We are continuing Dickens December this week! In case you missed it, last week I told you all about touring the Charles Dickens Museum in London, either in-person or virtually.
This week, we will be discussing what is perhaps Dickens’ most famous story.
“Marley was dead, to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that. The register of his burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner. Scrooge signed it. And Scrooge’s name was good upon ‘change for anything he chose to put his hand to. Old Marley was as dead as a doornail.”
So begins the Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol, which by now has been made into so many adaptations it’s hard to keep track of. After all, this is one of the most famous Christmas stories (but if you’re looking to mix it up and read another Christmasy story this year, make sure you check out my recommended reads).
If you haven’t read this Dickens novel, it really is a delightful, worthwhile read that will bring a smile to your face and an undeniable warmth to your heart. It’s sentimental, yes, but in all the right ways. Plus, I love those little clever turns of phrase like that quoted above. They are so quintessentially Dickens.
But rather than going on and on about a story we all know so well, today I’ve decided to review one A Christmas Carol audiobook rendition, complete with a holiday-themed tea pairing from Harney and Sons.
No time to read the review right now? Pin this post and come back to it later.
As always, this post may contain affiliate links, which means at no additional cost to you, shopping from them may generate small commissions to support the operations of this blog.
Whenever possible, I recommend buying books at local bookshops or throughBookshop.org, because shopping there puts the profits right into the hands of indie bookstores all over the country.
A Christmas Carol Audiobook Review
The Christmas season is a busy one, particularly for those of us who are parents and by default in charge of making all the “magic” the season is known for. Sometimes it’s hard to find the time to sit down and read, even a book as short and sweet as A Christmas Carol. Enter, the audiobook.
This year, I chose to listen to an A Christmas Carol audiobook. I listened while I baked my annual Christmas goodies, cooked dinners, and cleaned the kitchen. I listened in bits while I drove the car and did laundry. It was a fun way to keep my head in the holiday spirit, amidst bustling here and there getting things done.
This particular A Christmas Carol audiobook version, directed by Cherry Cookson, is an Audible exclusive, and though there are many, many audible versions available, I chose to listen to this one this year because:
1. It features a full cast, which is really fun when done right, and
2. It is available as part of the new and cheaper Audible Plus membership (in other words, it doesn’t use one of your monthly credits for Audible Premium Plus members, and it’s free to listen to for those with no credits at all).
Audiobook star rating: 5/5
Tea pairing: Holiday Tea by Harney & Sons
Having listened to and enjoyed the full production, I can give it my recommendation unreservedly!
The voice acting is wonderful. There aren’t any I can point to as falling below the others.
The voice actor credits include:
Sir Derek Jacobi as the narrator (a classical British actor you might recognize from Gladiator or Gosford Park)
Kenneth Cranham as Ebenezer Scrooge (catch him in Valkyrie or Oliver!)
Roger Allam as Jacob Marley (harken back to V for Vendetta)
Brendan Coyle as the Ghost of Christmas Past (this is a fun one for all you Downton Abbey fans)
Miriam Margoyles as the Ghost of Christmas Present (Professor Sprout to you Harry Potter fans)
Tim Mcinnerny as The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come (from one of my favorite Rom Coms, Notting Hill).
and many others.
One standout voice performance for me and one I think worth mentioning is that of Roger Allam as the ghost of Jacob Marley. His lines chilled me to my bones! Talk about a spooky ghost voice!
Related: If you’re heading to London, make sure to check out the Charles Dickens Museum!
In addition to the excellent voice performances, I loved the strategic incorporation of sound effects. When it mentions Scrooge slurping his soup, you hear Scrooge slurping his soup. There are Christmas bells, jangling chains, and music. While this could easily be overdone and become annoying, they do it in such a way as to enhance and not detract from the listening experience. The product is a really enjoyable and immersive listening experience.
Whether rereading A Christmas Carol is an ancient annual tradition for you or you want to begin a new one, I recommend mixing things up with this really fun A Christmas Carol audiobook, to enjoy by yourself or with the whole family.
As a side note, I love the new lower-priced membership option. Half the normal monthly price, you don’t get monthly credits, but you do get access to hundreds of audio titles like this one included in your membership.
I’ve been thoroughly enjoying the Harney and Sons Holiday Tea all month long. If you were to fill your home up with the scent of Christmas, this tea would be that scent. It’s a black tea warmed with dried fruits and Christmasy spices.
You can buy it either loose leaf or in sachets, whatever your preference. I always go for loose leaf when I can.
It makes the perfect cuppa for enjoying this A Christmas Carol audiobook.
Tip: I’ve found that I enjoy this tea on the longer end of a black tea steeping time — about 5 minutes, and although I usually take my black tea with milk, I like this one better without milk or sugar. Knowing the proper steeping time for tea is essential to getting the right flavor.
I think I’ll keep enjoying this Harney and Sons holiday tea through January, and then pull it out whenever I want to infuse a little holiday cheer into my life during the year.
Harney and Sons currently has free shipping on all US orders, which is a great deal! You can check out all their tea selections here. They also offer a great military discount and are one of my favorite bookish tea companies that offer book-inspired teas.
Happy sipping!
Related: Do you have a tea and book lover in your life and need gift ideas? Check out my gift guide.
Don’t forget to watch a movie adaptation!
What’s your favorite movie adaptation of A Christmas Carol? I love Mickey’s Christmas Carol, Scrooged, and the more recent The Man Who Invented Christmas.
Drop your favorite in the comments!
Pin this now to reference for all the Christmases to come:
Constance Ray
I'm Constance, an avid reader and traveler. I love tracking down the best literary sights everywhere I go, from the best indie bookstores to author's homes and fictional locations you can visit in real life. I'm also passionate about all things tea and chocolate. I have a BA in English literature and an MS in Nutrition Science.
For a traveling book lover, the Writers’ Museum in Edinburgh, Scotland is a fun stop to include on your tour of one of my favorite cities in the world. I first visited Edinburgh fifteen years ago and fell in love with the city. I will never…
Are you a Jane Austen fan wondering if it’s worth your time to visit the Jane Austen Centre in Bath, England? With popular writers like Jane Austen, who is beloved in her home country, there are so many tourist destinations that a fan could visit. As…
Are you an audiobook listener who’s been wondering, is Audible worth it? And if so, which Audible plan is best? Things seem to change frequently with Amazon’s popular audiobook subscription plan, and it can be hard to stay on top of the many changes to do a…
For book lovers in London, a visit to Dr. Johnson’s House is a great way to escape city crowds and explore a lesser-known literary destination. I’m a literary travel expert who visits London multiple times a year, and I have to say that Samuel Johnson’s house…
It’s the end of another year, a point when I, like many others, enjoy sharing the best books I’ve read this year with my fellow readers looking for some good book recommendations. This year was a difficult one for me, with more than a little personal…
No time to read now? Pin this to read later. Who is Brandi Carlile? (also, why do I love her?) It’s hard, perhaps impossible, for me to review this memoir by Americana singer Brandi Carlile without at least touching on my own history as one of…
