A Christmas carol : the original manuscript edition

Format:

Book

Title:

A Christmas carol : the original manuscript edition

Author:

Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870 author

ISBN:

9780393608649

Edition:

First edition.

Publication:

New York : London : W.W. Norton & Company, [2017]

Physical Description:

xxxvii, 137 pages : facsimiles ; 22 cm

General Note:

"Published in association with the Morgan Library & Museum."

Contents:

Foreword / Colm Tóibín -- Introduction / Declan Kiely -- A note on the transcription -- A Christmas carol. The original manuscript ; Preface ; Stave I: Marley's ghost ; Stave II: The first of the three spirits ; Stave III: The second of the three spirits ; Stave IV: The last of the spirits ; Stave V: The end of it -- Acknowledgments -- About the Morgan Library & Museum.

Summary:

A miser learns the true meaning of Christmas when three ghostly visitors review his past and foretell his future.

"A first-ever trade edition of the original manuscript of the beloved Christmas classic. Every year at the holidays, the historic Morgan Library & Museum in Manhattan displays one of the crown jewels of its extraordinary collection: the original manuscript of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol, with its detailed emendations, deletions, and insertions in Dickens's own hand. Here, for the first time in a beautiful trade edition, A Christmas Carol: The Original Manuscript Edition presents a facsimile of that invaluable manuscript, along with a typeset version of the story, a fascinating introduction by the Morgan's chief literary curator on the history of the story, and a new foreword by Colm Tóibín celebrating its timeless appeal."-- Provided by publisher.

Personal Subject:

Scrooge, Ebenezer-Fiction.

Marley, Jacob (Fictitious character) (Spirit)-Fiction.

Marley, Jacob (Fictitious character) (Spirit) (OCoLC)fst01740471

Scrooge, Ebenezer. (OCoLC)fst01928945

Subject(s):

Christmas stories.

Ghost stories.

Poor families -- Fiction.

Sick children -- Fiction.

Misers -- Fiction.

Manuscripts, English -- Facsimiles.

London (England) -- Fiction.

Geographic Term:

London (England) -- Fiction.

Genre:

facsimiles (reproductions)

Added Author:

Added Corporate Author:

Pierpont Morgan Library,

Holds:

Available:*

Library	Call Number	Status
Searching... McMinnville Public Library	Dickens, C.	Searching... Unknown

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

Every year at the holidays, the historic Morgan Library & Museum in Manhattan displays one of the crown jewels of its extraordinary collection: the original manuscript of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol, with its detailed emendations, deletions, and insertions in Dickens's own hand. Here, for the first time in a beautiful trade edition, A Christmas Carol: The Original Manuscript Edition presents a facsimile of that invaluable manuscript, along with a typeset version of the story, a fascinating introduction by the Morgan's chief literary curator on the history of the story, and a new foreword by Colm Tóibín celebrating its timeless appeal.

Author Notes

Charles Dickens, perhaps the best British novelist of the Victorian era, was born in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England on February 7, 1812. His happy early childhood was interrupted when his father was sent to debtors' prison, and young Dickens had to go to work in a factory at age twelve. Later, he took jobs as an office boy and journalist before publishing essays and stories in the 1830s.

His first novel, The Pickwick Papers, made him a famous and popular author at the age of twenty-five. Subsequent works were published serially in periodicals and cemented his reputation as a master of colorful characterization, and as a harsh critic of social evils and corrupt institutions. His many books include Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, Bleak House, Great Expectations, Little Dorrit, A Christmas Carol, and A Tale of Two Cities.

Dickens married Catherine Hogarth in 1836, and the couple had nine children before separating in 1858 when he began a long affair with Ellen Ternan, a young actress. Despite the scandal, Dickens remained a public figure, appearing often to read his fiction. He died in 1870, leaving his final novel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, unfinished.

(Bowker Author Biography)

Reviews (1)

Kirkus Review

A perennial holiday favorite is immortalized with a singular trade edition of the original manuscript.In association with the Morgan Library Museum in Manhattan, which places the original manuscript of Charles Dickens timeless Christmas classic on public display each holiday season, this collectible reprint represents the most faithful transcription to date. The edition includes a foreword by acclaimed author Colm Tibn, who adds factual commentary about Dickens writing inspiration and how the author designated the past, the present, and the future as the unearthly protagonists in his redemptive and morally purposeful story of Scrooge. Tibn believes the tale itself, a dark journey of the soul, derives much of its power from its grim portrait of London. The book is introduced by Morgan Librarys chief literary curator Declan Kiely, who explores Dickens determination in writing the storydone so while he suffered through a miserable coldand the many pivotal personal (financial anxiety), professional (prior book sales), and political issues (his advocacy for social reform) affecting his life of ecstatic restlessness leading up to the time when he wrote the story in the fall of 1843. Kiely artfully describes the tales five theatrical staves and scrutinizes the authors creative process and heavily edited composition. He also notes several minute details in Dickens writing style, the original manuscripts trail of sale, and the intricate disbinding and preparatory processes taken to produce this special volume. Dickens original manuscript in his cursive penmanshipwith some of the authors spelling peculiarities corrected)is featured opposite its verbatim translation. The storybook, impressively produced and crisply analyzed by both Tibn and Kiely, harbors the potential to joyfully transform a burdensome years of misery to merriness. A unique, ageless Yuletide treasure for fans and collectors alike. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.