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To: stanz
Every Christmas we listen to Orson Welles' 1939 radio production of "A Christmas Carol" complete with a vintage commercial for the lone sponsor (Campbell Soups). I must have read the story at least a dozen times over the years. I also recommend Charles Dickens' other works, especially Oliver Twist and Hard Times. He can be difficult to get through for modern readers but the effort is rewarding. He really brings 19th Century England to life.

I don't believe anybody has mentioned Jack London yet. No decent book collection can be without Jack London's short stories about the Arctic. Especially Call of the Wild, the short story To Build A Fire, and The White Silence. If you are really feeling adventurous, try his Prohibition propaganda novel John Barleycorn and his Dickens-inspired People Of The Abyss, based on his observations of poor people in London at the turn of the 20th century.

BTW, all those links take you to the actual text of the works. Yes, they are absolutely free for the taking as the copyrights have expired. The Dickens works are available online for free as well but I don't have them bookmarked. I have a bunch of these "e-texts" downloaded on my laptop so that when I am traveling or otherwise bored, I just fire up my laptop and fill my brain with great literature. If I like what I read enough, I eventually will buy the book and add it to my permanent library (which is getting quite extensive).

146 posted on 01/29/2003 8:21:04 PM PST by SamAdams76 ('Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens')
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To: SamAdams76
Every Christmas we listen to Orson Welles' 1939 radio production of "A Christmas Carol" complete with a vintage commercial for the lone sponsor (Campbell Soups).

My favorite film version is the mid-80s George C. Scott production. Very faithful to the Dickens story. The only Scott role I enjoy more is Patton.

151 posted on 01/29/2003 8:28:30 PM PST by Denver Ditdat
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To: SamAdams76
I'm ashamed to admit I never read Jack London. Now that you have reminded me of my shame, I will get a copy of "Call of the Wild" and start reading.
I'm not much of a novel-reader. I tend to stick with scientific/historical articles and textbook-oriented material (for my own interests)- - no excuse, though. It's so easy to plop in front of the TV or PC and let a mind turn to mush. I wasn't aware of the Welles radio production. Every Christmas, we are sure to watch the 1952 Alistair Sim version of "Scrooge" which I think is the best portrayal of the story.
I also enjoy "Great Expectations" and "Nicholas Nickleby."
159 posted on 01/29/2003 8:42:09 PM PST by stanz
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