Charles Dickens

A Christmas Carol

Read it stave by stave, with the Gloss on every hard word and notes from a panel of commentators in the margin.

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Scrooge rebuffs his nephew's invitation, begrudges Bob Cratchit's holiday and refuses to aid the poor. The ghost of Jacob Marley visits Scrooge, burdened by the chain he forged through selfishness in life. Marley tells Scrooge that three spirits will visit him and offer him a chance to escape the same fate.

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The Gloss on every hard word	✓	✓
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Stave 2Shadows of Christmas Past41 min read
The Ghost of Christmas Past shows Scrooge his lonely schooldays and his beloved sister Fan taking him home. Scrooge watches his generous former employer Fezziwig fill a Christmas party with warmth and happiness. Scrooge relives Belle ending their engagement because his love of money has displaced his love for her.
Stave 3The Cratchits' Christmas feast53 min read
The Ghost of Christmas Present shows Scrooge the Cratchits joyfully sharing a modest feast while caring for the frail Tiny Tim. Scrooge watches his nephew Fred and his friends enjoy games and laughter without bitterness towards him. The Spirit exposes the wretched children Ignorance and Want beneath his robe and warns Scrooge to beware them.
Stave 4The grave beneath the snow35 min read
The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come shows Scrooge businessmen and thieves treating an unnamed man’s death with contempt. Scrooge sees the Cratchit family mourning Tiny Tim in a possible future. Scrooge discovers that the neglected dead man is himself and begs for the chance to change his fate.
Stave 5Scrooge keeps Christmas15 min read
Awakening on Christmas morning, Scrooge secretly sends a prize turkey to the Cratchit family. Scrooge donates generously to charity, greets people warmly and accepts Fred’s Christmas invitation. Scrooge increases Bob Cratchit’s wages, supports his family and becomes a second father to Tiny Tim.