Tom Baker Reads A Christmas Carol by Dickens, Charles Unabridged Edition

by Charles Dickens

Unknown Binding

About the author

Charles John Huffam Dickens (1812-1870) was a writer and social critic who created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era. His works enjoyed unprecedented popularity during his lifetime, and by the twentieth century critics and scholars had recognised him as a literary genius. His novels and short stories enjoy lasting popularity.

Dickens left school to work in a factory when his father was incarcerated in a debtors' prison. Despite his lack of formal education, he edited a weekly journal for 20 years, wrote 15 novels, five novellas, hundreds of short stories and non-fiction articles, lectured and performed extensively, was an indefatigable letter writer, and campaigned vigorously for children's rights, education, and other social reforms.

Dickens was regarded as the literary colossus of his age. His 1843 novella, A Christmas Carol, remains popular and continues to inspire adaptations in every artistic genre. Oliver Twist and Great Expectations are also frequently adapted, and, like many of his novels, evoke images of early Victorian London. His 1859 novel, A Tale of Two Cities, set in London and Paris, is his best-known work of historical fiction. Dickens's creative genius has been praised by fellow writers—from Leo Tolstoy to George Orwell and G. K. Chesterton—for its realism, comedy, prose style, unique characterisations, and social criticism. On the other hand, Oscar Wilde, Henry James, and Virginia Woolf complained of a lack of psychological depth, loose writing, and a vein of saccharine sentimentalism. The term Dickensian is used to describe something that is reminiscent of Dickens and his writings, such as poor social conditions or comically repulsive characters.

On 8 June 1870, Dickens suffered another stroke at his home after a full day's work on Edwin Drood. He never regained consciousness, and the next day he died at Gad's Hill Place. Contrary to his wish to be buried at Rochester Cathedral "in an inexpensive, unostentatious, and strictly private manner," he was laid to rest in the Poets' Corner of Westminster Abbey. A printed epitaph circulated at the time of the funeral reads: "To the Memory of Charles Dickens (England's most popular author) who died at his residence, Higham, near Rochester, Kent, 9 June 1870, aged 58 years. He was a sympathiser with the poor, the suffering, and the oppressed; and by his death, one of England's greatest writers is lost to the world." His last words were: "On the ground", in response to his sister-in-law Georgina's request that he lie down.

(from Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Vincent Darlage · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is more about Tom Baker's reading than of the story itself, which is so old and so classic that it hardly needs critique or comment by me, other than to say it is excellent and is one of my annual reads.

Tom Baker, of course, is better known to many of us as the Fourth Doctor, often considered the definitive version of Doctor Who, and his voice is well-suited to this tale.

Tom Baker's reading should also be an annual partaking of the story. His voice is warm and melodious. He carries the humor when it needs to be humorous, and the horror when it needs to be horrible. If you prefer to "read" by listening to books read aloud, then I heartily recommend this version with a whole heart. He does a great job of reading this wonderful, magical story.

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's my pre-Christmas tradition to indulge in Dicken's A Christmas Carol in some form or another. Often it is the superlative reading by Geoffrey Palmer, a thoroughly excellent rendition. However this year I went for this Tom Baker version, one I'd been reluctant about because, excellent actor though he is, Baker can be a bit.. fruity. I needn't have been concerned because while he brings a little more of a sense of fun to the proceedings, Baker never strays into a camp or overly-ACTORY during his performance. I found parts of the story very moving, more-so than in Palmer's telling of it... something in Baker's voice made the grief much more real, somehow.

Some reviewers on Audible found the incidental music intrusive whereas I barely noticed that there was any at all. I'd recommend this to anyone who wants the unabridged story to listen to.

[John Petro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tom Baker was a fantastic choice to narrate this book. He did a fantastic job, and it was everything I had hoped it would be.