Book Cover of A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol

by Charles Dickens

“A squeezing, wrenching, grasping, biting, clutching, covetous old sinner” is hardly hero material, but this is exactly what makes A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens such an unforgettable book and its hero, Ebenezer Scrooge such an extraordinarily enduring character. In the book's celebrated opening scene, on the night before Christmas the old miser Ebenezer Scrooge sits in his freezing cold counting house, oblivious to the discomfort of his shivering young assistant Bob Cratchit. Scrooge is unremittingly rude to relatives and visitors alike who drop in to convey their Christmas greetings or ask for a contribution to charity. Scrooge returns to his equally chilly mansion where he has an extraordinary supernatural experience. The spirit of his dead partner, Marley appears recounting tales of eternal suffering that he is condemned to endure because of the mean and uncharitable deeds that Marley did when he was alive. Marley informs Scrooge that three other supernatural visitors will make their appearance over the next three nights. The rest of the book traces the events that happen when these three otherworldly beings visit Scrooge. The book has five chapters, which the writer called “staves” referring to musical notation in which five horizontal lines and four spaces represent musical pitch. Published in 1843, the book went on to receive immense appreciation for its deeply emotional quality, touching scenes, wonderful characterization and Dickens himself felt the book's central ideas of charity, kindness, compassion, love and generosity were what set it apart from contemporary fiction of the time. It also took the theatrical world by storm and three productions went on stage simultaneously in 1844 with Dickens' blessings. Since then it has been extensively adapted for film, radio and television and took on the proportions of a Christmas tradition even during Dickens' lifetime itself. Endless spinoffs in literature, drama and popular literature keep this tale alive even today. Walt Disney's Unca Scrooge is inspired by it and today, the word “Scrooge” has become synonymous with miserliness. A Christmas Carol's enduring appeal lies in its heart rending appeal to help those living in impoverished conditions. The highly sentimental and touching pictures of Christmas celebrated in homes where festivities cannot coexist with grinding poverty, told in typical Dickensian style, make it both a literary masterpiece and a plea for social reform. But all is not gloom and doom —there are brilliant flashes of humor, memorable characterization and a deep understanding of human nature. As with all Dickens' works, this one too is peculiarly suited to being read aloud, especially when the family gathers round a cozy fire on Christmas Eve!

Book Details

Language

English

Original Language

English

Published In

1843

Authors

Charles Dickens image

Charles Dickens created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era. Charles John Huffam Dickens was born on 7 February 18...

Books by Charles Dickens

Listen/Download Audiobook

Read by:
00:00
Playback Speed 1.0
00:00
  • Select Speed

Related books

Robin Hood Cover image

Robin Hood by Amice MacDonell

This classic tale of Robin Hood is brought to life in this delightful audio play. Join Robin and his Merry Men as they outwit the Sheriff of Nottingha...

Adventures of Paddy Beaver Cover image

Adventures of Paddy Beaver by Thornton W. Burgess

The Adventures of Paddy Beaver is another in the long list of children’s books by the conservationist, Thornton W. Burgess. In this book, the industri...

Veronica  Cover image

Veronica by Johanna Spyri

Published in 1886, this novel encompasses a small community wherein Veronica, having lost her own mother, is “adopted” by a neighbour, Gertrude, who h...

Bible (Reina Valera) 07: Jueces Cover image

Bible (Reina Valera) 07: Jueces by Reina-Valera

El Libro de los Jueces, parte del Antiguo Testamento de la Biblia, narra la historia de Israel durante un periodo de transición tras la muerte de Josu...

País del Placer Cover image

País del Placer by Edith Wharton

La novela sigue la historia de Lily Bart, una joven atractiva y ambiciosa que pertenece a la alta sociedad de Nueva York. Lily está atrapada en un mun...

Heptameron of the Tales of Margaret, Queen of Navarre, Volume 3 Cover image

Heptameron of the Tales of Margaret, Queen of Navarre, Volume 3 by Marguerite of Navarre

The Heptameron is a collection of seventy-two short stories written by Marguerite of Navarre, a prominent figure in the French Renaissance. The narrat...

Uli der Pächter Cover image

Uli der Pächter by Jeremias Gotthelf

In Jeremias Gotthelf's 'Uli der Pächter', we follow the life of Uli, a young man now married and managing a leased farm. His aspirations for a secure...

Ask Mamma: or The Richest Commoner In England Cover image

Ask Mamma: or The Richest Commoner In England by Robert Smith Surtees

It follows the story of John Jorrocks, a rich, self-made man with a passion for hunting, who finds himself embroiled in a series of comical misadventu...

Tolstoi for the Young: Selected tales from Tolstoi Cover image

Tolstoi for the Young: Selected tales from Tolstoi by Leo Tolstoy

'Tolstoy for the Young' presents a curated selection of Leo Tolstoy's short stories, meticulously chosen for their suitability in a scholastic setting...

Shawl-Straps: A Second Series of Aunt Jo's Scrap-Bag Cover image

Shawl-Straps: A Second Series of Aunt Jo's Scrap-Bag by Louisa May Alcott

Unlike the other volumes in this series, which are books of childrens' stories, Shawl-Straps is a novel. It is the story of Amanda, Matilda, and Lavin...

Reviews for A Christmas Carol

No reviews posted or approved, yet...