian England, in which the novels and stories are set, could hardly be bettered. And she is as interesting about what is familiar, such as the often-read "A Christas Carol," as she is about what is unfamiliar, such as the author's dark, uncompleted and rarely read final novel, "The Mystery of Edwin Drood."

This is such a good book. It had me from cover to cover. Exciting at every turn. Will keep you hanging from chapter to chapter.

With "Bleak House?" The novels of Tolstoy and of Dostoyevsky, certainly. Some would mention Proust. Possibly Thomas Mann. Balzac and Flaubert? I don't think so. Aside from the great Russian novels, I cannot think of any 19th century work of fiction that can compete with "Bleak House." The terminally earnest will suggest "Middlemarch,"but Dickens's great anatomy of high Victorian society is so much more attractive, more intriguing, even more intellectually nourishing than George Eliot's portrait of the mesalliance of pedantry and priggishness. When we have unravelled the plot of "Bleak House," we understand how D'Israeli's "two nations" were connected--occultly and with shame.

Another Dickens Masterpiece. This book expresses Mr. Dicken's opinion about a legal system that has become self serving and self justifying. The story is set in Old England but could just as easily apply to today's involuted Tort System especially as it applies to class action suits.
Mr. Dicken's distrust and disdain for self serving people in the legal profession comes out.
This book shows how destructive it is to place one's hopes in that which is undeserving.

Written in 1853, when Dickens was at his peak, Bleak House is often considered Dickens's best novel. Set in the 1850s, the novel tells several interconnected stories involving dozens of characters from all levels of society, giving a broad picture of life in London and in the countryside during this period. As is often the case with Dickens, his satire and humor enliven his sometimes dark subjects, without blunting his criticism of bureaucracy and the mistreatment of children. The novel is huge, not just in terms of length but in its universal themes, its characterizations, and the magnitude of its reach.

Esther Summerson, the illegitimate daughter of Lady Dedlock and Captain Hawdon, an early lover, is raised in secrecy by a resentful aunt. After the aunt's death, Esther joins the household of the kindly Mr. Jarndyce, who is also mentoring Ada Clare and Richard Carstone, Ada's cousin. Richard, Ada, and Mr. Jarndyce have been involved for years in a lawsuit, Jarndyce v. Jarndyce, about the terms of an old will, and this lawsuit, which has continued interminably in the High Court of Chancery, is the inspiration for the satire Dickens directs toward British bureaucracy and the paperwork which paralyzes it.

As the lives of Esther, Lady Dedlock, Ada, Richard, and Mr. Jarndyce unfold, the reader also learns about the lives of those who come into peripheral contact with them. Capt. Hawdon (Nemo), for example, is found dead by a sad, little street waif named Jo, whose miserable life offers little chance of improvement. An unprincipled lawyer is murdered, adding mystery to the novel. Dickens emphasizes the way characters actually behave, paying scant attention to their inner thoughts, but he individualizes them and brings them vibrantly to life through their actions (though some, such as Esther and Mr. Jarndyce, sometimes appear too saintly).

Humor permeates the novel, with some characters, particularly those involved in law, serving as caricatures. The touching romance of Esther and Allan Woodcourt, a physician, echoes throughout the novel, despite his long absences and her bout with smallpox, and contrasts with Lady Dedlock's sad remembrances of her own past. Symbols, such as the ever-present London fog, emphasize the theme of isolation.

Thoughout this doorstop-sized novel, Dickens's treatment of the characters and his ability to bring the period to life create lively reading. His empathy with the underdog and his depiction of the inequities of the society combine with mystery, romance, and Esther's coming-of-age to make this a vital novel, full of life, conveying a dramatic picture of mid-19th century British life and the lessons to be learned from it. Mary Whipple

Barnaby Rudge (Penguin Classics)
Hard Times (Bantam Classics)
The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Penguin Classics)
Nicholas Nickleby (Barnes & Noble Classics Series)
David Copperfield (Modern Library Classics)
A Christmas Carol (DK Classics)

I've read most everything from Dickens but happend to pick this up in a book store, craving some good British literature. Though this book was some what predictable, it was a page turner and suspensful. This is one of my favorite Dickens works, and will keep you entertained for hours.

Ebenezer Scrooge is a bitter, miserly old man who is visited by the ghost of his old partner, Jacob Marley. Marley warns Scrooge that three ghosts will visit him and give him one last chance of redemption.

The three ghosts of Christmas (Past, Present, and Yet to Come) convince Scrooge to change his ways and to rediscover the kind and generous man he was as a young man.

A true Christmas classic and the only Dickens novel that I LOVE.

A greater classic of literature and Christmas there is not. This novel is a terrific story on the benefits of improving your character and taking into consideration all those around you. The story was a quick and joyful read that also happened to be the first time I have read this well-known classic. Although, I knew the story quite well through the various televised versions one finds every year I was still surprised to notice many scenes which I had never witnessed in the filmed productions.

I am happy to now say that I have read the story and been retold that people of all ages and of all wealths can always do more to improve their method of treating others. Using a period of great festiveness such as Christmas can be a terrific starting point to be conscience in aiding and helping others when you have something to spare. Oftentimes, a person doesn't realize their fault at mistreating their friends or families and very much regret their actions later in life. This is a very tragic and unfortunate occurrence which I am sure all would like to avoid. This story emits beautifully the true meanings of family, friends and Christmas which now are sometimes lost in the materialistic and commercial acquiring frenzy that Christmas often has a tendency to be. Just another example why Dickens, despite claims that this story was a simple potboiler story for him to pay debts, is still among the greatest authors of the English language. Other than Santa Claus, few are as memorable and well-known with regard to Christmas as that of the irritable and miserly Scrooge.

I know, I know you've seen the movie a thousand times. You've seen the play live; saw your kid in the play in school. Yes, but did you ever actually sit down and read the book? I had one friend who read it aloud to his children every year and another whose mother used to read it to him every Christmas. The last time I read this book I recorded myself on my Karaoke. I started reading books aloud out in my reading room some time ago. It is really a whole other experience. They call this book a classic and that is exactly correct. If you have never actually read it -you have got to take the time and do it. Take it from me you won't forget it and it will not be the same old, same old.

Has any story been copied more times than A Christmas Carol? It seems almost every year there is a new movie version. And how many sitcom characters have been visited by the ghosts of Christmas? It all starts to get a little tiring at times, but the original never does. This story is beautiful. No matter how many clumsy knockoffs try to capitalize on the idea and no matter how many dance numbers it inspires, the integrity of this classic will endure. Read it again, and introduce it to your children, too.

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".

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.

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.

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!!

Everyone has a favorite film or television version of Dickens beloved "A Christmas Carol." But few of us have any idea how very many adaptations there have been. Mr. Guida's wonderful book examines first the written "Carol," then goes on to detail some of the hundreds of adaptations and variations, from the early stage versions and magic lantern slides to modern made-for-television Carols. Mr. Guida discusses the major Carols with wit and humor as well as rare discernment: his love for his subject is evident. Minor Carols and variations are also covered, albeit more briefly. If you cannot find your favorite version in the text, you are sure to find it in the superb and very thorough filmography. The filmography is worth browsing in and of itself; did you know that there have been Western, country-western, rock-and-roll, and even science-fiction variations on "A Christmas Carol"? Or that actors as disparate as Cicely Tyson, Basil Rathbone, and Mr. Magoo have played Scrooge? If you love "A Christmas Carol" or simply dote on film trivia, I promise you will enjoy this book.

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