A Heartbreaking View of Scrooge.
From the Humbug: Scrooge Before the Ghosts blurb:
A Christmas Carol shows us one terrible day in Ebenezer Scrooge’s life, but have you ever wondered what came before his fateful encounter with the ghosts of Christmas time? What happened to turn him into the scowling, penny-pinching old man we think we know so well?
There is so much more to this character—possibly more than Charles Dickens himself could ever have imagined.
Scrooge has compelling reasons for hating Christmas, for rejecting his fiancée and his precious nephew, and for employing Tiny Tim’s father, despite his obvious incompetence. He is a doting uncle, beloved brother, successful businessman, and passionate lover, but a dark secret puts both him and his loved ones at risk. Scrooge struggles to embrace his true self and live in defiance of the Victorian era’s repressive moral standards. Soul-crushing losses and his own destructive choices shape his fate into a twisted path of sorrow, frustration, and uncertainty—but also happiness, fulfillment, and love.
Scrooge’s own words sum it up best: “How delightfully queer life is.”
Lesetiger's review:
So both the author and the narrator were new to me. And because I love A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, I was really looking forward to the retelling.
The author did a really good job, because both the setting and the narrator fitted in wonderfully with Victorian England.
The beginning of the book dragged on a bit, but at some point I got to the point where the story began to captivate me. Scrooge's life and everything that happened to him was told convincingly and yes, it was also very emotional at times. Scrooge is a kind-hearted person who has had to deal with a few blows of fate. Very touching. And for me, it ended up fitting in well with the Scrooge I remember from Charles Dickens.
Charles Robert Fox was a new narrator for me, but he managed to convince me. I liked both his voice and his delivery. He conveyed the emotions well and I think he chose appropriate voices for the protagonists.
I can highly recommend this audiobook for the run-up to Christmas!
Reed Kaye's review:
I have never read nor heard any background story about Scrooge before I listened to this. Right from the beginning I was hooked. I normally listen to books as I’m doing something else so they don’t always get my full attention. This story demanded my attention. There are so many details that can’t be missed. Scrooge as a child was sad. His life was full of situations that almost forced him to become the sad old man he ends up being. His interactions with family, employers, fiancée, lover and others all play into the path he takes that makes him hate Christmas. These also state the big heart and feelings of taking care of others that is seldom acknowledged. I love this story and will revisit it again and again.
The narrator, Charles Robert Fox, is perfect for this story. He brings all the accents and tones needed to make this story so realistic.
Humbug: Scrooge Before the Ghosts is currently available as an audiobook, e-book, paperback, and hardback
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