This timeless tale of an arrogant miser's transformation into a paragon of warmhearted generosity, recounted by one of the English language's most popular authors, is as much a part of the season as holly and mistletoe. Lovers of fiction, Dickens novels, picture books, and the holiday itself will delight in this magnificent hardcover edition of A Christmas Carol, illustrated by Arthur Rackham. A dozen full-page colour plates and 18 black-and-white images by the legendary artist recapture the story's Victorian charm and contribute to the keepsake quality of this heirloom volume. AUTHOR: After a childhood blighted by poverty, commercial success came early to Charles Dickens (1812 70). By the age of 24, he was an international sensation whose new novels were eagerly anticipated. Two centuries later, Dickens' popularity endures as readers revel in the warm humanity and rollicking humour of his tales of self-discovery.