First published in 1843, Charles Dickens's classic tale of miserly Ebenezer Scrooge, whose cold and embittered heart is warmed by the joys and rewards of love, is the perfect holiday read.
In his shorter fiction, Dickens felt free to investigate themes and experiment with narrative techniques in ways denied him by the constraints of novel-writing. In this selection, a literary master is brilliantly indulging the very essence of his art. His exuberant sense of comedy is allowed free rein and his exploration of the secret workings of the human psyche often surpasses anything in his longer work. Divided into three sections - Tales of the Supernatural, Impressionistic Sketches and Dramatic Monologues - this volume reveals Dickens's recurring concerns and places them clearly in the context of related elements in his novels.
The titles in this series are mainly new editions of titles in the "Longman Simplified English Series". They are suitable for students at upper intermediate level, including those preparing for the Cambridge First Certificate. Every book has been re-edited to ensure ease of understanding and naturalness of language and keeps within the 2000 word Defining Vocabulary of the "Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English". Any additional vocabulary used is explained in the glossary. All titles feature a four to five page introduction to the authors, characters and themes of the texts, giving students not only background information, but also help in literary appreciation. Additionally, there is exercise material at the back of each book: 50 questions on factual detail, with a further 20 more open-ended questions for written work or to stimulate discussion.
Truman
