Un canto di Natale & other stories

by Charles Dickens, Arthur Rackham (Illustrator)

"Un canto di Natale" (1843) e "Le campane" (1844) furono pubblicate per la prima volta da Chapman & Hall, editore di Dickens e di molte altre grandi figure della letteratura britannica come William Thackeray. Le bellissime illustrazioni che accompagnano i testi sono di Arthur Rackham, uno dei più importanti illustratori britannici. Il Canto, del 1915, e Le campane sono opere piuttosto tarde nella carriera del grande artista e si inseriscono in un periodo nel quale il suo genio aveva già raggiunto la piena maturità.

Genres: Classics, Christmas, Fiction, Short Stories, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Victorian

292 pages, Hardcover

Published December 10, 2022

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

[K.D. Absolutely · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 1 of Charles Dickens' The Christmas Books is composed of two beautiful classic stories or short novels: A Christmas Carol (1843) and The Chimes (1844). They are old, old works but their messages still sound true even up to now. Also, they are still very readable. In fact, I know some friends who make it a point to read A Christmas Carol every year.

A Christmas Carol in Prose Being a Ghost Story of Christmas. 5 STARS

The most popular among the 5 books included in this book, The Christmas Books. Why is my friend reading this yearly? It probably reminds her of the real meaning of Christmas. There is nothing wrong having merriment inside the house say with our loved ones. We give them gifts, we bring out our best recipes, we decorate the house, we play and sing Christmas carols. We celebrate Christmas and the coming of the babe in the manger. However, the activities should not stop there. We real meaning of Christmas is to reach out to the less fortunate people. Like Ebenezer Scrooge, we need to help the family of Little Tim and try to make their Christmas as happy and merry as ours. We should not wait for the three ghosts to come knocking at our doors to awake us and realize that Christmas is really about helping each other and not about material things. Please.

The Chimes: A Goblin Story. 4 STARS

Quite similar to A Christmas Carol since this came after Dickens got so popular with it. If Carol is set on Christmas Eve, Chimes is set on New Year's Eve. If Carol has the cynical, bitter and indifferent Scrooge, Chimes has the pessimistic Alderman Cute. Cute's putting down attitude on things dampen the spirits of the people around him and so they become pessimists like him and view the world negatively. The Chimes here are the bells near the place where the main protagonist Trotty works and each ringing of the Chimes has some effects to him. Effects that could make him reminiscence of the past or wake him up of his stupor to plan for the future. However, his future as well as his daughter Meg's are both bleak and that negativity is further dampened by Cute.

Like Carol, Chimes also ends up happily. Very appropriate holiday reads.

I am now looking forward to read Book 2 that includes the three other novellas or short stories in this seemingly beautiful classic The Christmas Books.

Merry Christmas, everyone! ho ho ho

[John McDermott · Rating 5 out of 5]

My copy is a Dean & Son I've had since childhood which also includes The Cricket on the Hearth. All wonderful. After all,they're classics for a reason.

[Susan Denney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever wonder why "A Christmas Carol" is the only one of Charles Dickens's Christmas stories to get a lot of attention? He wrote five of them after all.

The answer to this is that overwhelmingly, that story is his best. But if your Dickens holiday fix isn't filled by that wonderful story, here's my ranking of all five so you can decide if you want to pick them up this season. All except the last have a supernatural element which is satisfyingly mysterious.

1. A Christmas Carol. Hands down the winner of all the books. If you can read nothing else this season, this would be your book. It is more wonderful than any movie adaptation could ever be. One of my favorite lines is from the description of a grocery store during Scrooge's visit with Christmas Present. "There were ruddy, brown-faced, broad-girthed Spanish Onions, shining in the fatness of their growth like Spanish Friars, and winking from their shelves in wanton slyness at the girls as they went by, and glanced demurely at the hung-up mistletoe." No time to read it? I just discovered a new audio adaptation of the book. I haven't been able to listen to all of it but the beginning is marvelous.


2. Cricket on the Hearth--A Fairy Tale of Home. Easily the winner of the cheesiest movie adaptations. This is sad because it's a very good story. But I guess if you give a filmmaker a lovely blind girl who makes dolls and a poor father who creates a rich, imaginary world for her, said filmmaker can't resist the maudlin. 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.

3. The Chimes. 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 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.

4. The Haunted Man. 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.

5. The Battle of Life. No supernatural beings in this one. Just interesting folks who seem to be in love with the wrong people. Dr. 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.

[Mith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have this tradition - every year, on Christmas day I whip out my copy of "A Christmas Carol", read it cover to cover and follow it up with a Christmas special movie to wrap up the day.

So, this year, A Christmas Carol has been read, "Arthur Christmas" has been watched (ADORABLE MOVIE. MUST WATCH), and awesome cake has been had. Life is good.

Merry Christmas, everybody!

[Kalmar Shuffler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read A Christmas Carol last year, and it's *chef's kiss* perfection.
The Chimes, on the other hand, was a bit confusing. I'm not exactly sure what the message is supposed to be, but it was interesting to read.
5 stars for A Christmas Carol.
3 stars for The Chimes.
4 star average.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s no room for improvement when it comes to A Christmas Carol, of course. But Dickens’s second Christmas book—actually more of a New Year’s novella—suffers by comparison, largely due to the sameness of the Spirit of the Chimes showing Trotty Veck the horrors of New Year’s Days yet to come. Unlike Scrooge’s faults, though, Veck’s blame is merely ignorance, which I don’t think warrants the torture he goes through witnessing the harrowing visions of the future.

As for preaching against societal ills, Dickens is more heavy handed in The Chimes than in Carol. I’m glad this Penguin edition has editor Michael Slater laying out the political environment of 1840s London for context. His introductions and notes were helpful.

[Nicklaus Cherup · Rating 5 out of 5]

Certainty finished this later than I wanted!

A Christmas Carol: is a 5/5 I continue to love this story and will likely read it another December. I love Dickens’ writing in this

The Chimes: My first DNF. This was the large hold up with finishing this book. I had 22 pages left, and truth be told I didn’t want to read those 22 pages. This story is bland, confusing, and hard to follow. I like Dickens’ writing, but this story seemed to ramble and I didn’t care about the characters or the story. There is a reason everyone knows about A Christmas Carol, and no one has heard of The Chimes.

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

5🌟 for A Christmas Carol, 3⭐️ for The Chimes which was a bit too boring and moralizing.

[Jeff Currie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actually - I've read A Christmas Carol but not The Chimes or Dickens' other Christmas stories. i think he set out to write one every Christmas for several years in a row.

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. the depth of detail in Dickens' book is incredible and Dickensian, of course. 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.

[Phoebe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved both of these stories so much. This was my first time reading Dickens and definitely won't be the last - he's my dad's favourite writer and I can see why, he's a great writer, sharply politically and leans heavily into pathos without it ever feeling over the top, somehow. It's an impressive balancing act. Incidentally, I borrowed my dad's little two-volume box set of these and when I pulled them out there was still a Christmas bookmark in with them that I made him at school probably close to 20 years ago :').

ALSO I am now making it my mission to decide what the best adaption of A Christmas Carol is and so far, to the surprise of absolutely no-one, the Muppets version is killing it.

[Alessandro · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Canto di Natale" è una lettura da fare almeno una volta nella vita durante il periodo natalizio.
"Le campane" per quanto abbia una storia carina, non mi ha colpito particolarmente.

[Chelsea Hagen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy this book. I think it will be read every Christmas..

[Christy Broderick⁷ · Rating 3 out of 5]

For me, this one was a little harder to understand when compared to “A Christmas Carol.” A New Years novel to ring in 2021 ✨🔔

[Eliza Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll keep defending A Christmas Carol against it's haters. What good is it to have all the right doctrine but no love or generosity?

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of those books that everyone thinks they know, but probably not all have read. This was my first read. It's a lot of fun, the language playful, the message warm and sympathetic. Great stuff

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Between 1843 and 1848. Charles Dickens published 5 Christmas novellas. The first two, A Christmas Carol and The Chimes are included in this volume of the Penguin anthologies, the other three, The Cricket on the Hearth, The Battle of Life and The Haunted Man are included in volume 2.

A Christmas Carol is probably the most renown Christmas story of all time, it’s the story all other Yuletide yarns are judged by. It’s the template for all the Christmas stories that followed. Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol to highlight Victorian social attitudes towards poverty, particularly child poverty. Scrooge being the symbol of self interest and the children Want and Ignorance personified the consequences of that. Dickens also included Tiny Tim to arouse the sympathies of his readers who would have been largely middle class and to highlight the need for charity.

There’s no point in reviewing it really, I doubt there are many people who aren’t familiar with it. It is timeless. I have read in countless times, I read it, if not all of it, at leasts excerpts from it every Christmas.

On the other hand the second story in this volume, The Chimes, is probably not as renown. Although when it was initially published it was highly successful. This story like A Christmas Carol was also written as a vehicle to carry Dickens’ social message.

The Chimes takes place on New Years Eve and concerns Toby "Trotty" Veck, a poor elderly messenger or "ticket-porter,” who comes to believe that he is worthless and that working-class people are wicked by nature. The working class are only fleetingly shown in A Christmas Carol which mainly concerns a wealthy protagonist in Ebenezer Scrooge. In The Chimes we look through the eyes of those working classes. The Chimes has Dickens’ usual grotesques and in the form of Alderman Cute a man who’s opinions of the poor match those of Scrooge, ‘You see, my friend,’ pursued the Alderman, ‘there’s a great deal of nonsense talked about Want —“hard up,” you know; that’s the phrase, isn’t it? ha! ha! ha! — and I intend to Put it Down. There’s a certain amount of can’t in vogue about Starvation, and I mean to Put it Down. That’s all! Lord bless you,’ said the Alderman, turning to his friends again, ‘you may Put Down anything among this sort of people, if you only know the way to set about it.’

I found The Chimes a more challenging read than A Christmas Carol, it doesn’t flow as easily as Carol, it’s heavier going, pointing the way to Dickens’ later, bigger novels such as Bleak House. It’s also a lot darker than Carol dealing with prostitution, drunkenness, suicide and infanticide. The difficulty in reading Dickens today is that satire requires a knowledge of the people and conditions satirized. This is more so with Chimes (The Chimes is fierce satire). The novel's setting is the 1840s,the ‘hungry forties’, which was a period of social and political unrest. The message Dickens is putting out in The Chimes is not a moral one as in Carol but a political one. Because of this The Chimes is a more satisfying read than A Christmas Carol although Carol is the more entertaining.

Penguin’s The Christmas Books Volume 1 is therefore a fabulous collection bringing together two of Dicken’s best Christmas stories and in A Christmas Carol, in my opinion, the best Christmas story every written.

[Teri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has both A Christmas Carol and The Chimes. I've always read A Christmas Carol every December as a read-aloud to the family, but never got around to Dickens' New Year's story, The Chimes. 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. I love Dickens' descriptive writing!

[S.D. · Rating 2 out of 5]

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. The Chimes, though it contains several brilliantly bitter anti-capitalist passages & caricatures – properly lacking any Scrooge-like redemption – concludes with its proletariat Veck smitten by a romanticized acceptance of his place in society, without the entertaining le mot juste narrative that redeems A Christmas Carol.

[Rich · Rating 5 out of 5]

This proves how great a writer Dickens was. In less than 120 pages he wrote a book that changed the world and essentially invented the Victorian Christmas. It also revealed Dickens more whimsical side. The opening three paragraphs are so full of laughs, if you pay attention, that you'll realize Dickens has a wonderful sense of humor.
I know you've all seen the movie, but even with such a short book as this, there are layers upon layers that the movies couldn't even touch upon. I read this every year.

[Samantha Pinazza · Rating 4 out of 5]

E' giusto sostenere che Dickens abbia inventato il Natale? Secondo me sì. Mi sono immersa con piacere in questa storia di fantasmi e amicizia, di amore e rimpianto, di ravvedimento e coraggio. Solo Dickens avrebbe potuto prendere una trama spaventosa e renderla la più iconica storia natalizia di sempre.
L'autore riesce ad affrontare temi profondi con incredibile semplicità e dando al tutto quel tocco di magia che rende la storia unica.

[O Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

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).

[Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars just on the basis of "A Christmas Carol," which is utter perfection and God bless us every one. One star for "The Chimes", I'm afraid. Dreary, preachy stuff.

[TE · Rating 3 out of 5]

"dear God, they are good - and I feel so good after them - I shall do good and lose no time - I want to go out and comfort someone - I shall give money. Oh, what a jolly thing it is for a man to have written books like these and just filled people's hearts with pity." And what a great thing it is to have an author such as Robert Louis Stevenson write such about one's work. This quote, of course, was in response to Dickens' two Christmas books, "Carol" and "The Chimes," both of which appear in this volume.

The station Charles Dickens was born into would seem to have little semblance to that of his wretched characters, but many events in his young life sparked a great degree of compassion for them, as seen in these two Christmas books and in many of his other works. It could easily be argued that Dickens used the pen as a means for social change. He was born into a middle-class family, but his father was actually committed to a debtors' prison in Southwark when Charles was twelve. The young boy was also forced to pawn his beloved book collection and to leave school to take up employment at a rat-infested factory, likely a seminal event that sparked the activism that would mark the course of his life. He was always moved by the plight of poor children, particularly children working in factory and mines. He took up the cause of child-laborers in Cornish tin mines in 1843, in the wake of a report published early that year by Parliament, which exposed the tragedy of child laborers.

I find that the stories behind the stories are often just as fascinating as the actual published works themselves, and these two are no exception. "A Christmas Carol" was first published by Chapman and Hall, with whom Dickens eventually parted company, in 1843. It was written in a period of transition, when past holiday traditions were apparently being re-evaluated, with some of the trappings we now commonly associate with the holiday, such as Christmas trees, coming into fashion. Dickens seized upon the opportunity to write his magnum opus with the rise of the popularity of Christmas in the mid-19th century. He followed in the illustrious footsteps of other authors who had done likewise, such as Washington Irving.

Despite his popularity, he had suffered some financial setbacks but recovered with the publication of "A Christmas Carol," which has become timeless. It was initially published in December, 1943. Only a year later, thirteen editions had been released, a testament to its popularity. It has been adapted countless times into theatrical productions, movies and even cartoons. The book was apparently stolen and published by another company shortly after its initial publication. I find it rather ironic that this issue resulted in Dickens taking legal action against the publishers who ripped him off, who were eventually forced into bankruptcy. Don't seem to show too much of the Christmas spirit! Oh well.

The second work herein isn't nearly as popular as the first, but it's still considered a holiday classic. It's basically a fantasy story, published a year after "Carol," the second in the five novella which comprised his "Christmas Books" collection. The chimes were reportedly influenced by the bells from a church in Genoa, where the Dickens family was spending a holiday. As with the first, it has a moral message, telling the story of a poor messenger, who is experiencing some melancholy at the reports of crime in the newspaper. It was also the subject of stage adaptations, and an estimated 20,000 copies of the novella were sold in the first three months after its release.

Both are thoroughly Dickensian, and are worth a read, if simply to get a greater sense of his overall literary style and moral message.

[Tim O'Leary · Rating 2 out of 5]

The second of five Christmas stories, this was written in 1844 after Charles Dickens' celebrated publishing of "A Christmas Carol" the year before. I confess that while the former is as timeless and cherished a piece of classical literature as has ever been taken to heart by readers and audiences of all walks at Christmastide, the follow-up "Goblin Story" left me completely bewildered as to how the featured hauntings could effect the aged protagonist's redemption--thematically similar to Ebenezer Scrooge's own--but not so eloquently conceived. Dickens had vacationed in Genoa, Italy, and heard the bells at midnight, inspiring the notion that voices could be heard in their chimes. Thus the beckoning voices of the bells becomes the main venue of the spirit world's encantations emanating from goblins that reside within the steeples; their hauntings intended to lure Toby "Trotty" Veck to seek them out by climbing up to commune with them on a New Year's Eve. An endeavor few mortals would dare to chance for fear of falling to their death. Indeed, this is supposedly Toby Veck's fate, or so we are made to believe by the goblins, to which he becomes a ghost who in the spirit realm will see the grim future of his daughter, Meg, her husband, Richard, her baby, a stranger he meets on New Year's Eve named Will Fern who is at risk of being arrested as a vagabond, and whatever unknown fate will then befall Will's young orphaned niece, Lillian, who though jobless and homeless and penniless he's taken her with him to keep her from becoming a condemned ward of the state. Being poor, all are essentially doomed and given up for lost souls unless Toby's moral awakening can stir a redemptive desire to gain forgiveness for his thinking that the poor as a class are cursed at birth, innately bad and troublesome and unworthy; not welcome in the world, nor deserving of a place in it. Their grim futures foretold, he wakes up (I guess). Change of heart, forgiveness granted, he assumes a renewed physical presence to rejoin the living and, somehow through his influence, is destined to alter the fate of his charges effecting their long-term care and well-being. Which is never really clear, being 60 years old and poor all his life, how any of that, God willing, is imagined to be accomplished. But the spirits' good works--if goblins as agents being on the side of angels are to be believed--are manifest in a righteous, completely out-of-left-field happy, happier, happiest ending ringing out the old year and ringing in the new. Toby's daughter's wedding that was broken off, is on again for a triumphant start of the New Year, friends and neighbors suddenly appear celebrating the festive occasion of New Year's and a wedding both, contributing to the wedding feast with all the trimmings of food and drink. And great joy. And a future of promise. Humanity renewed. Wait, did I sleep through an important part? Here we are and here we go. I'm sorry, Charles, the thing is a mishmash and it was all just too much for this mere mortal to follow. Not a ghost of a chance. Though well-received in its time, "The Chimes" has not withstood the test of the ages continuing to be so universally loved as your gifted storytelling that preceded it. Am guessing in advance--having not read the other three Christmas stories in the series--one out of five is not bad. Not bad at all given the one ghost story "A Christmas Carol" is what came off as a first draft written between only Halloween and Christmas. Scrooge was redeemed. And so too the world. Or so we all like to imagine--if only one day out of the year.

[Jason Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Christmas Carol needs no introduction. Suffice to say beneath the ghost story and the personal redemption is some of Dickens most biting social criticism. Scrooge is a monster, poisoned by greed and suffering but he embodies the worst aspects of his age. While some of it ( the woefully unfunny pun on Bob’s name and a shilling) is irritating , it is supremely evocative - right from the comparison of Scrooge’s chambers with a lost child , and Bobs peace in visiting Tim’s grave . Each encounter reveals more touches .

The Chimes almost eclipsed it in popularity in Dickens lifetime . This is a very different tale but still showing some of the same critiques . Toby Veck is a beleaguered figure, as if this time it was Bob who gets haunted . Constantly put down by his social betters , he needs to regain hope and faith in human improvement and to move beyond his self pity . A very different moral lesson . By the end it’s not certain which is dream and reality and so this conceptually daring book deserves to regain some prominence .

[Kristel Greer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m ashamed to say that I have only ever read one novel by Dickens and that was in school, Hard Times put me off. I think I have seen 5 different movie versions of The Christmas Carol, my favourite being Scrooged, so this year I decided to finally get around to read it.

I have to say I really enjoyed the story. It was beautifully written and showed great moral and societal messages. Scrooge goes from being a mean spirited, stingy horrid man to a revitalised and generous one. I liked how the Ghost of Christmas past, present and future yet to come showed him where he went wrong and lost his sense of goodwill and love for his fellow humans and where his present course will ultimately lead him. If only we were all so lucky to be able to view our mistakes and future so clearly do mend our ways.

I give this book 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 for the stunning prose with atmospheric visuals as well as a story that got me thinking about ways to improve my own life and ways of doing things. I also look forward to reading more from Dickens in 2021.

[Artie LeBlanc · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was simply wonderful - no other word will do - to go back to the text of A Christmas Carol: a story that we all know so well, but don't often read "in the original". It sparkles. The colours, smells, sounds of early Victorian London ooze from every sentence.

I took care to read it attentively, and was captivated by the writing. I noted how Dickens plays fast and loose with the conventions of language - sentences with no verbs, sentences that are just lists - and tells his story with skill, passion, and(ultimately) joy.

Christmas Carol is unmissable.

"The Chimes" I had never read before. I became badly lost in the third chapter, but all became clear eventually. It was apparently a big success in its day, but is more obvoiusly didactic and less captivating that Christmas Carol; nonetheless, I'm glad to have discovered it.

[Reading Fury · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actually, I have a copy of the Toles Classic, but that is not in the system here. Anyway, I am re-re-re-reading the illustrated Christmas Carol for the I-don't-know what time. I joined The Dickensians! recently, and this is the December book choice. I could not be more delighted. Each time I revisit the book, I see afresh forgotten details and small events that really make the tale fulsome and beautiful. Reading this right after reading Trollope's Thompson Hall Christmas story really highlights the chasm in talent between the two authors. Dickens is hands down the better. He builds flesh onto his characters and breathes life into his plots. Lessons and morals are meaningful, with the tale drawing you deeper into Dickens' better world that could be.

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most people that know me know that I love A Christmas Carol. I don't even know how many times I've read it at this point. This was my first time reading an edition with endnotes, and it made clear that this seemingly universal story was in reality a timely and often biting political commentary. Shouldn't expect otherwise from Dickens. It also hit me harder emotionally this year than maybe it ever has before.

I read the second story, The Chimes, for the first time. There were parts of it I thoroughly enjoyed, but in the second half the melodrama and lessons got a little ridiculous. However, a lot of the political content continues to be relevant. I was especially struck by his take down of the prison-industrial complex, a still necessary commentary nearly two centuries later.

[Aubrie Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coming from someone who grew up watching the muppet Christmas Carol to actually reading The Christmas Carol for the first time, was a real pleasure. Learning more about Dickens life prior also gave better insight (my first Dickens to have ever read)for me to read these two stories in the volume 1 of the Christmas Books. I knew more about the audience he was trying to write towards. First the Christmas Carol was of no surprise very heart warming. Learning about the path Scrooge was heading down only to do a full 180 and live life generously. Secondly, The Chimes kind of hit me in the gut. It was very smart writing on Dickens behalf and I suggested it to be a good New Years read for anyone, since that’s the setting it is written.