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JenniferRobb: Both have male protagonists who experience visions of the past and of the future and whose visions cause a behavioral change. Dickens's work is about Christmas while Kingsbury's is not.
JenniferRobb: Both books look at three different periods in the main characters life. In Dickens it is past, present, and future. In Blount, it is childhood, adulthood, and old age.
Anonymous user: The Greatest Gift is the book that was turned into It's a Wonderful Life, probably the second best Christmas story after A Christmas Carol!
If I were to guess how many times I’ve read this book, I’d say somewhere in the neighborhood of 25 times. I read it to my children when they were growing up. I read it to other people’s children. I’ve listened to it numerous times. (My favorite recording is by the great actor, Patrick Stewart)
This novella is considered by some as one of the best books ever written. I would include myself among those who think it so. Dickens entertains us with a wonderful story of redemption that is full of suspense, the supernatural, crisp action, thick, vivid atmosphere, and of course, Christmas. There is a philosophy of living here that Dickens sums up as “keeping Christmas”. Something akin to the Golden Rule, he has Scrooge learning the proper way to live--in service to his fellow man--not just at that festive time of year when it seems easier because of the spirits of Christmas past, present, and future, but all the way through the year. It’s a lesson that even the most generous among us should reflect upon regularly, but more so, those who have become hardened by this often harsh and unfair world we call home.
If you only know the story through films and plays, you are missing quite a lot of the beauty of this masterpiece. Dickens penned the story hurriedly in 1843, yet it is perhaps his finest work. It can be argued that the publication of this tale and its subsequent reprintings and theatrical versions have done more to influence the joys of the season than the spirits themselves. If you’ve never read it, do yourself a favor. Dickens certainly knew what he was about. And as Tiny Tim said, “God bless us, everyone.” ( )
A delightful, festive classic that will always evoke the spirit of Christmas. I read this every year for pure indulgent nostalgia and each time I’m always taken aback by Dickens’ wit and humor.
This year I actually listened to the book and I’m so glad I did! Jim Dale is truly a magical narrator; I’m pretty sure he could read the phone book and I’d still be in awe. ( )
This book has become part of my Christmas celebration. Reading it every year is a wonderful reminder of what we should strive to be and that there is always a chance for redemption. ( )
Puoi trovare questa recensione anche sul mio blog ---> La siepe di more
Ma anche se si fosse tagliato via la punta del naso, ci avrebbe appiccicato sopra un cerotto e l’avrebbe presa con allegria.
Questa frase riassume bene ciò che nell’immaginario comune è diventato Canto di Natale di Dickens: c’è Scrooge, che parte come uno stronzo avaraccio e finisce come un adorabile vecchietto. Probabilmente non c’è nessuno che detesti la storia con i tre spiriti dei Natali passati, presenti e futuri, perché è un amore che ci viene dall’infanzia ed è ormai radicato nel nostro cuore, complici anche le molte trasposizioni cinematografiche.
Dobbiamo proprio complimentarci con Dickens, che è riuscito a far arrivare così lontano la sua decisa critica sociale, scaturita dalla sua personale esperienza come operaio, grazie alla quale divenne acutamente consapevole delle terribili condizioni di vita dei meno abbienti, soprattutto dei bambini. Così ogni anno ci ritroviamo a commuoverci di fronte a Fred o Tiny Tim e magari chissà, qualcun@ di noi potrebbe anche finire per essere meno stronz*...
A questa (ennesima) rilettura, devo dire di aver molto apprezzato l’umorismo inglese di Dickens: non ricordavo affatto questo aspetto ironico di Canto di Natale ed è la conferma che i classici hanno qualcosa di nuovo da dirti a ogni lettura! ( )
Accoppiare Dickens con Norah Lofts solo Selezione dal Reader's Digest poteva riuscirci (nel senso più negativo possibile); ma tanto, quest'ultima, da sola si è accoppata ...
Le facciate delle case apparivano nere, le finestre ancor più nere. Le strade erano tutte increspate da giallastri solchi di fango e da acqua ghiacciata; il cielo era offuscato da una nebbia sudicia, eppure nell'aria vibrava un'allegria che nemmeno il sole più luminoso dell'estate avrebbe potuto diffondere. (pagina 37)
Marley was dead: to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that. The register of his burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner. Scrooge signed it: and Scrooge’s name was good upon ’Change, for anything he chose to put his hand to. Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail.
Para começar, quero ganatir que Marley estava morto. Sobre isso não havia a menor dúvida.
Quotations
"God bless us, every one!" said Tiny Tim, the last of all.
"Bah!" said Scrooge. "Humbug!"
Marley was dead: to begin with.
If you should happen, by any unlikely chance, to know a man more blest in a laugh than Scrooge's nephew, all I can say is I should like to know him too.
[This is when Scrooge is about to meet the Ghost of Christmas Past. The clock has struck 12 and he's wondering if it's noon or midnight, even though it's dark. He's not hearing people rushing around outside, though. Because the story was first published in 1843, this snark must be about the US depression of 1837-1844.]
... This was a great relief, because 'three days after sight of this First of Exchange pay to Mr. Ebenezer Scrooge or his order,' and so forth, would have become a mere United States security if there were no days to count by.
[Scrooge is waiting for the Ghost of Christmas Present to show up in his bedroom, which is filled with a ruddy light.]
... and which, being only light, was more alarming than a dozen ghosts, as he was powerless to make out what it meant, or would be at; and was sometimes apprehensive that he might be at that very moment an interesting case of spontaneous combustion, without having the consolation of knowing it.
[This was about bakers leaving their ovens available, for a small fee, for poor people to cook their dinners on Sundays and others wanting those ovens cold on the Sabbath. Scrooge wanted to know why the Ghost of Christmas Present would want to have those ovens closed on Sundays and deprive poor persons of a chance for their one real meal a week.]
'I seek!' exclaimed the Spirit.
'Forgive me if I am wrong. It has been done in your name, or at least in that of your family,' said Scrooge.
'There are some upon this earth of yours,' returned the Spirit, 'who lay claim to know us, and who do their deeds of passion, pride, ill-will, hatred, envy, bigotry, and selfishness in our name, who are as strange to us and all our kith and kin, as if they had never lived. Remember that, and charge their doings on themselves, not us.'
Last words
He had no further intercourse with Spirits, but lived upon the Total Abstinence Principle, ever afterwards; and it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless Us, Every One!
Scrooge não voltou a encontrar os espíritos, embora tenha se tornado o homem que melhor sabia festejat o Natal. Oxalá isso aconteça com todos nós! E, como dizia o pequeno Tim, que Deus nos abençoe a todos!
This work contains various editions of the unabridged book "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens. Please do not combine it with adaptations or abridgments, or with collections that contain additional works.
I am assuming (without any evidence!) that the Puffin children's edition is an adaptation: if you know that it is NOT, please combine with the main work, otherwise leave it be.
Specially edited for reading aloud before an audience.
ISBN 1568461828 is not a DK Eyewitness Classics edition.
ISBN 1580495796 is "Unabridged with glossary and reader's notes." "This Prestwick House edition, is an unabridged republication of A Christmas Carol, published by George Routledge and Sons, London."
A miser learns the true meaning of Christmas when three ghostly visitors review his past and foretell his future.
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Book description
Filled with description, Charles Dickens writes about the struggles of a poor family and the despicable Ebenezer Scrooge. Scrooge is a ruthless man who only cares about himself and money. Scrooge's entire character is changed on the night of Christmas Eve when is is visited by three ghosts as he relives parts of his past and his future in order to see what has and would become of him if he does not make a dramatic change in his life. I absolutely love this story and all that it entails. It is somewhat towards the bottom of my list though because some of the description can become a bit daunting as you read this novel.
Renowned actor Tim Curry’s voice is warm, deep, and arch to the point of campiness. Curry is an actor’s actor. His voice is so distinctive as to be unmistakable. Fans of this Dickens classic will enjoy hearing Curry manifest the coterie of pithy characters that inhabit this novel, ranging from small boy to old man to dire ghost. Curry’s knowing tone suits this fable well. His dramatic but nuanced performance highlights the emotions of loss, fear, hope, and joy that inform this text. Curry takes delight in the macabre aspects of this gothic tale. His irreverent take on this famous novel heightens the drama even for listeners who know the story inside and out.
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Book covers - A Christmas Carol
Wikipedia in English (6)
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This novella is considered by some as one of the best books ever written. I would include myself among those who think it so. Dickens entertains us with a wonderful story of redemption that is full of suspense, the supernatural, crisp action, thick, vivid atmosphere, and of course, Christmas.
There is a philosophy of living here that Dickens sums up as “keeping Christmas”. Something akin to the Golden Rule, he has Scrooge learning the proper way to live--in service to his fellow man--not just at that festive time of year when it seems easier because of the spirits of Christmas past, present, and future, but all the way through the year. It’s a lesson that even the most generous among us should reflect upon regularly, but more so, those who have become hardened by this often harsh and unfair world we call home.
If you only know the story through films and plays, you are missing quite a lot of the beauty of this masterpiece. Dickens penned the story hurriedly in 1843, yet it is perhaps his finest work. It can be argued that the publication of this tale and its subsequent reprintings and theatrical versions have done more to influence the joys of the season than the spirits themselves.
If you’ve never read it, do yourself a favor. Dickens certainly knew what he was about.
And as Tiny Tim said, “God bless us, everyone.”
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