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Un chant de Noël - Edition collector
Charles Dickens verfasste 1843 seine »Weihnachtgeschichte«, die bis heute nichts von ihrer Aktualität eingebüßt hat. Der kaltherzige Geschäftsmann Ebenezer Scrooge lehnt Weihnachten ab. Da bekommt er unerwarteten Besuch vom Geist seines verstorbenen Geschäftspartners, der ihm ein düsteres und einsames Ende voraussagt. Als Scrooge von drei Geistern mit auf eine Zeitreise genommen wird, besinnt er sich und ändert sein Leben zum Guten.
Dickens baut in diese fantastische Handlung wie bei vielen seiner Werke Hinweise auf soziale Missstände, Armut und die Unzulänglichkeit der politischen Eliten ein. Das macht seine »Weihnachtgeschichte« zu einem oft adaptierten Klassiker der Weltliteratur.
In dieser einzigartigen Version als »Brockhaus Literaturcomic« gewinnt die Geschichte zusätzliche Faszination durch ihre jugendgerechte Aufbereitung und eine eindrückliche Bildsprache.
Eine klassische Einstimmung auf das Weihnachtsfest: Mit Charles Dickens fällt der Blick auf die wirklich wichtigen Dinge im Leben
Der jugendliche Zugang zur Weltliteratur
Aus den Literaturempfehlungslisten der Sekundarstufen I und II
Umfangreicher Anhang mit Informationen zu Autor, Werk und Entstehungszeit
Von zahlreichen Lehrern empfohlen
Ab 10 Jahren
Die Reihe »Brockhaus Literaturcomics« erfuhr bei ihrem Erscheinen 2012 eine überwältigende Resonanz. Nicht nur Eltern und Lehrer zeigten sich begeistert von diesem jugendgerechten Ansatz der Literaturvermittlung. Auch Jugendliche, die bisher wenig gelesen hatten, kamen mit den großen Werken der Weltliteratur in Berührung und erfuhren, wie faszinierend diese großartigen Geschichten sind.
Dickens baut in diese fantastische Handlung wie bei vielen seiner Werke Hinweise auf soziale Missstände, Armut und die Unzulänglichkeit der politischen Eliten ein. Das macht seine »Weihnachtgeschichte« zu einem oft adaptierten Klassiker der Weltliteratur.
In dieser einzigartigen Version als »Brockhaus Literaturcomic« gewinnt die Geschichte zusätzliche Faszination durch ihre jugendgerechte Aufbereitung und eine eindrückliche Bildsprache.
Eine klassische Einstimmung auf das Weihnachtsfest: Mit Charles Dickens fällt der Blick auf die wirklich wichtigen Dinge im Leben
Der jugendliche Zugang zur Weltliteratur
Aus den Literaturempfehlungslisten der Sekundarstufen I und II
Umfangreicher Anhang mit Informationen zu Autor, Werk und Entstehungszeit
Von zahlreichen Lehrern empfohlen
Ab 10 Jahren
Die Reihe »Brockhaus Literaturcomics« erfuhr bei ihrem Erscheinen 2012 eine überwältigende Resonanz. Nicht nur Eltern und Lehrer zeigten sich begeistert von diesem jugendgerechten Ansatz der Literaturvermittlung. Auch Jugendliche, die bisher wenig gelesen hatten, kamen mit den großen Werken der Weltliteratur in Berührung und erfuhren, wie faszinierend diese großartigen Geschichten sind.
192 pages
First published December 19, 1843
1098 people are currently reading
1787 people want to read
About the author
Charles Dickens
12.9k books31.4k followersCharles 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)
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)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,002 reviews
December 24, 2025
The Christmas classic that everyone knows – even if they haven’t read it. It's quite short, and at some levels quite an easy read, but there is plenty of depth, so I think it's worth reading it in a thoughtful and slightly leisurely way.
Plot
It is a simple tale of how a normal man turns cold-hearted and mean and how, when confronted with memories of his past and the possible outcomes of his actions and inactions, he is redeemed by making positive changes to his life and thus that of others.
Image: Three-cell summary by John Atkinson/Wrong Hands (Source)
Typical Victoriana or not?
The book opens with wonderful bathos, “Marley was dead, to begin with.” So right from the outset it is clear it is not a straightforward factual tale. Apart from the famous ghosts (of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Yet to Come), which were not unusual in literature of the time, it has time travel and parallel worlds, where each significant choice leads to a branching of reality, which is a staple of much great sci fi. Not such a typical Victorian novel after all.
Whilst it is a book whose unhurried and detailed descriptions of Christmas are the epitome of the season (“apoplectic opulence”), it is a book of great contrasts: humbug/festivities, hot/cold, company/solitude, poverty/wealth, worthy poor/wastrels, past/future etc.
There is humour too, such as observing that a coffin nail would be deader than the proverbial doornail.
Corruption and redemption
Scrooge’s name has become synonymous with meanness and sociopathy, which is unfair.
The whole point of the book is that he changes for the better, and right from the start there are hints that he wasn’t and isn’t irredeemably bad. For example, he never removed Marley’s name from the sign above his office. I don’t think the reason was solely parsimony because during and after the ghostly encounters, we see different aspects of Scrooge, surely exposed by the ghosts, not actually created by them. So maybe part of the reason for leaving the name was a fondness for the memory of his friend and partner - a link to happier times.
Certainly Scrooge had sunk to nasty depths, and maybe "It was all the same to him" reflects Scrooge's conscious and observable attitude, rather than the deeper, painful mix of happy and sad memories that he tried so hard to suppress, even though Scrooge would have denied it and believed his denial.
Charity is shown to be not merely financial, but personal too (being pleasant, complimentary, thinking creatively about what to do). A counterpoint to that is that regret is pointless and self-indulgent: the way to overcome it is through reparation – which takes us back to charity.
Image: Scrooge by Quentin Blake for 1993 postage stamp (Source)
Ghostly significance
The ghostly visitors are not of the Christian kind, but ghost stories were popular in Victorian England. Each ghost is very distinctive in appearance and manner.
* The first is pale, shadowy (long forgotten?) and “like a child; yet not so like a child as an old man” (the child is father of the man?).
* The second is a convivial festive spirit wanting to share joy.
* The third is dark, solemn and scary, reflecting Scrooge’s fears of death and also the sadness that will emanate from him if he does not change, but also with an indistinct face and shape, perhaps suggesting the potential malleability of the future.
Christmas Weather and Traditions
This story is perhaps almost as much part of collective British consciousness about Christmas as the nativity: the presence of snow, gifts, family - and turkey all feel an essential part of the festivities, possibly more so than when Dickens wrote it.
Apparently, snow features strongly in a Dickensian Christmas because of an unusual number of white Christmases in Dickens' childhood; for him, the two went together in his mind, if not always in his adult life.
Christian or Secular?
It has been suggested that it is a surprisingly secular book, but we live in a less religious society and so don’t always notice religious symbolism and allegories unless they’re spelt out. The whole story is a parallel of the Christian gospel, and the fact it’s set at Christmas emphasises that. The main message of Christianity is that no sinner is beyond salvation if they genuinely repent, and that is also the story of Scrooge.
There are other links too: three people profiting from the spoils of the dead man (like the Roman soldiers at the cross, albeit they cast lots to decide who got what) and Peter Cratchit reading from the Bible in Christmas yet to come.
In those days, religion was so much part of quotidian life for most people that it almost fades into the background at times, like having a wash. Dickens had no need say the quotation is from the Bible or to talk about baby Jesus being part of Christmas because all his readers would know that and most of them would believe it. In our secular times, perhaps that makes the story more powerful now than when it was written?
Image: Bob Cratchitt and Tiny Tim by Quentin Blake for 1993 postage stamp (Source)
Fresh insights - 2020 UPDATE
I really enjoyed this 45-minute podcast by a trio of twenty-somethings I know:
Teaching My Cat to Read - A Christmas Carol
Their lively and creative discussion views the story in ways I hadn't considered, demonstrating why it remains so relevant and enjoyable. It also touches on Lord of the Rings, Beowulf, Game of Thrones, Harry Potter, The Hogfather, The Muppets (or course), and capitalism and healthcare.
One aspect that especially resonated with me was that they kept coming back to the importance personal connections - something many of us miss acutely in this Christmas plagued by plague. It's not just about charity and money. Scrooge wasn't always "Scrooge", but became that way because of unresolved hurt and trauma. Early on, three people reach out to him to embrace the spirit of the season. He rebuffs them, so it falls to actual spirits.
There's plenty more in the podcast...
Finally:
Brian Bilston's "Tense Christmas"
It's included in Days Like These: An alternative guide to the year in 366 poems, which I am reviewing HERE.
Plot
It is a simple tale of how a normal man turns cold-hearted and mean and how, when confronted with memories of his past and the possible outcomes of his actions and inactions, he is redeemed by making positive changes to his life and thus that of others.
Image: Three-cell summary by John Atkinson/Wrong Hands (Source)
Typical Victoriana or not?
The book opens with wonderful bathos, “Marley was dead, to begin with.” So right from the outset it is clear it is not a straightforward factual tale. Apart from the famous ghosts (of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Yet to Come), which were not unusual in literature of the time, it has time travel and parallel worlds, where each significant choice leads to a branching of reality, which is a staple of much great sci fi. Not such a typical Victorian novel after all.
Whilst it is a book whose unhurried and detailed descriptions of Christmas are the epitome of the season (“apoplectic opulence”), it is a book of great contrasts: humbug/festivities, hot/cold, company/solitude, poverty/wealth, worthy poor/wastrels, past/future etc.
There is humour too, such as observing that a coffin nail would be deader than the proverbial doornail.
Corruption and redemption
Scrooge’s name has become synonymous with meanness and sociopathy, which is unfair.
The whole point of the book is that he changes for the better, and right from the start there are hints that he wasn’t and isn’t irredeemably bad. For example, he never removed Marley’s name from the sign above his office. I don’t think the reason was solely parsimony because during and after the ghostly encounters, we see different aspects of Scrooge, surely exposed by the ghosts, not actually created by them. So maybe part of the reason for leaving the name was a fondness for the memory of his friend and partner - a link to happier times.
Certainly Scrooge had sunk to nasty depths, and maybe "It was all the same to him" reflects Scrooge's conscious and observable attitude, rather than the deeper, painful mix of happy and sad memories that he tried so hard to suppress, even though Scrooge would have denied it and believed his denial.
Charity is shown to be not merely financial, but personal too (being pleasant, complimentary, thinking creatively about what to do). A counterpoint to that is that regret is pointless and self-indulgent: the way to overcome it is through reparation – which takes us back to charity.
Image: Scrooge by Quentin Blake for 1993 postage stamp (Source)
Ghostly significance
The ghostly visitors are not of the Christian kind, but ghost stories were popular in Victorian England. Each ghost is very distinctive in appearance and manner.
* The first is pale, shadowy (long forgotten?) and “like a child; yet not so like a child as an old man” (the child is father of the man?).
* The second is a convivial festive spirit wanting to share joy.
* The third is dark, solemn and scary, reflecting Scrooge’s fears of death and also the sadness that will emanate from him if he does not change, but also with an indistinct face and shape, perhaps suggesting the potential malleability of the future.
Christmas Weather and Traditions
This story is perhaps almost as much part of collective British consciousness about Christmas as the nativity: the presence of snow, gifts, family - and turkey all feel an essential part of the festivities, possibly more so than when Dickens wrote it.
Apparently, snow features strongly in a Dickensian Christmas because of an unusual number of white Christmases in Dickens' childhood; for him, the two went together in his mind, if not always in his adult life.
Christian or Secular?
It has been suggested that it is a surprisingly secular book, but we live in a less religious society and so don’t always notice religious symbolism and allegories unless they’re spelt out. The whole story is a parallel of the Christian gospel, and the fact it’s set at Christmas emphasises that. The main message of Christianity is that no sinner is beyond salvation if they genuinely repent, and that is also the story of Scrooge.
There are other links too: three people profiting from the spoils of the dead man (like the Roman soldiers at the cross, albeit they cast lots to decide who got what) and Peter Cratchit reading from the Bible in Christmas yet to come.
In those days, religion was so much part of quotidian life for most people that it almost fades into the background at times, like having a wash. Dickens had no need say the quotation is from the Bible or to talk about baby Jesus being part of Christmas because all his readers would know that and most of them would believe it. In our secular times, perhaps that makes the story more powerful now than when it was written?
Image: Bob Cratchitt and Tiny Tim by Quentin Blake for 1993 postage stamp (Source)
Fresh insights - 2020 UPDATE
I really enjoyed this 45-minute podcast by a trio of twenty-somethings I know:
Teaching My Cat to Read - A Christmas Carol
Their lively and creative discussion views the story in ways I hadn't considered, demonstrating why it remains so relevant and enjoyable. It also touches on Lord of the Rings, Beowulf, Game of Thrones, Harry Potter, The Hogfather, The Muppets (or course), and capitalism and healthcare.
One aspect that especially resonated with me was that they kept coming back to the importance personal connections - something many of us miss acutely in this Christmas plagued by plague. It's not just about charity and money. Scrooge wasn't always "Scrooge", but became that way because of unresolved hurt and trauma. Early on, three people reach out to him to embrace the spirit of the season. He rebuffs them, so it falls to actual spirits.
There's plenty more in the podcast...
Finally:
Brian Bilston's "Tense Christmas"
It's included in Days Like These: An alternative guide to the year in 366 poems, which I am reviewing HERE.
December 23, 2025
Gonzo explains how Michael Caine was really mean to Kermit until Waldorf and Statler made him change his ways. Classic Dickens.
Fozzie Bear was also involved.
Merry Christmas to one and all.
Fozzie Bear was also involved.
Merry Christmas to one and all.
December 21, 2023
Há uns tempos comecei o conto de Dickens, mas não terminei, ainda!
Esta adaptação é uma versão muito resumida da obra de Dickens, mas gostei da forma como Mr. Scrooge vai ficando mais molinho à medida que recebe as visitas dos fantasmas dos Natais passado, presente e futuro.
Esta adaptação é uma versão muito resumida da obra de Dickens, mas gostei da forma como Mr. Scrooge vai ficando mais molinho à medida que recebe as visitas dos fantasmas dos Natais passado, presente e futuro.
January 13, 2023
چه حسی داره که توی سال ۱۸۴۳ زندگی کنی، ده روز به کریسمس باقی مونده باشه و این کتاب رو که برای اولین بار منتشر شده بخونی...؟
-----------------
انیمیشنی که دیزنی ازین داستان ساخته رو پیشنهاد میکنم، کاملا به داستان وفاداره و خوشساخت هم هست.
-----------------
انیمیشنی که دیزنی ازین داستان ساخته رو پیشنهاد میکنم، کاملا به داستان وفاداره و خوشساخت هم هست.
December 25, 2025
Am încercat să parcurg povestea asta de parcă n-aș fi știut nimic despre ea. A fost o experiență tare plăcută. Am simțit aceeași bucurie ca bătrânul Scrooge la finalul cărții, același spirit al sărbătorilor, mai ales că am parcurs textul în dimineața primei zile de Crăciun. Concluzia: să fim mai buni în fiecare zi cu oamenii din jurul nostru, chiar și atunci când nu le cunoaștem durerile sau necazurile.
December 31, 2024
imagine sucking so much your name becomes synonymous with “fun-sucking loser.” this shit slaps
December 8, 2013
While I don't hold 100% with the theology (nor disagree either) I love this book...for that matter I love at least one of the movies (the Alastair Sim version titled Scrooge). While the entire story is wonderful the redemption/repentance scenes alone are worth the "freight", so to speak.
The story is undoubtedly familiar to you but give it a read if you've only been exposed to it through movies. I think everyone probably re-looks at Christmas and life at the same time they experience it with Scrooge. While I wouldn't call myself a Dickens fan this is one of his best efforts (that's my opinion for what it's worth).
The story is undoubtedly familiar to you but give it a read if you've only been exposed to it through movies. I think everyone probably re-looks at Christmas and life at the same time they experience it with Scrooge. While I wouldn't call myself a Dickens fan this is one of his best efforts (that's my opinion for what it's worth).
March 31, 2015
Poruka samoj sebi:knjižica se zove A Christmas carol, pa možda ne bi bilo loše da je ponovo pročitaš za vreme božićnih praznika, možda bi ti bolje "legla" :)
December 21, 2023
Vom Geizhals zum Menschenfreund in 126 Seiten - wenn es doch nur so einfach wäre...Wunderbare Geschichte, deren jährliche Lektüre wohl nun zur "Pflicht" wird 😂.
December 24, 2022
"I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach. Heaven and Christmas Time be praised for this!" So said Ebenezer Scrooge at the end of this beautifully written story, and so say I after reading it. I agree with countless others that it would be a joyous and edifying practice to read this classic tale every year at Christmas.
January 13, 2026
“Come in! and know me better, man!"
Confession: it took AI to get me to read this.
If you follow my reviews, you know I've been on a tear against AI "books" for a while now. I thought to ease off last January but it didn't take long for me to dive back into the slop pool and spend an unfortunate amount of my time calling it what it is. In my defense, I had virtually nothing to do at work for a ridiculous stretch of time. This has been remedied, and so will I.
The abject poverty—literary, intellectual, creative, ethical—of AI-generated books to which I've knowingly exposed myself has been furthering my need for rich, deep, meaningful fiction. The contrast makes the prospective good stuff shine all the brighter. With that thought, I committed to severely curtailing my prior level of engagement with AI books and seek the happiness of those who have never seen the like, to include experiencing certain classics this year and beyond. A Christmas Carol was not on my mental list, though, until I discovered its antithesis: A Christmas Carol in Rhyme by unapologetic, interminable AI slop peddler and true believer Samuel DenHartog. The opening sample of that wretched abomination was, as expected, immediately disturbingly bad, but it was its focus on seemingly odd material (harping on the fact of Marley's death) that made me look up the original text to confirm that it was, as suspected, nothing more than a direct AI raping of Dickens' eternal classic. In just the opening lines of the true story, I was entranced by the language, by Dickens' poetry in motion, by his creativity of phrase and punctuation*. I promised myself that I would read it for the first time during the season. I have, of course, having been alive for any length of time, seen many adaptations of the book, but had never thought to read it.
*(My appreciation of Dickens' punctuation in particular was heightened by a recent reading of Semicolon: The Past, Present, and Future of a Misunderstood Mark, through which I now better appreciate fluidity of punctuation use for creative purposes and guiding the reader to meaning beyond strict modern usage.)
Lo! This is a beautiful story and a true archetype of Christmas celebrations and spirit, a roadmap to Christmas cheer that transcends time.
I believe that I shall ask for a lovely print edition come next yuletide (this time, I borrowed it from the library, it arriving fortunately on Dec. 24 for pickup; of course electronic copies are widely available at no cost, e.g. from gutenberg.org), and I hope to make a nigh-annual reading tradition of it, alongside my other eternal seasonal classic, The Christmas Spirits by Grady Hendrix, available in Dead Leprechauns & Devil Cats: Strange Tales of the White Street Society. I heartily recommend them both to all.
Confession: it took AI to get me to read this.
If you follow my reviews, you know I've been on a tear against AI "books" for a while now. I thought to ease off last January but it didn't take long for me to dive back into the slop pool and spend an unfortunate amount of my time calling it what it is. In my defense, I had virtually nothing to do at work for a ridiculous stretch of time. This has been remedied, and so will I.
The abject poverty—literary, intellectual, creative, ethical—of AI-generated books to which I've knowingly exposed myself has been furthering my need for rich, deep, meaningful fiction. The contrast makes the prospective good stuff shine all the brighter. With that thought, I committed to severely curtailing my prior level of engagement with AI books and seek the happiness of those who have never seen the like, to include experiencing certain classics this year and beyond. A Christmas Carol was not on my mental list, though, until I discovered its antithesis: A Christmas Carol in Rhyme by unapologetic, interminable AI slop peddler and true believer Samuel DenHartog. The opening sample of that wretched abomination was, as expected, immediately disturbingly bad, but it was its focus on seemingly odd material (harping on the fact of Marley's death) that made me look up the original text to confirm that it was, as suspected, nothing more than a direct AI raping of Dickens' eternal classic. In just the opening lines of the true story, I was entranced by the language, by Dickens' poetry in motion, by his creativity of phrase and punctuation*. I promised myself that I would read it for the first time during the season. I have, of course, having been alive for any length of time, seen many adaptations of the book, but had never thought to read it.
*(My appreciation of Dickens' punctuation in particular was heightened by a recent reading of Semicolon: The Past, Present, and Future of a Misunderstood Mark, through which I now better appreciate fluidity of punctuation use for creative purposes and guiding the reader to meaning beyond strict modern usage.)
Lo! This is a beautiful story and a true archetype of Christmas celebrations and spirit, a roadmap to Christmas cheer that transcends time.
I believe that I shall ask for a lovely print edition come next yuletide (this time, I borrowed it from the library, it arriving fortunately on Dec. 24 for pickup; of course electronic copies are widely available at no cost, e.g. from gutenberg.org), and I hope to make a nigh-annual reading tradition of it, alongside my other eternal seasonal classic, The Christmas Spirits by Grady Hendrix, available in Dead Leprechauns & Devil Cats: Strange Tales of the White Street Society. I heartily recommend them both to all.
December 25, 2020
There is nothing any review of mine can add to the reputation of A Christmas Carol. I read it every year, and listen to the recording by Patrick Stewart every Christmas Eve.
But I am sad, because as I finished it today I read about the final version of the GOP tax plan. Sadly, I do not think any of the Republicans will have a Scrooge-like enlightenment before they cut taxes on the rich and corporations, and screw students and the middle and working classes.
But I am sad, because as I finished it today I read about the final version of the GOP tax plan. Sadly, I do not think any of the Republicans will have a Scrooge-like enlightenment before they cut taxes on the rich and corporations, and screw students and the middle and working classes.
December 26, 2023
This was actually The Merry Beggers A Christmas Carol advent, it was like old days radio shows. It was a little piece of the story each day, usually about 8 minutes upon average . The different voices, the music, the sound effects….Fantastic!! Wish I could give ten stars. It was so good. I absolutely loved it.
December 19, 2023
Always a pure delight to read this wonderful story. We can all take away a lesson.
May 31, 2017
اولین و تنها کتابی که ازچارلز دیکنز خوندم و از تکلیف عید مدرسه
شخصیت داستان رو بسی دوست داشتم و خود داستان هم ایده جالبی داشت
شخصیت داستان رو بسی دوست داشتم و خود داستان هم ایده جالبی داشت
October 24, 2017
Let's be honest, the story is totally classic. I don't believe that there are people in West culture who don't know the story (from book, a movie or at least from other people's summary). First, I watched a movie. Then another movie. I am not even sure if and when I read it in the past.
Listening it now, I admit, it is really good. Moreover, it is the story which each should know and remember in own heart. Charles Dickens wrote a perfect, wonderful Christmas story for everyone, children and adults.
Nonetheless, I admit also, that this time, I wasn't gripped as I hoped. Perhaps I knew it too well.
The version I was listening was good and engaging. I loved Andy Minter as Scrooge (by the by, Andy Minter was also Mr. Woodhouse in one of the version of Emma, and he was splendid in there also).
Listening it now, I admit, it is really good. Moreover, it is the story which each should know and remember in own heart. Charles Dickens wrote a perfect, wonderful Christmas story for everyone, children and adults.
Nonetheless, I admit also, that this time, I wasn't gripped as I hoped. Perhaps I knew it too well.
The version I was listening was good and engaging. I loved Andy Minter as Scrooge (by the by, Andy Minter was also Mr. Woodhouse in one of the version of Emma, and he was splendid in there also).
November 8, 2013
Obviously a classic, arguably the best Christmas story ever written. I have seen many different versions of this story and I've loved them all. I knew I would love this story and I did.
November 30, 2015
Wonderful classic Christmas story!
December 27, 2023
My favorite Dickens by far! There are so many witty sentences and paragraphs in here that you don’t get on your first read through. Of course, the lessons in here are unparalleled.
December 3, 2025
Name a more iconic Christmas book, I dare you.
So short and sweet. Might make it a yearly read! Gave the ultimate Christmas vibes. This one held up to the hype!
UPDATE: Year 2 and the book is even better! The more you read it, the more things you catch. Always gets me in the Christmassy spirit!
Edit again: Year 3 and it still hits just the same!! Such a great message, gets me into the Christmas spirit every time! 5 stars yet again :)
2024: Year 4 and I find something more from this story every time. So perfect to read after Small Things Like These too! Definitely in the Christmas spirit! And this year I used the free Levar Burton audiobook. SUCH a good one! Also movie night this coming week is Muppet’s Christmas Carol, perfect timing!
I can’t wait to be reading this every December to come :)
2025: In the year I’ve felt the Scroogiest, I’ve never needed this reread more. Still so beautifully timeless. I tried a different audiobook this year with sound effects and it was probably my favorite of all of them so far!
So short and sweet. Might make it a yearly read! Gave the ultimate Christmas vibes. This one held up to the hype!
UPDATE: Year 2 and the book is even better! The more you read it, the more things you catch. Always gets me in the Christmassy spirit!
Edit again: Year 3 and it still hits just the same!! Such a great message, gets me into the Christmas spirit every time! 5 stars yet again :)
2024: Year 4 and I find something more from this story every time. So perfect to read after Small Things Like These too! Definitely in the Christmas spirit! And this year I used the free Levar Burton audiobook. SUCH a good one! Also movie night this coming week is Muppet’s Christmas Carol, perfect timing!
I can’t wait to be reading this every December to come :)
2025: In the year I’ve felt the Scroogiest, I’ve never needed this reread more. Still so beautifully timeless. I tried a different audiobook this year with sound effects and it was probably my favorite of all of them so far!
November 22, 2017
نحن بكل تأكيد نملك أفضل مما قاله تشارلز في قصته هذه :
قال الذي لا ينطق عن الهوى نبينا محمد وعلى وسلم :
(تعس عبد الدرهم ،تعس عبد الدينار )
ربما تشارلز قال ما قاله في روايته مدفوعًا بما حدث في حياته،ولكنه لم يخرج أبدًا عن نطاق حديث خير البشر .
أنا لا أستغرب بأن اسم شخصيته العجوز البخيل (سكروج ) قد صارت مصطلحًا يقال لمن كان بمثل بخل الشخصية التي قام برسمها تشارلز . الشيء الجميل والمدهش أن أكسفورد حافظت كثيرًا على أحداث القصة من أولها إلى آخرها .والشيء الآخر كنتُ متوقعة بأن مادة الرواية سوف تكون صالحة لعمل سينمائي وبالفعل جُسدِت على هوليود أكثر من مرة وشاهدتُ بعد قراءتي لها نسخة والت ديزني باعتباري محبة ومولعة بالانميشين والياباني على وجه الخصوص لأنني أرى الأنميشين هو الأفضل لتجسيد أي عمل روائي من التمثيل الذي قد يفسد روعته.
قال الذي لا ينطق عن الهوى نبينا محمد وعلى وسلم :
(تعس عبد الدرهم ،تعس عبد الدينار )
ربما تشارلز قال ما قاله في روايته مدفوعًا بما حدث في حياته،ولكنه لم يخرج أبدًا عن نطاق حديث خير البشر .
أنا لا أستغرب بأن اسم شخصيته العجوز البخيل (سكروج ) قد صارت مصطلحًا يقال لمن كان بمثل بخل الشخصية التي قام برسمها تشارلز . الشيء الجميل والمدهش أن أكسفورد حافظت كثيرًا على أحداث القصة من أولها إلى آخرها .والشيء الآخر كنتُ متوقعة بأن مادة الرواية سوف تكون صالحة لعمل سينمائي وبالفعل جُسدِت على هوليود أكثر من مرة وشاهدتُ بعد قراءتي لها نسخة والت ديزني باعتباري محبة ومولعة بالانميشين والياباني على وجه الخصوص لأنني أرى الأنميشين هو الأفضل لتجسيد أي عمل روائي من التمثيل الذي قد يفسد روعته.
January 2, 2016
Dickens' Christmas Carol is not so much about the magic of Christmas as it is about its appeal to the everlasting longing of humanity for redemption and second chances. It hits too close to home if you're one who particularly fears regrets and the finality of things that were done, never to be undone.
The language is just slightly heavy for a Christmas story, but the lush descriptions manage to evoke the city of London in its past and set the proper mood, making it a really enjoyable parable about empathy, perspective and the simple joys in life.
The language is just slightly heavy for a Christmas story, but the lush descriptions manage to evoke the city of London in its past and set the proper mood, making it a really enjoyable parable about empathy, perspective and the simple joys in life.
December 4, 2021
I haven't revisited this since forever, but still love this - a wonderful holiday treat!
December 17, 2022
It was fun to finally read the book since I've seen so many of the movies! This has also solidified my opinion that the Muppets is the best movie adaptation.
January 4, 2023
I'm hoping to make this a yearly re-read because it's just so good. <3
December 17, 2025
I read this because it was F&F’s book of the month, and reading it gives me extra points for the Point Game. I knew I wouldn’t like it, so I guess it’s unfair to give it a low rating, but I think Dickens is past caring.🤭
The beginning and last bit was ok, but I found it pretty boring throughout.
The beginning and last bit was ok, but I found it pretty boring throughout.
September 29, 2017
I had wanted to re-read A Christmas Carol the last few Christmases, as I read it for the first time in 2012, during my short visit to London, and I was at that point still rather unfamiliar with classic literature. I remember struggling through the English words I had never come across before, the long sentences that seem to be characteristic of Dickens, but ultimately enjoying the overall story of redemption, open hearts and generosity, and Christmas spirit making all things bright.
I started reading this a few days before Christmas and made my way through it one chapter a day. This time around I was able to enjoy Dicken's prose in all its richness (although the long sentence structure is still slightly challenging, more to do with my inability to keep my focus for that long). On the other hand the messages in this little story, I had stronger reactions to. I like the idea of Scrooge having the opportunity to self-reflect, to think about the things he does now and the paths that it will lead him on - a question asked of what he wants in the future, if the way he lives now is his chosen way of life. I think the self-reflecting aspect of the story is not only nice but an important lesson to us all, a reminder that our actions have consequences and that it is the actions of the present that build up to make the end-point, the future state. However, it's rather taken for granted what is the right or wrong way to act and feel, which choice is the correct one and which is not. That Scrooge is supposed to choose one specific way of life, is kind of where my problem lies. Of course, it's not surprising that a book about Christmas set in the Victorian era will have a moral of the story. But I cannot say I fully agree with it. For example, although it's good to give away money to charity or to friends and loved ones, should he not also think of what he can do for himself - to make himself more comfortable? His house is described to have only the bare necessities, to be cold and draft, the only things he seems to have of comfort there is his couch and open fire. Isn't there something that could give him direct joy? I don't mean to say the only way he can make himself happy is to buy things, or spend money on himself - but surely, giving to others isn't not the only way to achieve happiness. I suppose selfishness is not really in line with the values of the time. Although he is described as being selfish before his extreme change of heart, selfish in that he doesn't share the fortune he has worked and saved to collect. He is automatically selfish because he doesn't share - but I wonder, would he still be called generous at the end if he acted kindly, said a kind word to each person he met, spent time with them, etc., but didn't actually give any money to anyone?
Another thing I thought about was the way other people treated Scrooge - especially the Christmases of the future. His actions to his fellow men and women in the present, in the last chapter, shows not only his willingness to change but his generosity of heart in not holding the cold words of others against them, to embrace the people around him in the hope that his changed heart will change people's views of him from the bitter to the forgiving. But let's be real - the sort of things people do or say about him in his 'future' shows not only his lack of character but of theirs too, and perhaps Scrooge isn't the only person in this story who needs to grow?
These were just a few of my thoughts rereading A Christmas Carol. Lovely prose, heartwarming story, questionably focused on money, but still a fun story to read in time for Christmas.
I started reading this a few days before Christmas and made my way through it one chapter a day. This time around I was able to enjoy Dicken's prose in all its richness (although the long sentence structure is still slightly challenging, more to do with my inability to keep my focus for that long). On the other hand the messages in this little story, I had stronger reactions to. I like the idea of Scrooge having the opportunity to self-reflect, to think about the things he does now and the paths that it will lead him on - a question asked of what he wants in the future, if the way he lives now is his chosen way of life. I think the self-reflecting aspect of the story is not only nice but an important lesson to us all, a reminder that our actions have consequences and that it is the actions of the present that build up to make the end-point, the future state. However, it's rather taken for granted what is the right or wrong way to act and feel, which choice is the correct one and which is not. That Scrooge is supposed to choose one specific way of life, is kind of where my problem lies. Of course, it's not surprising that a book about Christmas set in the Victorian era will have a moral of the story. But I cannot say I fully agree with it. For example, although it's good to give away money to charity or to friends and loved ones, should he not also think of what he can do for himself - to make himself more comfortable? His house is described to have only the bare necessities, to be cold and draft, the only things he seems to have of comfort there is his couch and open fire. Isn't there something that could give him direct joy? I don't mean to say the only way he can make himself happy is to buy things, or spend money on himself - but surely, giving to others isn't not the only way to achieve happiness. I suppose selfishness is not really in line with the values of the time. Although he is described as being selfish before his extreme change of heart, selfish in that he doesn't share the fortune he has worked and saved to collect. He is automatically selfish because he doesn't share - but I wonder, would he still be called generous at the end if he acted kindly, said a kind word to each person he met, spent time with them, etc., but didn't actually give any money to anyone?
Another thing I thought about was the way other people treated Scrooge - especially the Christmases of the future. His actions to his fellow men and women in the present, in the last chapter, shows not only his willingness to change but his generosity of heart in not holding the cold words of others against them, to embrace the people around him in the hope that his changed heart will change people's views of him from the bitter to the forgiving. But let's be real - the sort of things people do or say about him in his 'future' shows not only his lack of character but of theirs too, and perhaps Scrooge isn't the only person in this story who needs to grow?
These were just a few of my thoughts rereading A Christmas Carol. Lovely prose, heartwarming story, questionably focused on money, but still a fun story to read in time for Christmas.
May 26, 2020
Nice illustration.
Illustration was nice in regard of how children going to accept it but to make it more real illustrators must kept in mind that the real character was English. So the face could have been created with well more clarity onto it. Rest it's too good for children to read such nice story in this way as to understand their way of life. And likewise-works can inspire children to read more when they grew up.
This book can be made part of academics for LKG & UKG students.
Illustration was nice in regard of how children going to accept it but to make it more real illustrators must kept in mind that the real character was English. So the face could have been created with well more clarity onto it. Rest it's too good for children to read such nice story in this way as to understand their way of life. And likewise-works can inspire children to read more when they grew up.
This book can be made part of academics for LKG & UKG students.
December 20, 2023
It feels strange to rate such an iconic classic, but why not.
Shoutout to Dickens for having the woman leave because the man is a jerk, and not having the woman leaving be the excuse for WHY he is a jerk, which is such a common trope these days.
Also shoutout to Dickens for his commentary on the greedy wealthy, which is exactly as relevant now as then.
Even if you know this story backwards and forwards from all of the adaptations, the book is worth reading for the scathing takedowns of the 1%.
Shoutout to Dickens for having the woman leave because the man is a jerk, and not having the woman leaving be the excuse for WHY he is a jerk, which is such a common trope these days.
Also shoutout to Dickens for his commentary on the greedy wealthy, which is exactly as relevant now as then.
Even if you know this story backwards and forwards from all of the adaptations, the book is worth reading for the scathing takedowns of the 1%.
December 14, 2020
(2ND time reading - 3 Stars - Assigned reading - listened to Audiobook with Ralph Cosham)
I feel like it becomes better every time I read it, slightly. Maybe I didn't really like it at first because I'm not a warm person? But . . .
I felt so connected to Scrooge,
in the beginning ;)
(1ST time reading - 2 Stars - Assigned Reading)
What can I say? Boring
I feel like it becomes better every time I read it, slightly. Maybe I didn't really like it at first because I'm not a warm person? But . . .
I felt so connected to Scrooge,
in the beginning ;)
(1ST time reading - 2 Stars - Assigned Reading)
What can I say? Boring
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