Showing results for "Charles Dickens" in Arts & Entertainment

A Christmas Carol is a timeless novella by the renowned English author Charles Dickens, first published on December 17, 1843. This beloved story follows the transformation of the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge, who undergoes a profound ideological, ethical, and emotional awakening after being visited by the ghostly apparitions of Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come. With its rich themes of redemption and the spirit of Christmas, the novella quickly captured the hearts of readers and critics alike. (Summary by Wikipedia)

Experience a delightful rendition of A Christmas Carol, adapted and performed by Charles Dickens during his iconic American Tour of 1862. This special abridged version removes the darker themes of the original novel, presenting a humorous and heartwarming tale perfect for family listening. With a runtime of just an hour and a half, it promises to enchant audiences of all ages. (Michael Armenta)

The youngest child of debtor William Dorrit, Amy is born in Marshalsea prison. She and her father are befriended by Arthur Clennam, whose mother employs "little Dorrit" as a seamstress. The fortunes of the Dorrits undergo an extreme change when William inherits a fortune, and the family move to Italy. Back in England, Arthur Clennam finds himself the victim of a massive fraud and ends up in Marshalsea. There he is found by Little Dorrit, whose fortune has had no effect on her generosity and humility.

Michael Kitchen stars as John Jarndyce in a BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of Dickens' classic tale of London and the law.

Esteemed writer G. K. Chesterton offers a compelling critique of the works of Charles Dickens, sharing his profound admiration and unique insights into Dickens literary genius in his distinct and engaging style. (Summary by Karen Merline)

Come and envision Old Jacob Marley appearing before his sinister old partner Scrooge to foretell of the things to happen which fate has set forward. Feel the presence of the ghosts as they take Scrooge one by one from the past to the future. Feel the warmth and the laughter and even the sorrow of Tiny Tim and the Crachit Family. Come listen and envision as the townspeople laugh without sorrow of the passing of Old Scrooge and the barter with the pawnbroker over the simplest things he left behind. Envision what happened to Scrooge as the last phantom shows him the things of yet to come.

Hard Times was Dickens's shortest novel and the only one to be set in the industrial north of England. A fast moving story with a typical cast of larger than life characters, the novel is a vehicle for a humanist critique of both utilitarian education ('Teach these boys and girls nothing but facts', says Mr. Gradgrind in the opening paragraph) and the mutual antagonism between capital and the trade union. A humanist education system, it turns out, is Dickens's solution to the class struggle. Hard Times is set in the fictional Coketown and was partly inspired by a visit to Preston during the ...

"Please sir, I want some more," the famous line spoken by Oliver Twist at age nine, becomes the tipping point of a huge change in Oliver's life. He is soon captured into the service of Fagin and his gang of pick-pocketing boys. But, Mr. Brownlow saves him from arrest, and for the first time in his young life Oliver finds comfort and caring. Unfortunately, he is recaptured into the seedy and disgusting world he had escaped, and meets with Bill Sykes, a dangerous criminal. There are numerous delightful or wicked characters that carry the story along, such as the Artful Dodger-- a boy of the ...

After the death of his father, Nicholas must provide for his mother and sister. His wealthy uncle provides him with employment at a boys' school, run by the villainous Mr. Squeers. But when Nicholas has seen enough of the brutal manner in which Squeers treats the boys, he attacks him--and is forced to go on the run to avoid the ramifications. - Summary by Brad "Hamlet" Filippone

Born in the Marshalsea Prison for Debtors, Amy—Little Dorrit—the daughter of the ruined, but self-respectful William Dorrit, has put her entire heart in caring for her dear father, until one day her humble path is crossed by Arthur Clennam. Their meeting proves providential not only for Amy's life, but for the whole Dorrit family, whose new rise will, in many ways, be also their fall. As in all his novels, in Little Dorrit Dickens ushers us into a fascinating and startlingly rich world of human characters and destinies, where virtue and nobility cross swords with vice and villainy, where ...

The Charles Dickens Works Collection compiles his complete literary masterpieces, providing a deep dive into the world of Victorian England and the struggles of its people.

Experience the rich storytelling of Charles Dickens Audiobooks, a collection of unforgettable tales filled with vivid characters, social commentary, and timeless themes of justice, redemption, and resilience. These classic works continue to inspire and captivate audiences.

A classic tale of what comes to those whose hearts are hard. In a series of ghostly visits, Scrooge visits his happy past, sees the difficulties of the present, views a bleak future, and in the end amends his mean ways. (Summary written by Kristen McQuillin)

On December 27th, 1853, Charles Dickens ventured on something quite new: he gave, in Birmingham, a public performance of one of his own stories. This turned out to be an historic occasion, opening up an extraordinary second career for the great writer. Here, actor and playwright Emlyn Williams successfully recreates those performances as he plays Charles Dickens performing scenes from his novels.

The story is told almost entirely from the point of view of the first person narrator, David Copperfield himself, and was the first Dickens novel to be written as such a narration. The story deals with the life of David Copperfield from childhood to maturity. David's father had died six months before he was born, and seven years later, his mother remarries but David and his step-father don’t get on and he is sent to boarding school. As David settles into life we are taken along with him and meet a dazzling array of characters, some of whom we will never forget and some of whom we won't want ...

The Mystery of Edwin Drood is the final novel by Charles Dickens. The novel was left unfinished at the time of Dickens' death, and readers have often speculated what the ending might have been. The novel is named after Edwin Drood, but it mostly tells the story of his uncle, a Jekyll-and-Hyde-esque choirmaster named John Jasper, who is in love with his pupil, Rosa Bud. Miss Bud is Drood's fiancée, and has caught the eye of the high-spirited and hot-tempered Neville Landless, who comes from Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) with his twin sister, Helena, and immediately makes an enemy of Drood. It is ...

Dive into Charles Dickens final and unfinished masterpiece, The Mystery of Edwin Drood. A captivating tale entwined with suspense, love, and rivalry, it follows the enigmatic choirmaster John Jasper. Tortured by his illicit love for his student, Rosa Bud, who is engaged to his nephew Edwin Drood, Jasper reveals a sinister side. Adding to the intrigue is the fiery Neville Landless, who hails from Ceylon (present-day Sri Lanka) and vies for Rosas affection, causing a rift with Drood. Although Jasper seems the likely culprit behind the mysterious circumstances, Dickens untimely death leaves it ...

Bleak house is one of Dickens finest achievements. It was written for serialisation in 1853 when Dickens was at the peak of his career. Monthly sales substantially exceeded his previous bestseller David Copperfield.Dickens' mastery of the English language comes to the fore in this book. It is an energetic book: a complex mystery story revolving around the heroine Esther Summerson and her path from childhood to marriage. During the course of Esther’s narration Dickens introduces some wonderful and unforgettable characters, and at the same time provides a searing indictment of the laws’ ...

Timeless Charles Dickens Stories features a collection of his greatest works, offering compelling narratives of hardship, perseverance, and social change that remain relevant today.

Dive into the world of David Copperfield, a literary masterpiece by Charles Dickens, that is as much a social commentary as it is an engaging tale. Filled with vivid, exaggerated characters from all walks of life, this novel offers a rich panorama of 19th-century society. Discover the virtuous yet humble Mr. Peggotty, the avaricious and vindictive Heep, and the money-obsessed Julia Mills. On this journey, youll explore themes of love, sacrifice, greed, and arrogance. More personal than any of Dickens other works, David Copperfield draws parallels with the authors own life, hinting at a hidden ...