A Christmas Carol

Purchased this leather bound B&N Collectible Edition this December as this is one of my favorite all-time stories and I wanted to have a lovely little collectible copy.

An literacy classic that is so synonymous that everyone is fully aware of the plot, be it this novel to the various adaptations.
The Muppets version is a particular favourite!

It's made such an impact that Bah! Humbug! is so commonly used over the festive period, whilst the traditional Turkey dinner soon became a popular choice after this publication.

I listened to Audible's full cast recording as my initial review had disappeared from Goodreads.
A stunning cast including Sir Derek Jacobi and Jenna Coleman really helped bring the story to life.

A Christmas Carol is my most favourite Christmas story. Scrooge has been an interesting character for me not only because I liked him (not the miserly Scrooge but the generous one he slowly becomes) but because he was an icon of miserliness as well as generosity. From my first read, Ebeneezer Scrooge has always been a part of me. In my younger days, he was my model for miserliness. I used to call secretly those ungenerous people who were known to me by his name. I had such fun doing that. And believe me, I knew many Scrooges. :)

I have read this story many times since my childhood. It is my must-read for Christmas eve. I usually read it in one go, but this time I read it quite slowly. I really am glad that I took more time to indulge myself in it, for I feel that this time I understood Scrooge properly. True that he was a miserly cold man, but within that facade, there also lives a kind, compassionate, and benevolent man, a man frozen only to be thawed by the warm guidance of the Christmas spirits.

I also was able to pay more attention to the backdrop of the story this time. Being a social reformer, it was natural for Dickens to bring out to life a part of society that is deliberately hidden by Victorian social glamour. This is the poverty and struggle of the working class and their living conditions. I've heard that Dickens wrote this story to meet up his own expenses, but at the same time, he chose to write a story about the importance of giving and sharing, easing the suffering of the poor to some extent (as Scrooge did), leaving a powerful message behind him for the generations to ponder on. Writing this beautiful and touching story, and publishing it at Christmas time, Dickens certainly took pain to invoke the true Christmas spirit in all ignorant hearts.

What is more? I was able to appreciate the rich prose of Dicken which is somewhat overlooked by the beauty of the story and the powerful message that it conveys. With my slow pace, I was able to devour his rich prose with relish. Dicken's writing is not the easiest to read; they sometimes tend to be overly heavy and verbose. But for me, I have always enjoyed the beauty and power of his words. It's a key contributor to the enjoyment of his work apart from the story and the themes.

It's true that I have read this countless times, and at different stages of my life. But what is amazing is that I never feel tired of rereading it. I don't know what spell Dickens has cast over it, but A Christmas Carol is certainly a timeless classic.

What is the best way to celebrate Christmas?
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There are many ways we can answer the above question.. But my first answer always will be - To reread A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.


n  My favorite three lines from this book. n
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"No space of regret can make amends for one life's opportunity misused"

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"It is a fair, even-handed, noble adjustment of things, that while there is infection in disease and sorrow, there is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor."

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"Really, for a man who had been out of practice for so many years, it was a splendid laugh!"

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This is a book about love, family, empathy, and celebration. It will teach you how to prioritize things in your life correctly, love others, and laugh properly. It also will make you understand the importance of family in our lives.

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A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens

A Christmas Carol in Prose, Being a Ghost-Story of Christmas, commonly known as A Christmas Carol, is a novella by Charles Dickens, first published in London by Chapman & Hall in 1843.

A Christmas Carol tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, an old miser who is visited by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come.

عنوانهای چاپ شده در ایران: «سرود کریسمس»؛ «آواز کریسمس»؛ «اسکروچ»؛ اثر: چارلز دیکنز؛ تاریخ نخستین خوانش در سال 1974میلادی

عنوان: سرود کریسمس؛ اثر: چارلز دیکنز؛ مترجم: حسین سپهری نیک؛ تهران، چاپخانه بانک بازرگانی ایران، 1334، در 100ص؛ موضوع داستانهای کودکان از نویسندگان بریتانیا سده 19م

عنوان: سرود کریسمس - متن کوتاه شده؛ نویسنده: چارلز دیکنز؛ مترجم: محسن سلیمانی؛ تهران، نشر افق، 1375، در 64ص؛ شابک9646003141؛ چاپ دهم 1392؛ چاپ یازدهم 1394؛ 9789646742512؛ در 57ص؛

عنوان: آواز کریسمس؛ اثر: چارلز دیکنز؛ مترجم: کتایون حدادی؛ تهران، سازمان تبلیغات، 1375؛ چاپ سوم مهرماه 1376، در 83ص؛

عنوان: سرود کریسمس؛ اثر: چارلز دیکنز؛ اقتباس: سعید مقدم؛ تهران، جاده ابریشم، 1376، در 32ص؛ شابک 9646225144؛

عنوان: سرود کریسمس - متن کامل؛ اثر: چارلز دیکنز؛ مترجم: حسین ابراهیمی؛ تهران، مدرسه، 1378، در 174ص؛ شابک 9644365720؛ چاپ ششم 1392؛ چاپ دیگر: 1397؛ در 148ص؛ شابک 9789640816318؛

عنوان: سرود کریسمس - متن کوتاه شده؛ اثر: چارلز دیکنز؛ مترجم: مهین دانشور؛ تهران، نشر مرکز، 1375؛ در 111ص؛ چاپ دوم تهران، نشر مرکز، مریم، 1381، در 93ص؛ شابک ایکس - 964305201؛

عنوان: سرود کریسمس به نثر: داستان ارواح کریسمس؛ نویسنده: چارلز دیکنز؛ مترجم: فرزانه طاهری؛ تصویرگر: جان لیچ؛ تهران: نشر مرکز‏‫، ‏‫1394؛ در شش و 138ص؛ شابک 9789642132966؛

عنوان: سرود کریسمس: متن کوتاه شده؛ نویسنده: چارلز ديكنز؛ مترجم: شایسته ابراهیمی؛ ویراستار: سلاله حقی‌ ناوند؛ تهران انتشارات بین المللی گاج‏‫، 1395؛ در 47ص؛ شابک 9786003593879؛

عنوان: سرود کریسمس؛ نویسنده چالز دیکنز؛ مترجم: فاطمه باغستانی؛ تصویرگر: روبرتو اینوچنتی؛ تهران انتشارات چکه‏‫، 1396؛ در 152ص؛ شابک 9786007216231؛

عنوان: سرود کریسمس؛ نویسنده: چارلز دیکنز؛ مترجم: سپیده حبیبی؛ تهران موسسه نگارش الکترونیک کتاب‏‫، ‏‫1396؛ در 47ص؛ شابک 9786008299523؛ مصور، رنگی؛ عنوان دیگر اسکروچ؛

عنوان: سرود کریسمس؛ نویسنده: چارلز دیکنز؛ مترجم: وجیهه آیت‌ اللهی؛ تهران؛ بنگاه ترجمه و نشر کتاب پارسه‏‫، 1396؛ در 174ص؛ شابک 9786002532862؛

عنوان: سرود کریسمس؛ نویسنده: چارلز دیکنز؛ بازنویس جوان کالینز؛ تصویرگر جان هولدر؛ مترجم: المیرا کاس‌نژاد؛ تهران پینه‌ دوز‏‫، 1396؛ در 52ص؛ شابک 9789642886975؛

عنوان: سرود کریسمس؛ نویسنده: چارلز دیکنز؛ مترجم: بهارک قهرمانی (قهرمان)‏‫؛ ویراستار صحرا مولایی؛ تهران دادجو‏‫، 1398؛ در 82ص؛ شابک 9786226210799؛

عنوان: سرود کریسمس؛ نویسنده: چالز دیکنز ؛ ‏‫مترجم: عاطفه جلیلی‌ مرند؛ تهران: نشر نودا، 1398؛ در 80ص؛ شابک 9786009868711؛

این داستان شاهکار را، نخستین بار در دوران دانش آموزی در دبیرستان «فیوضات» در «تبریز»؛ در یکی از سالهای دهه ی چهل از سده چهارده خورشیدی، و در کتابهای درسی آن روزگاران دبیرستانها، به زبان انگلیسی خوانده ام؛ داستان یک مرد پیر، «بی احساس»، و «خسيس»، به نام «ابنزر اسکروچ» است؛ همگان «اسکروچ» را میشناسند، و شمایان هم «اسکروچ»های بسیاری را دیده اید، و آنها را میشناسید؛ فیلمها و کارتونهایی که با اقتباس از این کتاب، ساخته و پرداخته شده اند را هم، لابد دیده، و به تماشا بنشسته اید؛ پس بیش از این نمینویسم؛ کتاب را نخستین بار جناب «حسین سپهری نیک» ترجمه، و در سال 1334هجری خورشیدی، در 100ص، به نشر سپرده اند؛ اما متن کامل کتاب را جناب «حسین ابراهیمی» ترجمه کرده اند، و متنهای کوتاه شده را بانو «کتایون حدادی» با عنوان «آواز کریسمس»؛ و بانو «مهین دانشور» با عنوان «سرود کریسمس»، و جناب «محسن سلیمانی» و جناب «سعید مقدم»؛ و ...؛ شاید دیگرانی هم باشند، که این فراموشکار هنوز ندیده است، همه چیز را همگان دانند

نقل از متن: («اسکروچ» با عصبانیت گفت: وقتی آدم در دنیای احمق‌ها زندگی می‌کند، چرا عصبانی نشود؟ «کریسمس» مبارک! هه! اصلا «کریسمس» یعنی چه؟ فقط باید موقع «کریسمس» بیش‌تر از آن‌که داری خرج کنی؛ و می‌فهمی که یک سال دیگر پیرتر شده‌ ای، اما یک ساعت هم ثروتمندتر نشده‌ ای؛ به نظر ��ن، باید هر احمقی را که راه می‌افتد، و می‌گوید «کریسمس» مبارک! در همان غذای «کریسمس» اش بیندازند تا با غذا بپزد.)؛ پایان

تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 06/06/1399هجری خورشیدی؛ 20/05/1400هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی

HOW PRECIOUS

"I am here to-night to warn you, that you have yet a chance and hope of escaping my fate. A chance and hope of my procuring, Ebenezer."
"You were always a good friend to me," said Scrooge. "Thank'ee!"
"You will be haunted," resumed the Ghost, "by Three Spirits."
Scrooge's countenance fell almost as low as the Ghost's had done.
"Expect the first to-morrow, when the bell tolls One. Expect the second on the next night at the same hour. The third upon the next night when the last stroke of Twelve has ceased to vibrate. Look to see me no more; and look that, for your own sake, you remember what has passed between us!"

I have long been an atheist, but I do have family members who are religious, and I enjoy the giving spirit and pleasant atmosphere of Christmas and the holiday season, which I celebrate in a secular fashion, using it as an opportunity to recharge after a busy, stress-filled work year and spend time with family. A Christmas Carol, in the form of the 1999 film of the same name (starring Patrick Stewart as Ebenezer Scrooge), has long been one of my favourite stories. I watch the movie every year around Christmas, and along with Home Alone, It's a Wonderful Life, and Jingle All the Way, it has a prominent place among my very favourite Christmas movies. Though I've seen the movie many times, I somehow never read the original source material, Charles Dickens' 1843 novella, so I resolved to do that this year, and am glad I did, because it was a phenomenal book.

The novella, like the film, is a rollercoaster of emotions, starting off bleak and hopeless but quickly changing gears when Scrooge is visited by the Spirits, culminating in a wonderful emotional journey that results in a brilliant conclusion, by which Scrooge has completed a fascinating 180-degree turn from horrible antagonist to enchanting protagonist.

The characters in this book are all highly memorable, from Scrooge himself, to his beleaguered clerk Bob Cratchit, to Cratchit's iconic, crutch-laden, terminally-ill son Tiny Tim, to Scrooge's always upbeat nephew Fred. In addition to this, the three Spirits each have their own very distinct appearance, personality, and manner of speaking, making them highly memorable as well.

And the iconic scenes! This book is absolutely filled with them. Like the one parodied by The Simpsons, where Mr. Burns/Scrooge leans out the window and asks the boy down below what day it is. The book, of course, does it better:

Running to the window, he opened it, and put out his head.
"What's to-day!" cried Scrooge, calling downward to a boy in Sunday clothes, who perhaps had loitered in to look about him.
"Eh?" returned the boy, with all his might of wonder.
"What's to-day, my fine fellow?" said Scrooge.
"To-day!" replied the boy. "Why, Christmas Day."



I also find that, despite being written 178 years ago, some of the book's insights still hold up incredibly well today. There was one particular scene in Scrooge's office where his nephew Fred was telling him that Christmas is the only time each year where people actually treat one another with decency, and like they're fellow human beings. I have long observed and believed this myself, and witness it every year; people simply act friendlier to each other around the holidays. And Dickens pointed this out 178 years ago.

I could go on all day about this book and the great lessons it teaches. Whether you are religious or not, there is something for you within these pages; it is, without a doubt, one of the greatest stories ever told, and I highly recommend you read it.

Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all, and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did not die, he was a second father. He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough, in the good old world.

Merry Christmas everyone!

One should never judge a book by its cover, but this edition surely deserves an award for ugliest and laziest book cover ever made (should we start a contest?), which is a shame since a theme like Christmas is quite easy to illustrate and has a lot of recognizable symbols and its own emblems that could've been used to enhance this poorly conceived design. However, if all the budget available went to the translator, it was a good decision as it was beautifully done and, in the end, it's all that really matters.

It's curious how I managed to completely ignore this story: never read the book, never saw any film adaptation, neither went to watch a play in the theater or an opera or even a television special for kids. It simply wasn't a big deal here in Brazil and my family hasn't been too fond of Christmas so I never looked for the theme - how Scrooge of us! Those of you who love Christmas by now are probably feeling sad for me, but I can be optimistic and see it through a good perspective: I approached A Christmas Carol innocently, as one might put it, and enjoyed this magical experience once and for all, while being able to extract some lessons I probably would have passed by without noticing or looking back as a child.

Although Charles Dickens wrote here a nice but simple story of redemption, at first glance one might not capture some of the deeper self-analysis it might awake in more attentive readers - or simply in those who are in need of such a message as time and life itself seem to toughen our feelings and our reaction's to people's actions. While I would consider myself nothing alike Scrooge, I guess I am to blame for overlooking the basics of life, and that is something that I love about reading and one of its many beneficial sides: being able to absorb lessons, even on matters that we seemingly can't relate to and that seem so simple but have great effects upon ourselves. Isn't happiness completely based on simplicity? More and more - as I live and read - I tend to think it seems to be, otherwise why would we be so emotional revisiting simpler, uncomplicated times?

One story to illustrate my point is how I travel to my parent's town every year for Christmas. It's a 12 hours trip in a suffocating and uncomfortable bus - there are no other transportation options - that I dread to make, arriving there and welcoming ungratefully my mother's dear smile and warm embrace with my monosyllabic answers and my grumpy face because of how exhausting the trip is. Now, reading A Christmas Carol was in no way life-changing - although there could be a point in assuming that life-changing experiences need not to be grand ones, like epiphanies, as simple changes ('simple' seems to be what I got from this reading) still can be beneficial and make a big difference -, but I did take a pledge to myself that I would approach my tiresome travel with better winds.

What would you know? Just for focusing on what I would get from this trip - to spend quality time with my family, my dog, extended family, the airs of my hometown - instead of the dislocation part of it already made it a nicer time. I wish we would learn things rapidly but unfortunately I can't promise to myself that it will always go as smoothly as it was this time, for the person I am now will no longer exist and will consist of added experiences and newer feelings, but I guess it was a nice start to change something that bothered me for over ten years. Perhaps all I need is to make reading of Dickens's tale a Christmas tradition of my own and turn this time into a period of self analysis.

It's been repeated time and again how you don't know what you've got till it's gone. Had we the opportunity, the privilege, to look into the future and learn that the things we normally take for granted now will by then be gone, perhaps we would value them better. This is what Dickens proposed to his old Scrooge, through my own words: you don't appreciate your life, your things, your acquaintances? Well, this is the alternative, the result you'll have once things are all done and gone. Does it seem a better situation to you in any way?

Although such a device of looking into the future and far back into the past doesn't exist, Dickens gave us the inspiration to look upon our actions - past, present and planned - and reevaluate how we want the outcome to be. In a way, literature can help you travel through time.

Rating: for this nice, full of hope story that aims to show how everything is still inside of us and how we must simply learn how to look for it, teaching us that all it takes is a deep dive within oneself to collect the needed goods, where as deeper one goes, the further in time one will be - kind of like the farthest light in the observable universe we see from a telescope represents the past -, among the most precious memories and feelings, in places we should revisit more often: 4 5 stars. (re-rated in 2015.)