But the center of the story is not Bertha and her father Caleb. The central characters, John and Dot Peerybingle, are mismatched in age and John begins to doubt Dot's love for him. A beautifully written story, all is happily tied up at the end but not before several of the characters have gone through depths of human despair. Ignore any sappy movies you've seen and read it. It's so worth it. This story paints the bleakest picture of the poor in all the Christmas books.
Instead of a miser, Dickens uses a man named Trotty for his main character. In a very "It's a Wonderful Life" way, he learns what the consequences of his actions might be. His daughter is in love, but he doesn't believe that the marriage should go forth because of their poverty. I find this story distressing.
The Chimes - Wikipedia
The main character is such a nice little man and the visions he receives so horrible, that at the happy end, I find my heart still broken. In this story, a bitter professor named Redlaw is haunted by past grievances and hurt. When a ghost offers him the opportunity to forget all his wrongs, he accepts. But something unexpected happens. He is still angry but doesn't know why and he spreads his bitterness to others. It has a satisfying happy ending and there are some memorable characters to make the story go along.
The book is very atmospheric but doesn't have the appeal of the top three. The Battle of Life. No supernatural beings in this one. Just interesting folks who seem to be in love with the wrong people. Jedlar and his two daughters, Grace and Marion, live on a former battlefield. Dickens suggests that the memories of the battle haunt those who live on it.
The character of Clemency Newcome, who is Dr. Jedlar's servant, is delightful and she gets her happy ending too. This one to me is the least Christmas-y and perhaps that's why I like it least. All these stories are in the public domain.
But if you want a hard copy, seek out the Oxford Illustrated Classics version has all the original illustrations! And it's small enough to stick in a tote bag or backpack for some reading while waiting in line at the dentist's office or grocery store. Dec 19, Jeff Currie rated it it was amazing. I've listed this because of A Christmas Carol - the source of every stage and film retelling, of course, and amazingly, in my experience the source of all of what seems to be the embellishments in each retelling.
What a great idea for the end of a year and the beginning of the next and the Season of Light - to consider one's current life with a view to one's past and a look at what might lie ahead - all based on one's frame of mind. View all 3 comments. Eerie, profound, and funny. I like how the message was Biblical without stuffing it down one's throat.
Though Dickens never claimed Christianity, I have a sneaking suspicion that he was a low-key Christian yes I just made that term up. Jan 03, Teri rated it it was amazing Shelves: But I finally read both over the holidays. The Chimes is similar in its message and delivery as A Christmas Carol its structure is a little more vague however, and you have to keep on your toes for the transitions. There are haunted chimes, rung by goblins, to ring in the New Year. What's not to like? The cruel treatment of the poor, and the responsibility to help the poor, is even more dramatically on display in The Chimes than it was in A Christmas Carol.
One scene in particular may be troubling to children. Dickens does a great job showing how we should not let others validate our worth, that wealth and station are not what determines worth. Apparently Dickens wrote 5 Christmas stories, and after reading the two in this book, I think I'll have to track the rest down for next Christmas, to see what they're like.
Christmas Books
I love Dickens' descriptive writing! Jan 16, Terence Manleigh rated it it was amazing Shelves: One star for "The Chimes", I'm afraid. May 07, Shaun Victor rated it it was amazing. Two classics that are easy to read yet both contain such important insights into class inequality that still persists today. Feb 20, Michael rated it really liked it. My family has a tradition of listening to a minute version of this from an old record. In any case, I have seen and heard numerous versions of this story before I decided to sit down and read it.
The obvious weakness is that Ebenezer Scrooge does not require too much to shake him from his dour, crabby, miserly ways. A few hours spent with some ghosts who show him some human interaction, affection, and pain, and he converts pretty quickly. I think there is good evidence he is well on his way to being more humane and generous even after the first ghostly visit and likely does not need the final two. As characters go, where did his convictions and habits originally come from that got him to this place? Why would he change so quickly? Has no one else told him of these things along the way?
Did he lead such a sheltered life that he never saw or experienced the affection and horrors of life that would provide him a heart? Now you may say that is not the intention of the piece — that it is meant to be propaganda of sorts or supposed to be a fantasy reminder that we should put humans and love and caring for one another as more central elements in our lives, rather than cold logic that leads to money grubbing and suffering. Still given the conditioning I have for this story, I like it and recommend reading it. The Chimes is also part of this book and is one I had never heard of before.
It was enjoyable enough, but mostly for the attitudes the different characters embody, informed by their class positions. Dickens makes fun of the upper classes in all cases. One upper class character sees the poor as having faults that need to be corrected before they can improve their position. Another decries this view and believes the poor should essentially be treated like children and taken care of by either the government or those who are superior to them.
The main character accepts all of this readily and just tries to go about his life. Dec 05, Lawrence rated it it was amazing. The genius of "A Christmas Carol" is its narration how a very rich, miserly, and loveless man is also susceptible to personal reformation. Even though Dickens could be savage when portraying injustice, he can nonetheless see a man like Scrooge as a member of our human race.
The task of "A Christmas Carol" is to describe Scrooge's breakdown and the humanity that emerges and transforms him. In sum, "A Christmas Carol" expresses a hope for personal reformation for the worst of us, and is Dickens' model of a reformed world or, if not model, the witness to its possibility. Because Scrooge is our hero, the story is a remarkable lesson in the writer's charity and generosity.
For me, the story's pivotal scene is Christmas Day at the home of the mild Bob Cratchit. This is the time in the story when Scrooge begins to change within as opposed to delighting in reminisences, for example, of Mr. On one level, the scene in the Cratchit home is sentimental. On another, it is marked by the harsh contrast between cohesive love and the poverty of making do. It is a great depiction of the modest, struggling poor. The dramatic language of the spirits including Marley's ghost is always fresh for me.
Take, for instance, the pronouncement of the Spirit of Christmas Present when Scrooge discovers the two wasted children under the Spirit's robe: This girl is want. But most of all beware this boy. Also consider the way the spirits ironically parrot to Scrooge his own remarks about prisons and workhouses and decreasing the surplus population.
The story does not end with the visitations. Dickens carries us along to show the consequences. Thus, he describes the end result of Scrooge's reformation the silliness of a giddy man buying the prize turkey and capering about his threadbare home. Then, there is the beauty of the Christmas visit at last to his nephew's home.
I took the time out recently to read G. Chesterton on these Christmas stories. He helped me to understand why I think this story is so unsentimental and compelling. In this respect, Chesterton seems to be accurate when he says that stories of happiness and joy share the characteristics of surprise, contrast with the unhappy or rough, and the grotesque. It's a little too wordy and contrived. My humble opinion is that: Alas, even Homer nods. Foi uma boa estreia. Neste livro encontramos dois contos: O Natal do Sr.
Scrooge e Sinos de Ano Novo. Divide-se em dois contos: E na noite de Ano Novo tem um sonho que lhe mostra o futuro, o seu e o da sua filha. Dec 21, Rebecca Cartwright-Teakle rated it liked it Shelves: On re-reading the book I was surprised by how much of it was familiar. Usually when reading something that has been adapted there are odd occasions where famous scenes or quotes stand out but with this a huge amount of it was instantly familiar. I made it link by link, and yard by yard; I girded it on of my own free will, and of my own free will I wore it.
It was therefore pretty hard to become invested in this journey he was being taken on. Dec 30, Jeff rated it it was amazing. I think all of us can recite nearly every word of this classic that was published so long ago on Dec. This particular volume comes with intros to the "Carol" and his second book in the 5-part Christmas Story series, "The Chimes. After the "Carol," I was i I think all of us can recite nearly every word of this classic that was published so long ago on Dec.
After the "Carol," I was intrigued by the story of "The Chimes" and its political satire so while I was full steam ahead in my Dickens stride, I forged ahead. A much darker tale about the woes of the "surplus population" and how they were treated by the "friends and fathers of the Poor," this book was Dickens' wrathful retaliation against the upper classes of the day. Like "Carol," it's a supernatural tale also but with goblins who dwelled in the church tower and the "chimes" that resounded and enchanted the protagonist "Trotty" who is shown visions of the future.
While I loved the "Carol," as we all do, the "Chimes" became a struggle to finish.
The Christmas Books, Volume 1: A Christmas Carol/The Chimes
It just didn't captivate me in the same way but a worthy read nonetheless. And it's filled with all of the causes that Dickens felt so strongly about and those he wanted to thrust into the public light to make us all aware of the conditions of the "surplus population" in hopes that we may improve the status quo! Dec 08, Maire Slater rated it it was ok Shelves: And a breezy, goose-skinned, blue-nosed, red-eyed, stony-toed, tooth-chattering place it was, to wait in, in the wintertime, as Toby Veck well knew.
The wind came tearing round the corner - especially the east wind - as if it had sallied forth, express, from the confines of the earth, to have a blow at Toby. And oftentimes it seemed to come upon him sooner than it had expected, for bouncing round the corner, and passing Toby, it would suddenly wheel round again, as if it cried "Why, here he is! Ora, este eu descobri por acidente em casa dos meus pais.
E ficou, mais do que nunca, uma vontade imensa de ler mais livros de Dickens. Dec 13, S. A Christmas Carol is a masterpiece of yuletide sentiment, with a heartfelt if overly-idealistic, moral. That moral, however, softens us to the profit-greedy capitalist who can actually see the error of his ways, and weakens the social commentary. Reality has proven it will take more than ghostly visitations to scare any heart into real-life Scrooges, but this is fiction, so for a short time we can let ourselves enjoy the world of a master story-teller.
This copy of The Christmas Books. Christmas Books By Dickens, Charles. Summary Discuss Reviews 0 An immediate bestseller when it was first published in December , A Christmas Carol has endured ever since as a perennial Yuletide favorite. Charles Dickens's beloved tale about the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge--who comes to know the meaning of kindness, charity, and goodwill through a haunting Christmas Eve encounter with four ghosts--is a heartwarming celebration of the spirit of Christmas.
With an introduction by John Irving. Log-in or create an account first! Chapman and Hall, Publisher's red cloth covers brown cloth for 'Carol' with gilt blocking and gilt edges.
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Also with an associated manuscript letter by Dickens, addressed to a Mr Becker, dated published in 'The Pilgrim Edition' of the letters of Charles Dickens, the recipient likely Bernard Henry Becker, writer and journalist for Daily News and a special correspondent in Sheffield, Manchester and Ireland. With an autograph manuscript by Lord Francis Jeffrey, a Scottish judge and literary critic and the dedicatee of this volume.
A clean, near fine set occasional marks to joints where tipped-in, old description to pastedown of 'Carol' , letters with associated folds and creases, cloth generally bright. Each volume in a vintage plain red paper-backed cloth jacket and all housed in an exquisite binocular style pull-off case with full gilt backs. A very clean set, attractively presented with much additional material. Adrian Harrington Rare Books. Small octavo, original rose and red cloths Carol is expertly rebacked with original spine laid down , gilt-decorated covers and spines, all edges gilt.
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Housed in custom chemises and slipcase. Altogether 24 editions were issued in the original format"" Eckel, He stipulated the following requirements: A Christmas Carol is from the first issue, with uncorrected text ""Stave I"" as the first chapter heading , the red-and-blue title page dated , the half title printed in blue, and light green endpapers. First-issue copies appear with either yellow or green endpapers, no priority established. Binding matches Todd's first impression, first issue, with the smallest interval between blindstamped border and gilt wreath equal to mm, and with the ""D"" in ""Dickens"" unbroken Smith II: First edition of The Chimes, with the first state of the engraved title page publisher's imprint is engraved within the title vignette ; first edition of The Cricket on the Hearth, with second state of advertising leaf at rear headed ""New Edition of Oliver Twist"" ; first edition of The Battle of Life, with vignette title page in the fourth state subtitled ""A Love Story"" on a scroll carried by an angel and without publisher's imprint ; first edition of The Haunted Man and The Ghost's Bargain.
All advertisements present, as issued. Dickens followed A Christmas Carol's tremendous success with four more Christmas books. In each book, he deftly develops the themes of the first, ideals that have consequently become inseparable from the holiday itself: First edition, first issue of The Chimes, with publisher's imprint above the bottom of the cloud and part of the engraved title vignette; first edition of The Cricket on the Hearth, with first state of advertising leaf at rear; first edition of The Battle of Life with vignette title page in scarce second state, with the subtitle ""A Love Story"" on a scroll not carried by an angel and publisher's imprint present; first edition of The Haunted Man.
Owner signature on front fee endpaper of Carol, bookplate in Chimes, dealer ticket in Cricket; contemporary gift inscription in Haunted Man. All volumes with gilt bright and fresh. A Christmas Carol with fine interior, expert restoration to corners. Chimes and Battle of Life with minor expert restoration to spine ends. Haunted Man and Cricket on the Hearth both in fine condition. Bauman Rare Books Published: First editions, first issues of all five of Charles Dickens' Christmas Books. Octavo, original cloth, 5 volumes. A Christmas Carol, in Prose.
Being a Ghost Story of Christmas is first state binding "D" intact, 14mm margin , half-title printed in blue, title-page printed in red and blue, verso printed in blue, hand-colored etched frontispiece and three hand-colored etched plates by John Leech, four wood-engravings in-text by W. Linton after Leech, 2pp. First edition, second impression per Smith, first impression, first issue per Todd YB43c yellow endpapers, blue and red title-page, date, Stave One, remainder of text unrevised per Todd, also all per Scott save p.
Very light wear to the cloth, otherwise fine. First edition, first issue, with internal flaws per Smith save "h" p. In near fine condition. The Cricket on the Hearth. A Fairy Tale of Home yellow endpapers, a. First edition, first issue, with internal flaws save p. Front inner hinge cracked; manuscript inscription to title page. The Battle of Life. A Love Story has yellow endpapers, a.
First edition, with four internal flaws per Smith. A Fancy for Christmas-Time. First edition, with internal flaws noted per Smith save pp. Housed in a custom clamshell box. An exceptional set, uncommon in this condition. A Christmas Carol "may readily be called the Bible of Christmas It was issued about ten days before Christmas, , and copies were sold on the first day" Eckel, Raptis Rare Books Published: The most valuable book, the "Christmas Carol" has the following First Issue points, green and red title page, "Stave 1" later changed to stave one and bound in the publisher's original brown cloth.
The other four books are bound in the publisher's red cloth. All the book have tight bindings, with minor wear and some preservation. There is NO writing, marks or bookplates in the books. Overall, a lovely set housed in a custom clamshell slipcase for preservation.. Bound in full red polished calf by Zaehnsdorf, raised bands, elaborately gilt-decorated spines, marbled endpapers. Housed together in a custom slipcase. Illustrated with sixty-three engravings altogether, four in color, by Leech, Maclise, Stanfield, Doyle and Landseer.
Christmas Carol is from the first issue, with uncorrected text "Stave I" as the first chapter heading , the red-and-blue title page dated , and the half title printed in blue. Four more Christmas books followed its success. First edition of The Chimes, with second state of the engraved title page publisher's imprint is below the engraved title vignette ; First edition of The Cricket on the Hearth, with second state of advertising leaf at rear headed "New Edition of Oliver Twist" ; First edition of The Battle of Life, with vignette title page in the fourth state subtitled "A Love Story" on a scroll carried by an angel and without publisher's imprint ; First edition of Haunted Man and Ghost's Bargain.
A Christmas Carol "may readily be called the Bible of Christmas It was issued about ten days before Christmas, , and copies were sold on the first day the number of reprintings have been so many that all attempts at the figures have been futile. Altogether 24 editions were issued in the original format" Eckel, Bound in full red calf, vertical floral gilt spines, covers ruled in gilt, gilt dentelles, all edges gilt, all original cloth covers and spines bound in.
Front hinges of "Christmas Carol" expertly repaired, other hinges fine, head and foot of spines fine. Four of five Christmas Books, 17 x 11 cm. Nicks to backstrip head and foot. Early owner inscription at title head, rubbing to backstrip extremities. Vignette title page in the fourth and most common state. Two pages of adverts at rear. Frontispiece and pictorial title printed on light mustard color paper, rehinged with original backstrip laid-down, slight loss of gilt lettering at head. All copies with yellow endpapers. Plates and text vignettes after Sir Edwin Landseer, R.
Stone, Doyle, Leech and Tenniel. Publisher's brown morocco "gift" binding, covers blocked in blind, spine in six compartments with title gilt, marbled endpapers, gilt edges; extremities slightly rubbed, endpapers, repaired. Inscribed by Oliver Wendell Holmes. A marvellous association copy, inscribed by Dr.
Oliver Wendell Holmes on a front blank to an assistant in his anatomy lectures at Harvard Medical Schoolon the ffep: Beach, My intelligent, unworried, and always obliging Demonstrator With the kind regards of Oliver Wendell Holmes, Christmas