The cricket on the hearth, and other Christmas stories (Unknown Binding)

~ Charles Dickens (Author)
Key Phrases: blind daughter, Blind Girl, John Peerybingle, Miss Slowboy (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

(in full The Cricket on the Hearth: A Fairy Tale of Home) Short tale written by Charles Dickens as a Christmas book for 1845 but published in 1846. The title creature is a sort of barometer of life at the home of John Peerybingle and his much younger wife Dot. When things go well, the cricket on the hearth chirps; it is silent when there is sorrow. Tackleton, a jealous old man, poisons John's mind about Dot, but the cricket through its supernatural powers restores John's confidence and all ends happily. -- The Merriam-Webster Encyclopedia of Literature --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description

Title story plus "The Holly-Tree" and "The Haunted House." Stories offer delightful evocations of Victorian Christmases of long ago.
--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Unknown Binding
• Publisher: Produced in braille for the Library of Congress, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, by Associated Services for the Blind (1998)
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0006QZZLC
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Useless format, December 1, 2001

By	J. Walker "Seadog" (Kennebunkprt, ME) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

A Dickens Christmas story is meant to be read in front of the fire with children gathered 'round. As configured in this particular ebook format you cannot do anything but sit in front of your screen and read ninety pages of nineteenth century prose. Not useful at all! This ebook would be far more usefull if, for example, you could copy or print it onto holiday paper. Since this story is in the public domain, blocking those options in this ebook is silly.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Odd size, May 17, 2008

By	Valento - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Cricket on the Hearth (Paperback)

You can't beat Charles Dickens, and The Cricket on the Hearth is a great story. The book is surprisingly large and has a strangely homemade look to it. That adds to its charm.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Must have right mind set..., December 11, 2007

By	Mary W. "AvidReader" (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Cricket on the Hearth (Paperback)

When reading this book, you've I think you got to have the right mind set. Dickens' A Christmas Carol was one of those literary miracles that rarely happen. And these stories should not be judged by A Crhistmas Carol. If you can adopt that mind set (which I had to do) you will find these stories enjoyable and even inspiring.

I think one thing that comes across in all of Dickens' writing is that he sincerely loved his fellow beings--and it shows in his stories.

Also recommended: Christmas Gifts, Christmas Voices--my new favorite Christmas story.