A Christmas Carol
Published on 19 December 1843 A Christmas Carol is one of literature's most successful stories. It sold out within 5 days when it was first published, released 13 editions within the year, and has never being out of print - more than 150 years.
Inspired by the street children London, and the cruel treatment of the poor, A Christmas Carol seeks to examine how a selfish and mean man, of status and means, can redeem himself and transform into a caring and more empathetic person.
A Christmas Carol introduces you to Ebenezer Scrooge - a callous and cold employer who is visited by his old, and now deceased partner, Jacob Marley who takes him on a journey to redeem himself. Bob Cratchit and his son Tiny Tim become the happy beneficiaries.
We bring you here the story as Dickens presented it, as a reading. Dickens did 127 public readings of his book before he passed away in 1870. Here John Grayson is bringing the story alive just for you.
A Christmas Carol captures the defining sprit of mid-Victorian Christmas, when the British were examining their Christmas traditions in the wake of the introduction of the Christmas Tree.
This book inspired several of today's seasonal celebrations - family gatherings, special food and drink, silly games and a festive generosity of spirit.
An inspiring and every lasting tale.
"Come in!" exclaimed the Ghost.
“Come in! and know me better, man!”
Scrooge entered timidly, and hung his head before this Spirit. He was not the dogged Scrooge he had been; and though the Spirit’s eyes were clear and kind, he did not like to meet them.
“I am the Ghost of Christmas Present,” said the Spirit. “Look upon me!”
Scrooge reverently did so. It was clothed in one simple green robe, or mantle, bordered with white fur. This garment hung so loosely on the figure, that its capacious breast was bare, as if disdaining to be warded or concealed by any artifice. Its feet, observable beneath the ample folds of the garment, were also bare; and on its head it wore no other covering than a holly wreath, set here and there with shining icicles. Its dark brown curls were long and free; free as its genial face, its sparkling eye, its open hand, its cheery voice, its unconstrained demeanour, and its joyful air. Girded round its middle was an antique scabbard; but no sword was in it, and the ancient sheath was eaten up with rust.
Stave One - Marley's Ghost
The cold within him froze his old features, nipped his pointed, and shrivelled his cheek, stiffened his gait; made his eyes red, his thin lips blue; and spoke out shrewdly in his grating voice.
Stave Two - The First of the Three Ghosts
They went in. At sight of an old gentleman in a Welsh wig, sitting behind such a high desk, that if he had been two inches taller he must have knocked his head against the ceiling, Scrooge cried in great excitement:
“Why, it’s old Fezziwig! Bless his heart; it’s Fezziwig alive again!”
Stave Three - the Second of the Three Spirits
Scrooge started back, appalled. Having them shown to him in this way, he tried to say they were fine children, but the words choked themselves, rather than be parties to a lie of such enormous magnitude.
“Spirit! are they yours?” Scrooge could say no more.
“They are Man’s,” said the Spirit, looking down upon them.
Reviews
"I thought that Dickens was going to be very difficult - but I understood it well. It is easier then you think" JP
"A Christmas Carol is so very English. I understand now where words that I have heard before come from. Someone once called me a 'Scrooge' and I did not know what he meant and now I do!" PV
"Ghosts, ghosts and ghosts - but a lot of meaning too. Very good story and it is read so very well. Thank you John." AC
"A story every person who is learning English needs to know. Excellent!" FD
"This is my favourite story of all time. Perhaps more than any tale that comes to mind, this particular Dickens novella helps make the case that each moment counts - and not just that we may avoid scary ghosts. Yes, the book is a fable, yet - wrapped in holiday trappings - brings the essence of Christmas sans religion." D W
Hi I’m John Grayson,
And I am going to be reading to you the stories of Charles Dickens, starting with A Christmas Carol. This book is always read together in our house in the days before Christmas - it reminds us to be kind and generous to those less off then ourselves. Dickens has an easy style and his stories are as relevant today as they were over 100 years ago.
Course Curriculum
- About the Author
- Stave One - Marley's Ghost - Part 1 (17:04)
- Stave One - Marley's Ghost - Part 2 (15:15)
- Stave One - Marley's Ghost - Part 3 (16:54)
- Stave Two - The First of the Three Spirits - Part 1 (18:01)
- Stave Two - The First of the Three Spirits - Part 2 (16:13)
- Stave Two - The First of the Three Spirits - Part 3 (13:25)
- Stave Three - The Second of the Three Spirits - Part 1 (17:55)
- Stave Three - The Second of the Three Spirits - Part 2 (15:27)
- Stave Three - The Second of the Three Spirits - Part 3 (11:14)
- Stave Three - The Second of the Three Spirits - Part 4 (13:47)
- Stave Four - The Last of the Spirits - Part 1 (20:44)
- Stave Four - The Last of the Spirits - Part 2 (19:24)
- Stave Five - The End of It (16:58)