Enriched Classics offer readers accessible editions of great works of literature enhanced by helpful notes and commentary. Each book includes educational tools alongside the text, enabling students and readers alike to gain a deeper and more developed understanding of the writer and their work.
In this classic, heart-warming tale, four ghostly guests teach valuable lessons to an old miser. Ebenezer Scrooge, a selfish, crotchety skinflint, spends his days counting money and grousing, “Bah Humbug!” Scrooge doesn’t care for anyone other than himself. However, on Christmas Eve, he is visited by his partner Marley, and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Yet to Come, who teach him about benevolence, charity, and goodwill.
Enriched Classics enhance your engagement by introducing and explaining the historical and cultural significance of the work, the author’s personal history, and what impact this book had on subsequent scholarship. Each book includes discussion questions that help clarify and reinforce major themes and reading recommendations for further research.
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"Charles Dickens has given the readers a real insight into how difficult it was during Victorian Times. Each character in this story has breathtaking description. As you read the story you get to create an image of what each character would look like in your own mind as you are reading. The imagery and attention to detail in this book is outstanding. While reading this text, you can almost image the characters from the film "A Christmas Carol" with Jim Carey and "The Muppets Christmas Carol" with Michael Caine. A Christmas Carol can be seen as having defining and heart breaking moments. It gives the reader a clear message throughout the book, the real and true importance of kindness and caring of those less fortunate than others. During Christmas 2012 I just had to read this and I couldn't put it down. A must read to all ages!"
— Siobhán (5 out of 5 stars)
“No sound effects, no gimmicks, just one of the the great voices of the contemporary classical stage creating as vivid a cast of characters as Dickens imagines. The Royal Shakespeare Company veteran…doesn’t so much read the story as inhabit it with infectious delight.”
— Entertainment Weekly“Reciting the litany of Scrooge’s scrooginess, Stewart relishes the emotional gamut of meanness…Humbug seldom sounds so good.”
— Newsweek“A holiday celebration can no longer be considered complete without a good listen to Patrick Stewart’s audio performance of Dickens’ Christmas classic. You get here what you won’t get anywhere else: each word of Dickens’ remarkable narrative rendered with mesmerizing skill by Stewart…The experience offered by Dickens and Stewart is so fresh, so rich, so detailed, and so heartfelt, that new traditions will need to be developed…This is storytelling at its pure, simple, powerful best.”
— AudioFile“Stewart is in rare form, using his considerable range of voices to play all roles, from the Ghost of Christmas past to Tiny Tim…This rendition of Dickens’ classic will get you in a Yuletide mood.”
— Amazon.com" I had a hard time reading this. I kept picturing the movie (Muppets none the less) and the language kept throwing me off. some of the movies follow the book so closely that I prefer the movies. "
— Kimberly, 2/19/2014" One of my favorite Christmas tales, this story teaches the true meaning of Christmas. "
— Arwen, 2/11/2014" You think you know this story, but do you remember the miners ? I thought not. This is some of our greatest author's most accessible writing, so pick up or download a copy of this Novella. "
— Hal, 2/10/2014" this book is absolutely not a 'humbug' :) "
— Fitrilya, 2/8/2014" I read 'A Christmas Carol' for the first time a few years back on Christmas day :) Read it again today. I seem to have forgotten most of the story. But it was nice even on the re-read. The first few passages of the story are vintage Dickens. The ending of the story is heartwarming. A beautiful classic. "
— Vishy, 1/23/2014" Beautiful story. One of the timeless classics. I can't actually remember how many times I have read this book. "
— Kevin, 1/21/2014" My favourite Xmas classic. Read it every year. "
— BarbieGoneBad, 1/21/2014" I absolutely loved it. Over the years I've become very jaded with the story and have felt that it was overdone--that is until now, having actually read the original. By far surpassing every screen depiction. The descriptions and use of language are wonderfully evocative. "
— Ani, 1/17/2014" I read this to my kids today apparently Jim Hension's Muppet one is way better. "
— Michelle, 1/12/2014" It's certainly a story that just about everyone knows, but that doesn't mean it's not still fun to read as it was originally written, as opposed to all the other ways to hear the story. "
— Rachel, 1/2/2014" Read the whole thing out loud in two sittings with all the different voices. Excellent fun. "
— Maya, 1/1/2014" I just listened to the Audible version which was a free gift, Narrated by Tim Curry! I do love to be read to! "
— Cricket, 12/31/2013" I actually listened to this on audio, narrated by Tim Curry! It was great to re-visit a movie I have seen many times as a child. A true holiday classic. "
— Raegan, 12/26/2013" Great classic. An excellent read. "
— Annie, 12/24/2013" Having grown up watching Scrooge, it bothered me when things in the book were different. :) Still a very entertaining story! "
— Rebecka, 12/21/2013" I've decided to begin a new tradition called 'December with Dickens' where I read a Dickens book every December (so it's pretty cleverly named, I think). This seemed like a logical place to start. Humbug. "
— Nicholas, 12/20/2013" CLASSIC, plus it caused a revolution that made X-mas as popular as it does today. "
— Sami, 12/10/2013" I try to read this every Christmas. Dickens knows how to capture the spirit of the season. His writing is beautiful. The words jump off of the page into beautiful images. This is a "sitting cozy by the front window with a big pot of tea" kind of read. "
— Nicole, 12/10/2013" A good story any time of the year. "
— Tracee, 11/19/2013" Good to actually read a story we all think we know "
— Amanda, 11/10/2013" Nonplussed. I'll read it again though to give it a second chance. "
— Wesley, 11/8/2013" A classic I read every year at this time! "
— Kevin, 9/30/2013" one of my all-time favorite books!!!! "
— Micaela, 9/4/2013" Just about what I thought it would be based on all the movie & play adaptions I have seen - but it is Dickens and it was a great read for the Christmas season. Also it's truly more like a short story. Definite thumbs up. "
— Cindy, 8/8/2013" Pleased I have finally read the book "
— Lisa, 8/5/2013" Finally a classic book I can understand. Will keep to read around Christmas in the future "
— Kelly, 7/11/2013" A great Classic Christmas book to get me in the festive spirit! "
— Alana, 6/25/2013" Loved it... again of course. This is a must read every year! I haven't read it for years, but was so glad to reread it. I loved Dickens style and his run on descriptive sentences. They are beautiful. Now i must choose a good movie rendition and watch it. "
— Laurie, 6/21/2013" My 2012 Christmas read. This classic by Charles Dickens sure brightened up the holiday for me! "
— Hazel, 4/12/2013" Everyone knows this story, but you don't feel it, until you've read Dickens' pure version. Just those first words: "Marley was dead, to begin with," tingles your spine. -The most important story ever written on the deadly sin of greed and the restoration of a charitable heart. "
— Kristen, 4/9/2013" Easy to read, engaging and fairly short. One of the classics crossed off the list. "
— Benjy, 2/18/2013" It was fascinating to finally read this classic, considering the version of it I am most familiar with consists of Muppets. I was a little afraid to take this on, as all my previous attempts at reading Dickens ended abruptly. Thankfully this is relatively short, and it holds up well even now. "
— Shaun, 2/5/2013" Another school book I remember quite enjoying but probably spoiled by uninspiring teaching! "
— Fiona, 11/15/2012" You think you know this story, but do you remember the miners ? I thought not. This is some of our greatest author's most accessible writing, so pick up or download a copy of this Novella. "
— Hal, 11/10/2012" Such a beautiful and enduring story. It's impossible NOT to love this book. "
— Gwen, 9/1/2012" I read this every Yuletide to my family. "
— Linda, 8/12/2012" Probably my favorite Dickens novel yet of the four I've read. It's simple, it's charming. Not really containing any of Dickens's trademark humor. It's very short, and therefore a quick light read, perfect for the holidays! "
— Hpboy13, 6/27/2012" After seeing numerous version of movies (Muppets, Mickey Mouse & more) And reading Jacob T. Marley, it was high time I read the actual and entire book. It was a great treat; the movies and plays get all the plot points and characters pretty much right. "
— Annette, 12/30/2011" A must have! I marveled at the descriptive skills of Charles Dickens.a great read.<br/> "
— Spring, 6/28/2011" I've always wanted to read the real version of this story and because I've grown hearing it every Christmas, I never bothered to actually read it. There was nothing new to add but yet, I still enjoyed it. "
— Ruthy, 6/25/2011" And every christmas, I ask myself what will I see when the spirits come? "
— Dodokins, 6/24/2011" Ebeneezer Scrooge - one of the best realised characters in literature :-) "
— Philip, 6/23/2011" This is a good book as good as the film perhaps even better <br/>:) <br/> "
— Zohaib, 6/23/2011" You can't go wrong with Dickens. This is a classic that everyone should read. "
— Heath, 6/21/2011" One of my favorites. Can't wait to see my old school perform the play next year! So exciting! :) "
— Cissi, 6/20/2011" I finally read the book, and loved it! If you like the classic tale, the book is a fun read. The TV and film versions I've seen all have many direct quotes from Dickens. "
— Caryl, 6/19/2011" Just delightful. Dickens is only surpassed by Disney. "
— Steven, 6/14/2011" Performed as a readers' theater in high school "
— Amy, 6/13/2011" Great idea and great resolution! I'm sure if I'd have read it at a different time, I'd rate it at least 4 stars! "
— Sarah, 6/11/2011" I think that this book was very vivid and creative because it has a moral within itself. It teaches you to be generous and kind to others, rather than be a selfish, greedy person that everybody will hate. This book is truly wonderful, almost like a classic within itself. Highly recommended. "
— Hannah, 6/9/2011" it was a pleasure reading this book because i think the guy at the end of all his trials learn that you cant be selfish ,greedy and mean all his life and he learn that being unselifish anf creshirish it for the best . <br/> <br/> <br/> p.s i spelled a word wrong correct me... "
— Rondell, 6/8/2011" I loved reading the original story because I have seen so many film versions of the Dickens classic. Dickens' writing style is well-crafted and entertaining as well. I found myself laughing at some of the side comments Dickens makes. "
— Margo, 6/5/2011" Loved it! could read it over and over! "
— Barbara, 6/3/2011" This book is so very much better than any of the huge proliferation of adaptations I've ever seen! Very much worth a read!! "
— Brett, 8/29/2010" An old classic revisited for seasonal inspiration! "
— Julia, 8/2/2010" A good book to read at Christmas time. "
— Sophia, 4/17/2010" A great story that can be related to our day to day life and the deamd of inner conscience in today's contemporary world. "
— Dibya, 10/31/2009" Even though you know what is bound to happen, it still is an amazing read. You go through all the emotions Scrooge goes through and like him at the end you too feel happy and enriched and want to become a better person. "
— Kevin, 7/13/2009" I think this is maybe Dickens' second best novel. I taught it maybe twelve years straight to eighth graders. A great book to read each year at the season where we should all do a little soul searching, "
— Daniel, 8/28/2008" I have always meant to read this book but have never gotten around to it. It was great. I loved reading the descriptions of the things that you see in the movie. "
— Lorna, 8/9/2008" What a classic! I LOVE to read it this time of year as a reminder of what and who I want to become! "
— Kendra, 5/20/2008Charles Dickens (1812–1870) was born in Landport, Portsmouth, England, the second of eight children in a family continually plagued by debt. A legacy brought release from the nightmare of debtors’ prison and child labor and afforded him a few years of formal schooling. He worked as an attorney’s clerk and newspaper reporter until his early writings brought him the amazing success that was to be his for the remainder of his life. He was the most popular English novelist of the Victorian era, and he remains popular, responsible for some of English literature’s most iconic characters.
Patrick Stewart is a distinguished stage and screen actor whose illustrious career spans six decades. He is a classically trained theater artist who got his start at England’s Royal Shakespeare Company, and his legendary performances have garnered him three Olivier Awards, Emmy and Tony Award nominations, and a Grammy Award, among many other honors. His beloved screen work, known to audiences worldwide, includes his iconic portrayals of Star Trek’s Jean-Luc Picard and X-Men’s Professor Charles Xavier. Follow him on social media at @SirPatStew.