A Christmas Carol

　　聖誕將至，不分男女老幼，貧富貴賤，
　　人人忙碌奔走，預備過個好節。
　　這時，歡愉的倫敦城中只有一個人不高興，
　　守財奴施顧己正為了因過節少賺的錢憤懣不已。
　　這部一八四三年聖誕節發行的小說，
　　在百餘年後的今天，已成為最受歡迎的聖誕故事。
　　不但至今長銷不輟，更有不計其數的改編電影、電視劇、舞台劇等多種版本。
　　本書採用備受讚譽的麥可．赫恩（Michael Hearne）註解版作為翻譯底本
　　除附加詳盡註釋，並有譯者鄭永孝教授針對此書創作背景作專文導讀。
　　以期讓讀者重溫這個經典故事的同時，亦能對其時空背景有更深入的理解。

　　本書中譯本<<聖誕歌聲>>由聯經出版公司出版
　
　　It's Christmastime, but Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserly old accountant, couldn't care less. Until he is visited in the night by three very special guests, who want to teach him the true value of Christmas. Classics Illustrated tells this wonderful tale in colorful comic strip form, offering an excellent introduction for younger readers. This edition also includes a biography of Charles Dickens and study questions, which can be used both in the classroom or at home to further engage the reader in the story. The Classics Illustrated comic book series began life in 1941 with its first issue, Alexandre Dumas "The Three Musketeers," and has since included over 200 classic tales released around the world. This new CCS Books edition is specifically tailored to engage and educate young readers with some of the greatest works ever written, while still thrilling older readers who have loving memories of this series of old. Each book contains dedicated theme discussions and study questions to further develop the reader s understanding and enjoyment of the work at hand."

作者簡介

狄更斯（Charles Dickens）
　　
　　一八一二年生於樸茨茅斯，十歲時舉家遷至倫敦。不久後父親因債入獄，全家也因此住進拘留所，他為維持家計而中斷學業，進了鞋油工廠作學徒。十五歲時，進入律師事務所當繕寫員，之後再靠自學速記當上《晨間紀事報》國會採訪記者。
　　
　　一八三六年，他以第一部長篇小說《皮克威克外傳》打響名號，叫好叫座之餘，投入專職寫作，之後陸續寫出《孤雛淚》、《老古玩店》、《聖誕歌聲》、《塊肉餘生錄》、《荒涼山莊》、《雙城記》等傑作。他一生筆耕不輟，共留下十四部長篇小說，此外亦寫作短篇小說、遊記、雜文，並自辦雜誌。一八七○年過世時，他首次嘗試創作的懸疑小說《艾德溫．德魯之謎》正連載到故事中途，也成了書迷永遠的遺憾。
　　
　　由於其寫作生涯正好遇上英國經濟因工業革命突飛猛進，但也造成貧富差距與階級衝突愈形劇烈之時。加上童年的屈辱經歷與記者時期的見聞，使得底層民眾的困境與階級不平等成為其創作生涯中不斷出現的主題。但精鍊的文筆、栩栩如生的角色塑造、幽默譏諷的對白和極具張力的情節設計，才是讓他的作品歷久彌新，不退流行的真正原因。他也因此被後世譽為維多利亞時代最偉大的英國小說家。

　　Considered by many to be the greatest novelist of the English language, Charles John Huffam Dickens was born February 7, 1812, in Portsmouth, England. Some of his most popular works include Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, Nicholas Nickleby, A Tale of Two Cities and Great Expectations.