Product Description

This new selection of Dickens's Christmas writings confirms his lasting influence upon our idea of the Christmas spirit: that Christmas is a time for celebration, charity, and memory. In addition to the beloved A Christmas Carol, this volume includes such festive works as "Christmas Festivities," "The Story of the Goblins Who Stole a Sexton," "A Christmas Tree," "The Seven Poor Travellers," The Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain, and a Christmas episode from Master Humphrey's Clock.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #254566 in Books
• Published on: 2003-09-30
• Released on: 2003-09-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 336 pages

About the Author
Charles Dickens (1812-1870) was born in Portsmouth, England, one of eight children, grew up in poverty, had little formal education, and yet became the most prominent and revered English Victorian writer as well as a political reporter and journalist. Michael Slater is an emeritus professor at Birkbeck College, London, and past president of the Dickens Fellowship and the Dickens Society of America.

Customer Reviews

Stories That Will Warm Cold Winter Nights
CHARLES DICKENS A CHRISTMAS CAROL AND OTHER CHRISTMAS WRITINGS is a wonderful collection of Christmas renderings previously published in various Charles Dickens collections. Always the holiday favorite during the Christmas season, old Ebenezer Scrooge and his cast of spirits set the stage for A CHRISTMAS CAROL, which is the highlight of the book. However, the other stories included in this volume are a delight to read and show blueprints to the CAROL as well as after thoughts, such as 'The Story of the Goblins who Stole a Sexton' and THE HAUNTED MAN AND THE GHOST'S BARGAIN.

Beyond the holly and the ivy, Charles Dickens' writings show readers his references to societal issues in nineteenth century England that revolve around Christmas. Dickens explores issues, which relate to class and memory in order to achieve deeper meaning and human qualities for the characters he creates. In an era where industry and consumption began to overtake the true meaning of Christmas, Dickens uses his craft to show readers to compassion still exists during hard times. The latter stories in the book exemplify his intentions, "A Christmas Tree", "What Christmas Is, As We Grow Older", and "The Seven Poor Travellers."

Dickens charming stories have a timeless quality that have been revered through time regardless of what century or season they have been read. For those already familiar with the Carol, the other stories will offer more insight to Dickens' writings. Overall, this is a great collection that may be read like campfire stories on a cold winter's night, or simply cozily by the fireplace.