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Charles Dickens

Perhaps the most famous and most accessible of Dickens' stories which can be enjoyed every year afresh at Christmas time, as we never tire of the inspirational story of Scrooge's redemption and transformation. Here performed with warmth and compelling narrative skill by Simon Hester

Simon Hester

Head Stories Audio

Dickens: The Christmas Books

A Christmas Carol

The Chimes, the second of Charles Dickens' five Christmas books, first appeared in 1844, a year after the tremendous success of A Christmas Carol. Like its predecessor, this novella blends the magical with the moral, crafting a tale that is both an enchanting fable and a searing critique of Victorian society. Set on New Year’s Eve, The Chimes takes readers on a journey through themes of poverty, injustice, and the redeeming power of hope and human kindness.

At the heart of The Chimes is Toby "Trotty" Veck, a poor ticket-porter who, like many of Dickens' characters, represents the overlooked and downtrodden in society. Through a series of supernatural visions orchestrated by the spirits of the church bells, Trotty is forced to confront the despair and cynicism that poverty breeds. Yet, Dickens is careful not to let despair overwhelm the narrative. As in A Christmas Carol, he offers a vision of hope—of transformation, repentance, and the possibility of a better world, even for those whom society forgets.

Dickens wrote The Chimes at a time when social reform was a pressing issue. It was a period marked by debates over the Poor Laws, the treatment of the working class, and the growing disparity between rich and poor. His personal experiences with poverty as a child, and his deep empathy for the plight of the poor, fueled his desire to use fiction as a means of advocacy. Through The Chimes, Dickens wove his sharpest social commentary into a festive tale, making it both a celebration of the New Year and a somber reflection on society's responsibilities.

The Chimes

Charles Dickens wrote The Cricket on the Hearth in 1845, at a time when the warmth of hearth and home was a cherished ideal, providing comfort amidst the rapid changes of Victorian England. Unlike Dickens’ earlier social critiques, this novella is a quieter, more introspective work—a celebration of domestic life, love, and the enduring power of hope. Through the tale of the Peerybingle family and their trials, Dickens invites readers into a cozy household where even the smallest, most seemingly inconsequential creature—a cricket—can become a symbol of resilience and joy.

The Cricket on the Hearth

Book 3 in Dickens' Christmas Books.

The cricket of the title in this story comes to represent the life and home of John Peerybingle and his 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.

Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English writer and social critic. He is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era. His works enjoyed unprecedented popularity during his lifetime and, by the 20th century, critics and scholars had recognized him as a literary genius. His novels and short stories are widely read, performed, and adapted today.

Jonathan Keeble

SNR Audio

Book #4 in Dickens' Christmas Books series. 

Sisters Grace and Marion are driven apart, only to be reunited over the festive season. Dickens's Christmas stories perfectly enraptured the spirit of the Victorian Christmas and came to inspire many traditional aspects of the seasno today, including what we know think of as Christmas dinner, family gatherings, dancing, and more. 

Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English writer and social critic. He is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era. His works enjoyed unprecedented popularity during his lifetime and, by the 20th century, critics and scholars had recognized him as a literary genius. His novels and short stories are widely read, performed, and adapted today.

Dickens: The Christmas Books - La série de livres

Dickens: The Christmas Books - La série de livres

Dickens: The Christmas Books livres dans l'ordre

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