BBC：100部英国人最喜欢的文学作品].AChristmasCarol.pdf

A CHRISTMAS CAROL
By CHARLES DICKENS
ILLUSTRATED BY E ALFRED WILLIAMS
New York THE PLATT & PECK CO.
Copyright, 1905, by THE BAKER & PANY




Prepared and published by:
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INTRODUCTION
bined qualities of the realist and the idealist which Dickens
possessed to a remarkable degree, together with his naturally jovial attitude
toward life in general, seem to have given him a remarkably happy feeling toward
Christmas, though the privations and hardships of his boyhood could have
allowed him but little real experience with this day of days.
Dickens gave his first formal expression to his Christmas thoughts in his
series of small books, the first of which was the famous "Christmas Carol," the one
perfect chrysolite. The ess of the book was immediate. Thackeray wrote of it:
"Who can listen to objections regarding such a book as this? It seems to me a
national benefit, and to every man or woman who reads it, a personal kindness."
This volume was put forth in a very attractive manner, with illustrations by
John Leech, who was the first artist to make these characters live, and his
drawings were varied and spirited.
There followed upon this four others: "The Chimes," "The Cricket on the
Hearth," "The Battle of Life," and "The Haunted Man," with illustrations on their
first appearance by Doyle, Maclise, and others. The five are known to-day as the
"Christmas Books." Of them all the "Carol" is the best known and loved, and "The
Cricket on the Hearth," although third in the series, is perhaps next in point of
popularity, and is especially familiar to Americans through Joseph Jefferson's
characterisation of Caleb Plummer.
Dickens seems to have put his whole self into these glowing little stories.
Whoever sees but a clever ghost story in the "Christmas Carol" misses its chief
charm and lesson, for there is a different meaning in the movements of Scrooge
and his attendant spirits. A new life is brou