A CHRISTMAS CAROL: THE UNSUNG STORY.

UK,square 8vo HB+dw/dj,illustrated,1st edn. [Complete number line .] FINE/FINE. No owner inscrptn and no price-clip to dw/dj.Bright,crisp,clean,wrap-around glossy,colour illustrated design (repeated to boards) with a colour illustrtion of Scrooge and a ghost to front panel of dw/dj, capitalised,black-lettered title,sub-title and strap-line,and capitalised,white-lettered author name; spine/backstrip with a yellow panel with capitalised,black-lettered title,sub-title,author's black-lettered name and publisher's black illustrated colophon and capialised name to foot of same,the rear panel of dw/dj with a critic's (Ray Bradbury) black-lettered quotation.Negligible shelf-wear to edges and corners – no nicks,tears or splits present.Top+fore-edges bright crisp,clean without any foxing/spotting ; contents bright,tight,clean,solid and sound – virtually pristine - no dog-ear reading creases to any pages' corner tips – appears unread,apart from my own collation. Publisher's bright,crisp,clean/unblemished,sharp-cornered, glazed boards with repeated dw/dj design/ illustration and immaculate multiple,repeated holly sprig illustrated endpapers.UK,square 8vo HB+dw/dj, illustrated 1st edn, 10-197pp [paginated] includes Ackowledgements,a Prologue,10 chapters and an Epilogue - includes the full, original Dickens' text and John Leech engravings - profuse historical period and contemporary b/w illustrations, engravings,photographs etc.,interspersed throughout the text and the book,a bibliography; plus [unpaginated] half-title with a dedication to its reverse,a b/w thumbnail illustrated title page,a Contents list/table and to the rear, pp blanks. Visually the exterior appearance is exceptional and particularly internally,is also in an exceptional condition/ state of preservation and presentation,for a book of its near 40 year-old age. It really is an exceptional,exemplary example for its cleanliness,brightness and lack of detracting faults. Say 'Humbug',and immediately Ebenezer Scrooge springs to mind; utter the phrase: 'God bless us,everyone!' and Tiny Tim is conjured up.And whenever Scrooge and Tiny Tim are remembered thenso,too,is Charles Dickens and what is,perhaps,his best-known and most-loved book,'A Christmas Carol'. How did Charles Dickens come to create what he called his 'little Carol'? Why did it achieve such extraordinary worldwide fame? And why does it still move us - again and again - to laughter and to tears? Brian Sibley tells the story behind Dickens' classic,bringing it to life for newcomers and giving a new richness of understanding for its fans. Beginning with a look at the life of the man who has been hailed as ;the greatest popular prose writer that England has ever known',Brian Sibley explores 'A Christmas Carol',describing how and why it was written,He looks at Dickens' deep social concern for the poor and his Christian motivation to bring the inequalities in society to the attention of all. He rounds off the book with the story of waht happened since it was written.From TV commercials to Hollywood movies,religious tracts to postage stamps,'A Christmas Carol' remains as popular now as 150 years ago. 'A Christmas Carol: the Unsung Story' includes Dickens' original tect in full,with the original John Leech line engravings.The book includes many other illustrations which are drawn from a variety of editions,versions and films.' Please contact seller,for correct shipping/P+p quotes - particularly ALL overseas customers - BEFORE ordering through the order page! N.B. ALL buyers please note,stocks' actual shipping/P+p costs are adjusted and any difference is refunded,after order's receipt and before the order's despatch,especially if the item(s) are offered either P+p included/FREE. ** N.B. US/Canada customers please be aware: Standard AIRMAIL postage from UK to these destinations can now cost more than the price of the book! If speed is not of the essence,then Economy rate is recommended - at approx. anything from a 1/3rd to 1/2 of the standard US AIR quote/rate - sometimes arriving sooner than the 42 days - but not always. **