The monstrous thought came into my mind as I perused the fixed eyes and the saturnine face, that this was a spirit, not a man. Three ghostly tales from a master of the form, The Signalman, The Trial for Murder and the title story, 'To Be Read at Dusk'. One of 46 new books in the bestselling Little Black Classics series, to celebrate the first ever Penguin Classic in 1946. Each book gives readers a taste of the Classics' huge range and diversity, with works from around the world and across the centuries — including fables, decadence, heartbreak, tall tales, satire, ghosts, battles and elephants.

After a traumatic early childhood spent living in poverty in a Preston cellar, the suddenly orphaned George Silverman grows up convinced that he is at fault for all the misfortunes in his life. Hoodwinked by hypocritical clergymen and exploited by his employer, he finds himself forsaking love and facing professional ruin. One of Dickens's very last writings, 'George Silverman's Explanation' is a dark and psychologically insightful investigation of failure and guilt. This volume also includes two other lesser-known pieces of fiction: the novella for children 'Holiday Romance' and the detective story 'Hunted Down'.

Philip Pirrip, known as Pip, has big dreams of leaving his lowly upbringing on the Kentish moors behind and becoming a sophisticated gentleman. This, he believes, will give him the manners and the means to win the esteem of the beautiful Estella. When he inherits a sum of money from an anonymous benefactor, his once suffocating existence with his vicious sister and her kindly husband Joe expands to encompass new experiences, people and opportunities. As he narrates a thrilling series of adventures, Pip makes many surprising discoveries, bringing him ever closer to an understanding of himself. Filled with eccentric and wholly original characters — such as Miss Havisham, Joe Gargery and Herbert Pocket — and the archetypal 'twist in the tale'.

Pearson's Active Reading is a new series which provides enjoyable stories and texts combined with activities designed to develop reading skills. Each book also contains an interactive CD-ROM, which contains activities and a complete audio recording of the story. • Enjoyable contemporary movie titles, classics and original stories • Five levels available to match all reading levels • Integrated activities perfect for classroom use • Hybrid CD-ROM for every title • Beautifully designed in full color including illustrations and photographs Level: Intermediate.

«Compiled by Charles Dickens, and including chapters by Elizabeth Gaskell and Wilkie Collins, «A House to Let» is a composite tale of mystery and intrigue set amid the dark streets of Victorian London. Advised by her doctor to have a change of scenery, the elderly Sophonisba takes up lodgings in London. Immediately intrigued by a nearby house to let, she charges her two warring attendants, Trottle and Jarber, to unearth the secret behind its seeming desertedness. Rivals to the end, they each seek to outdo the other to satisfy their mistress curiosity; however, it is only after repeated false startsand by way of elaborate tales of men lost at sea, circus performers, and forged death certificatesthat they happen upon the truth. Charles Dickens is one of England's most important literary figures. His works enjoyed enormous success in his day and are still among the most popular and widely read classics of all time.»

A selection of the best of Dickens' Christmas stories and writings in one beautiful edition It is said that Charles Dickens invented Christmas, and these pages certainly hold all the elements of a quintessential traditional Christmas brought to vivid life: snowy rooftops, gleaming shop windows, steaming bowls of punch, plum puddings like speckled cannon balls, sage and onion stuffing, miracles, magic, charity, and goodwill. This elegant collection gathers together not only Dickens' Christmas Books but also stories that Dickens wrote for the special seasonal editions of his periodicals All the Year Round and Household Words, and the hilarious festive episodes from The Pickwick Papers. A must-have for Christmas, this book is as necessary to seasonal festivities as holly, mistletoe, and silver bells.

HarperCollins is proud to present its incredible range of best-loved, essential classics. Time was, with most of us, when Christmas Day, encircling all our limited world like a magic ring, left nothing out for us to miss or seek; bound together all our home enjoyments, affections, and hopes; grouped everything and every one around the Christmas fire... This heart-warming collection of festive short stories and novellas perfectly captures the spirit of reflection and faith that Christmas brings. Centred on the journeys taken through life and the inherent goodness of mankind, these stories capture the true meaning behind Christmas and bask in the season of goodwill. Imbued with a direct moral message, Dickens's writing gives a voice to the plight of middle-class workers and families during a period of social and political change in Victorian England. With such tales as The Chimes, The Battle of Life and What Christmas is as We Grow Older, this is a beautiful collection for Dickens fans, and a wonderful companion for all those who cherish A Christmas Carol.

Desperate-minded villain! Two of Dickens' hilarious early stories from Sketches by Boz: The Great Winglebury Duel' and 'Bloomsbury Christening. Introducing Little Black Classics: 80 books for Penguin's 80th birthday. Little Black Classics celebrate the huge range and diversity of Penguin Classics, with books from around the world and across many centuries. They take us from a balloon ride over Victorian London to a garden of blossom in Japan, from Tierra del Fuego to 16th century California and the Russian steppe. Here are stories lyrical and savage; poems epic and intimate; essays satirical and inspirational; and ideas that have shaped the lives of millions. Charles Dickens (1812-1870). All Dickens' novels and other major works are available in Penguin Classics.

Few writers have better captured the times they were writing in as well as Charles Dickens. Dickens' ability to observe and record human character and environment have placed him at the top table of English fiction writers alongside Shakespeare and Austen, and his titles are still as popular today as they were upon first publication. Charles Dickens was a sensation in his own time, his stories as popular upon publication as they are now, where he sits at the summit of English literature. His depictions of Victorian England, in particular, have become so engrained in common consciousness that they are considered as almost historical texts on the age. In this collection you will find the tale of Oliver Twist, the orphan who Dickens used as a vehicle to highlight the unfairness of the Poor Law and the treacherous conditions of London slum life. In Great Expectations we are introduced to a vast array of quirky and interesting characters — from Pip to Estella, Magwitch to Honest Joe — whilst getting a study on class division and personal relationships. The third novel, A Tale of Two Cities, transports us to revolutionary France, where events fascinated Dickens' social interests. The study of Dr Manette's readjustment to freedom from prison is a brilliant demonstration of the author's unrivalled talent for producing fiction of subtlety and depth.

Charles Dickens' ability to observe and record human character and environment have placed him at the top table of English fiction writers alongside Shakespeare and Austen, and his titles are still as popular today as they were upon first publication. Dickens was a sensation in his own time, his stories as popular upon publication as they are now, where he sits at the summit of English literature. His depictions of Victorian England, in particular, have become so engrained in common consciousness that they are considered as almost historical texts on the age. Nicholas Nickleby was Dickens' third novel, and backed up the successes of Pickwick Papers and Oliver Twist, with the eponymous hero encountering an array of characters and types in the world of Victorian theatre. A Christmas Carol is the immortal tale of mean Ebenezer Scrooge, who ultimately renounces his curmudgeonly and tight-fisted ways after being visited by ghosts at Christmas time. Hard Times reflects Dickens' deepening interests in social inequalities, the story of a fictional milltown in Lancashire borne from time the author spent in Preston in 1854.

Literary classic with unique illustrated content; Complete Unabridged Text. One of Dickens' most popular novels brought to life with contemporary photos and illustrations.

David’s life changes for the worse when his mother dies and he is left with a cruel stepfather who sends him to work in London. But he doesn't want to work in a factory all his life, so he runs away and finds a kind relative who is willing to help him. As David grows up, he learns that life is full of trouble, hardship and cruelty. But he also finds friendship, kindness and… love.

Set in the dark streets of 19th-century London, this unforgettable classic tells the story of Oliver Twist, a penniless orphan who lives through all kinds of hardship for many years. Find out how, in spite of adverse circumstances, he finds happiness in the end.

A Christmas Carol, The Chimes, and The Cricket on the Hearth, by Charles Dickens, is part of the Barnes & Noble Classics series, which offers quality editions at affordable prices to the student and the general reader, including new scholarship, thoughtful design, and pages of carefully crafted extras. Here are some of the remarkable features of Barnes & Noble Classics: New introductions commissioned from today's top writers and scholars Biographies of the authors Chronologies of contemporary historical, biographical, and cultural events Footnotes and endnotes Selective discussions of imitations, parodies, poems, books, plays, paintings, operas, statuary, and films inspired by the work Comments by other famous authors Study questions to challenge the reader's viewpoints and expectations Bibliographies for further reading Indices & Glossaries, when appropriateAll editions are beautifully designed and are printed to superior specifications; some include illustrations of historical interest. Barnes & Noble Classics pulls together a constellation of influences-biographical, historical, and literary-to enrich each reader's understanding of these enduring works. Generations of readers have been enchanted by Dickens's A Christmas Carol -the most cheerful ghost story ever written, and the unforgettable tale of Ebenezer Scrooge's moral regeneration. Written in just a few weeks, A Christmas Carol famously recounts the plight of Bob Cratchit, whose family finds joy even in poverty, and the transformation of his miserly boss Scrooge as he is visited by the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future. From Scrooge's Bah and Humbug to Tiny Tim's God bless us every one A Christmas Carol shines with warmth, decency, kindness, humility, and the value of the holidays. But beneath its sentimental surface, A Christmas Carol offers another of Dickens's sharply critical portraits of a brutal society, and an inspiring celebration of the possibility of spiritual, psychological, and social change. This new volume collects Dickens's three most renowned Christmas Books, including The Chimes, a New Year's tale, and The Cricket on the Hearth, whose eponymous creature remains silent during sorrow and chirps amid happiness. Katharine Kroeber Wiley, the daughter of a scholar and a sculptor, has a degree in English Literature from Occidental College. Her work has appeared in Boundary Two and the recent book, Lore of the Dolphin, She is currently working on a book on Victorian Christmas writings.

Pip is destined to become a village blacksmith, but a chance meeting with an escaped prisoner and the acquaintance of an eccentric old woman and a beautiful young girl change the course of his life. He is suddenly dissatisfied with his social status and wants to become a gentleman. But one day he discovers a terrible secret.

Penguin Readers are written by specialist ELT authors. The language, vocabulary, style and content of every book is carefully graded to make sure it suits the learner's own language ability. Every Penguin Reader has a range of activities in the book and accompanying Factsheet to help increase comprehension and develop reading, writing, listening and speaking skills.

John Leech's original magnificent illustrations to A Christmas Carol have been beautifully hand-coloured by Barbara Frith. A celebration of Christmas, a tale of redemption and a critique on Victorian society, Dickens' atmospheric novella follows the miserly, penny-pinching Ebenezer Scrooge who views Christmas as 'humbug'. It is only through a series of eerie, life-changing visits from the ghost of his deceased business partner Marley and the spirits of Christmas past, present and future that he begins to see the error of his ways. With heart-rending characters, rich imagery and evocative language, the message of A Christmas Carol remains as significant today as when it was first published.

Psychologically the latter part of Great Expectations is about the best thing Dickens ever did. George Orwell Philip Pirrip — known more commonly as Pip — is an orphan. His visits to the mysterious Miss Havisham are his only escape from his childhood of poverty. But then an anonymous bequest changes his life for ever — until secrets from Pip's past emerge, threatening to destroy the genteel new life he has built for himself, and Pip soon discovers the merciless cruelty of love, and the harsh reality of his great expectations.

If you love a good story, then look no further. Oxford Children's Classics bring together the most unforgettable stories ever told. They're books to treasure and return to again and again. Ebenezer Scrooge hates Christmas. It's all humbug to him. But one Christmas Eve, he is visited by the ghost of Jacob Marley, and then by three more spirits... the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet To Come. Will the things they show Scrooge be enough to make him change his miserly ways and learn the true meaning of Christmas?

«This is the «Penguin English Library Edition» of «The Old Curiosity Shop» by Charles Dickens. 'But what added most to the grotesque expression of his face, was a ghastly smile, which, appearing to be the mere result of habit and to have no connexion with any mirthful or complacent feeling, constantly revealed the few discoloured fangs that were yet scattered in his mouth, and gave him the aspect of a panting dog'. The tale of «Little Nell» gripped the nation when it first appeared in 1841. Described as a 'tragedy of sorrows', the story tells of Nell uprooted from a secure and innocent childhood and cast into a world where evil takes many shapes, the most fascinating of which is the stunted, lecherous Quilp. Blending realism with non-realistic genres such as fairy-tale, allegory, and pastoral, the tale of Nell's tragedy contains some of Dickens most memorable comic and grotesque creations, including the dwarf Daniel Quilp, Dick Swiveller and Kit Nubbles. «The Penguin English Library» contains 100 editions of the best fiction in English, from the eighteenth century and the first novels to the beginning of the First World War.»