Mr. Dickens and His Carol

A Novel

By: Samantha Silva

Narrated by: Euan Morton

Length: 8 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

"[Narrator Euan Morton's] British-accented narration is pure delight...This imaginative story is so charming that listeners will be convinced it is fact, not fiction. A heartwarming addition to the holiday audiobook collection." (Booklist)

Laced with humor, rich historical detail from Charles Dickens' life, and clever winks to his work, Samantha Silva's Mr. Dickens and His Carol is an irresistible new take on a cherished classic.

Charles Dickens is not feeling the Christmas spirit. His newest book is an utter flop, the critics have turned against him, relatives near and far hound him for money. While his wife plans a lavish holiday party for their ever-expanding family and circle of friends, Dickens has visions of the poor house. But when his publishers try to blackmail him into writing a Christmas book to save them all from financial ruin, he refuses. And a serious bout of writer's block sets in. Frazzled and filled with self-doubt, Dickens seeks solace in his great palace of thinking, the city of London itself. On one of his long night walks in a once-beloved square, he meets the mysterious Eleanor Lovejoy, who might be just the muse he needs. As Dickens' deadlines close in, Eleanor propels him on a Scrooge-like journey that tests everything he believes about generosity, friendship, ambition, and love. The story he writes will change Christmas forever.

Full of holiday cheer and Victorian whimsy, Mr. Dickens and His Carol is the perfect audiobook to instill listeners with the Christmas spirit.

©2017 Samantha Silva (P)2017 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"A charming, comic, and ultimately poignant story about the creation of the most famous Christmas tale ever written. It's as foggy and haunted and redemptive as the original; it's all heart, and I read it in a couple of ebullient, Christmassy gulps." (Anthony Doerr, number one New York Times best-selling author of All the Light We Cannot See)

"Mr. Dickens and His Carol is a novel of pure charm and humor, a terrific holiday tale. Samantha Silva had me haunting those dark streets alongside her inspired Dickens." (Jess Walter, author of Beautiful Ruins)

“[Silva] tunes herself to Dickens’s imaginative frequency... She inhabits Dickens’s sensitivity to London’s atmosphere, its chancellors and urchins, its cobblestones and fog.” (The New York Times Book Review)

"From his first words to his last, Euan Morton's narration is quintessentially Dickensian.... Since Dickens plays the Scrooge in Silva's story, listeners must wait until the end for his redemption. Morton makes it a fun and atmospheric wait, capped off by a perfect recitation of Tiny Tim's (and Dickens's) most iconic line." (AudioFile)

A delightful listen!

I loved Silva's mix of authentic Dickens personality and quirks and fictionalized tale of how The Christmas Carol came about. Delightful narration by Euan Morton. With a well-written mix of history and magic, I thoroughly enjoyed this selection.

Touching and inspiring

My favorite Christmas story now has a worthy companion. This lovely story is a Christmas gift!

Beautiful story

Loved the writing. The performance was extraordinary. I was swept away in the story, a very satisfying read/listen.

A heartwarming Christmas story

Performance was superb! The story was a little slow but with a great ending. Wouldnt read again but im glad I read it once.

loved this book!

it is somewhat slow to start and get accustomed to the British verbage, however, I stuck it out and it improved. I loved this book!

Insights into Dickens but way too long

A fantasy in how Dickens wrote his Christmas Carol, with insights into his life, but not as interesting as his own work. Throughout tries too hard to squeeze tears out of our eyes. It really is too long.

Fantastic.

This book was a real joy. The narrator was terrific, the writing exquisite, and I thoroughly enjoyed the tongue-in-cheek, witty references to all of Dickens' works. Topped off with loads of Christmas cheer.

Well Done- Festive!

Wonderfully done all around and the perfect holiday read. It nicely refocuses the holiday spirit and priorities.

A perfect read for the holidays!

You will definitely get into the Christmas spirit listening to this book. I truly enjoyed all the characters and how they all came together in this delightful tale!

Didn't want it to end.

The writing was impressive. The story was so touching. The narrator was very pleasant.