A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens brings back memories for me. I remember watching Mister Magoo’s Christmas Carol when I was a little boy. I still have the images from this classic animated TV movie in my head when I see adaptations of the story or hear ‘Bah! Humbug!’ or ‘Scrooge’.

I just finished re-reading A Christmas Carol. I have several copies on my shelves, so can choose which one to read. Here is the one that I usually read from, but it is becoming increasingly fragile, so I decided to read from a different one this year.

This small book was published in 1908 by Crane and Company of Topeka, Kansas and is part of The Crane Classics series. These publications were used as supplementary reading material in schools. This book would have cost 15 cents.

At the top of the cover we have two names. I do not know who Ira Palmer was, but know that he used the book in 1914 when he was in 8th grade. I do remember Lucile Lake. She and her husband Charles lived in the town in Kansas where I went to High School. My dad and I would often go and help Charles and Lucile who were an interesting elderly couple. They would often give me books, so I know that is how I acquired this treasure.

Whenever I read A Christmas Carol I am reminded of a library program that I attended back in the mid 90’s near my apartment in Kansas City. Gerald Dickens the great, great grandson of Charles Dickens presented part of A Christmas Carol at the library. I was fortunate to meet him and shake his hand as I was good friends with several of the library staff. Always remember, be nice to your librarians :-).

Here is the copy of A Christmas Carol that I read from this year.

This volume of the Whitman Classics contains A Christmas Carol, The Chimes and The Cricket on the Hearth. The book was published in 1951, so is a bit newer than the 112 year old copy that I usually read. I also have a complete set of The Oxford Illustrated Dickens, and the Christmas Books volume contains A Christmas Carol.

The Whitman Classic edition is illustrated by Roberta Paflin who was born in California in 1904. She is well know for illustrating children’s books in the 1940’s to 1960’s while living in New York, including numerous ones for Whitman.

My favorite illustration from the book is this one of Scrooge busy at work.

I hope that you take the time to find a copy of A Christmas Carol to read this holiday season. Will you find your inner Scrooge?

Steven

p.s. There are many free e-books out there of A Christmas Carol.