A Christmas Carol

A timeless tale of redemption and the spirit of Christmas

A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens' beloved novella, captures the essence of the festive season and the transformative power of kindness and compassion. Written in 1843, this classic story has become synonymous with Christmas and continues to resonate with readers of all ages.

Set in Victorian London, A Christmas Carol follows the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge, who is visited by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come. Through these supernatural encounters, Scrooge is forced to confront his own selfishness and the impact of his actions on others. The novella explores themes of generosity, forgiveness, and the importance of human connection.

Dickens' vivid portrayal of the bustling streets of London and the stark contrast between wealth and poverty serves as a powerful social commentary on the inequalities of the time. The story's enduring appeal lies in its universal message of hope and the possibility of change, making it a perfect read for the festive season.

Despite being published over 180 years ago, A Christmas Carol remains relevant today, reminding us of the importance of empathy and the joy that comes from helping others. It's perfect for fans of classic literature and those seeking a heartwarming tale to celebrate the spirit of Christmas.

Introduction by Tom Butler-Bowdon vii

A Christmas Carol 1

Stave One Marley’s Ghost 3

Stave Two The First of The Three Spirits 33

Stave Three The Second of The Three Spirits 61

Stave Four The Last of The Spirits 97

Stave Five The End of It 121

The Chimes 133

The Cricket on The Hearth 215

Charles Dickens (b. 1812) was a British author, journalist, and social commentator who wrote the beloved classics Oliver Twist and Great Expectations. His books were first published in monthly serial installments, which became a lucrative source of income following a childhood of abject poverty. His 15 novels, in their stark portraits of poor and working class people in the Victorian era, helped to bring about social change. Dickens died in June, 1870 at age 58, and is remembered as one of the most important and influential writers of the 19th century.

Tom Butler-Bowdon is editor of the Capstone Classics series and has written introductions to Plato’s Republic, Epictetus’s Discourses, Machiavelli’s The Prince, and Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations. A graduate of the London School of Economics, he is also the author of 50 Philosophy Classics, 50 Politics Classics, and 50 Psychology Classics.

www.butler-bowdon.com

OTHER TITLES AVAILABLE IN THE CAPSTONE CLASSICS SERIES INCLUDE

• A Room of One’s Own, Virginia Woolf
  978-0-857-08882-6
• Beyond Good and Evil, Friedrich Nietzsche
  978-0-857-08848-2
• Letters From a Stoic, Seneca
  978-1-119-75135-9
• Meditations, Marcus Aurelius
  978-0-857-08846-8
• On the Origin of Species, Charles Darwin
  978-0-857-08847-5
• The Communist Manifesto, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels
  978-0-857-08876-5
• The Interesting Narrative of Olaudah Equiano, Olaudah Equiano
  978-0-857-08913-7
• The Interpretation of Dreams, Sigmund Freud
  978-0-857-08844-4
• The Narrative Life of Frederick Douglass, Frederick Douglass
  978-0-857-08910-6
• The Science of Getting Rich, Wallace Wattles
  978-0-857-08008-0
• The Wealth of Nations, Adam Smith
  978-0-857-08077-6
• Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill
  978-1-906-46559-9
• Twelve Years a Slave, Solomon Northup
  978-0-857-08906-9
• Utopia, Thomas More
  978-1-119-75438-1

For the full list of titles in the series, please see www.thisiscapstone.com

A MASTERPIECE OF FESTIVE FICTION

A Christmas Carol is the most famous and heart-warming festive story of them all. In these pages we meet Ebenezer Scrooge, a name synonymous with greed and parsimony. On Scrooge’s journey to redemption we encounter a rich array of Dickensian characters, including the poor Cratchit family with the ailing Tiny Tim. With its atmospheric descriptions of 19th century London, A Christmas Carol is an enduring gift to the world, capturing the essence of the love, kindness and generosity of the holiday season. The story’s uplifting magic remains as potent today as when it was first published.