FEW modern reader realize that A Christmas Carol was written during a decline of the old Christmas traditions," Michael Patrick Hearn wriles in his marvelous and thorough introduction to The Annotated Christmas Carol. And indeed, Dickens details the boisterous, food-filled country Christmases with such zest and charm that it might have even surprised readers of his own time.

...

SCROOGE was a foul old man who wrapped his cold, uncaring heart in chains. Chains of greed. Bigotry. Contempt. Apathy. Selfishness. He detested the world, and was alone. Until the night his long-dead partner Marley appeared.

A hideous spectre forced to walk the earth forever, Marley was damned. As Scrooge would be... unless he agreed to face three ghosts. One would take Scrooge back to the memories he"d buried. One would show Scrooge the world of joy and friendship he"d rejected. One would force Scrooge into the dreadful shadows of the future he"d forged.

Three ghosts of Christmas. Of Christmas Past. Of Christmas Present. Of Christmas Yet to Come. All offering Scrooge a single gift-a chance.

A last chance to give love.

A last chance to join life.

THE LIFE OF CHARLES DICKENS

FOREWORD

STAVE ONE

MARLEY’S GHOST 

STAVE TWO

THE FIRST OF THE THREE SPIRITS

STAVE THREE

THE SECOND OF THE THREE SPIRITS

STAVE FOUR

THE LAST OF THE SPIRITS

STAVE FIVE

THE END OF IT

AFTERWORD