A Christmas Carol

by Charles Dickens

Overview

One evening, just before Christmas, I started to read “A Christmas Carol” to my young daughter. “I’m bored,” she cried, after five minutes, so I stopped. I wasn’t mad at her. She was right --- “A Christmas Carol” wasn’t fun to listen to.

The problem was time. Dickens wrote the story in 1843, and viewed from the distance of more than 160 years, his language is dense and over-wrought. And long? 28,000 words long.

Because I really wanted my daughter to hear this story, I sat down and started cutting the text. Nothing important is gone. I added only a few words of my own, just to make some connections.

This version of “A Christmas Carol” comes in at 13,000 words. As much as possible, it’s pure story. I’m going to read it to my daughter at Christmas, and I bet --- this time --- she’ll like it. It’s my hope that many other kids and their parents will agree.

--- Jesse Kornbluth

Product Details

BN ID:	2940013420199
Publisher:	Head Butler Inc.
Publication date:	09/12/2011
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	NOOK Book
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Charles Dickens (1812-1870) is, simply, England’s best-known novelist. He wrote “A Christmas Carol” in six weeks, reportedly to pay for his pregnant wife’s medical bills. The book was an instant classic and has never gone out of print. It was a favorite of the author, who liked to read a shortened version --- perhaps like this one --- in theaters

Jesse Kornbluth, the editor of this version of “a Christmas Carol,” is a veteran journalist, author of six books, and former online executive. He lives in New York.

Paige Peterson, the illustrator, is a noted painter. She lives in New York.

Date of Birth:

February 7, 1812

Date of Death:

June 18, 1870

Place of Birth:

Portsmouth, England

Place of Death:

Gad's Hill, Kent, England

Education:

Home-schooling; attended Dame School at Chatham briefly and Wellington