Other editions of book Cricket on the Hearth: Play

Dickens gave his first formal expression to his Christmas thoughts in his series of small books, the first of which was the famous "Christmas Carol." There followed four others: "The Chimes," "The Cricket on the Hearth," "The Battle of Life," and "The Haunted Man." The five are known today as the "Christmas Books." Of them all the "Carol" is the best known and loved, and "The Cricket on the Hearth," although third in the series, is perhaps next in popularity, and is especially familiar to Americans through Joseph Jefferson's characterisation of Caleb Plummer. The title creature is a sort of barometer of life at the home of John Peerybingle and his much younger wife Dot. When things go well, the cricket on the hearth chirps; it is silent when there is sorrow. Tackleton, a jealous old man, poisons John's mind about Dot, but the cricket through its supernatural powers restores John's confidence and all ends happily.

In July 1845, Dickens contemplated forming a periodical focusing on the concerns of the home. It was to be called The Cricket, but the plan fell through, and he transformed his idea into a Christmas book in which he abandoned social criticism, current events, and topical themes in favour of simple fantasy and a domestic setting for his hero's redemption. The book was released on 20 December 1845 (the title page read "1846") and sold briskly into the New Year. Seventeen stage productions opened during the Christmas season 1845 with one production receiving Dickens's approval and opening on the same day as the book's release. Dickens read the tale four times in public performance. It has been dramatised in numerous languages and for years was more popular on stage than A Christmas Carol. Vladimir Lenin publicly walked out of a performance of the Cricket play in the Soviet Union, calling it too sentimental, but it is less explicitly Christian than some of Dickens's other Christmas books. Cricket has been criticised for its sentimentality, but contemporary readers were attracted to its depiction of the Victorian ideal of the happy home.

In July 1845, Dickens contemplated forming a periodical focusing on the concerns of the home. It was to be called The Cricket, but the plan fell through, and he transformed his idea into a Christmas book in which he abandoned social criticism, current events, and topical themes in favour of simple fantasy and a domestic setting for his hero's redemption. The book was released on 20 December 1845 (the title page read "1846") and sold briskly into the New Year. Seventeen stage productions opened during the Christmas season 1845 with one production receiving Dickens's approval and opening on the same day as the book's release. Dickens read the tale four times in public performance. It has been dramatised in numerous languages and for years was more popular on stage than A Christmas Carol. Vladimir Lenin publicly walked out of a performance of the Cricket play in the Soviet Union, calling it too sentimental, but it is less explicitly Christian than some of Dickens's other Christmas books. Cricket has been criticised for its sentimentality, but contemporary readers were attracted to its depiction of the Victorian ideal of the happy home.

In July 1845, Dickens contemplated forming a periodical focusing on the concerns of the home. It was to be called The Cricket, but the plan fell through, and he transformed his idea into a Christmas book in which he abandoned social criticism, current events, and topical themes in favour of simple fantasy and a domestic setting for his hero's redemption. The book was released on 20 December 1845 (the title page read "1846") and sold briskly into the New Year. Seventeen stage productions opened during the Christmas season 1845 with one production receiving Dickens's approval and opening on the same day as the book's release. Dickens read the tale four times in public performance. It has been dramatised in numerous languages and for years was more popular on stage than A Christmas Carol. Vladimir Lenin publicly walked out of a performance of the Cricket play in the Soviet Union, calling it too sentimental, but it is less explicitly Christian than some of Dickens's other Christmas books. Cricket has been criticised for its sentimentality, but contemporary readers were attracted to its depiction of the Victorian ideal of the happy home.

The Cricket on the Hearth is Charles Dickens third of five Christmas books. Dickens described the novel as quiet and domestic, innocent and pretty. It is a story about relationships and how they are affected by such emotions as love and egotism. The story centers on John Peerybingle and his family who are visited by a guardian angel in the form of a cricket who is constantly chirping on their hearth. A cricket, believed to be a symbol of good luck, works as a cementing factor between the couple.The book includes original illustrations by Daniel Maclise, John Leech,Richard Doyle, Edwin Landseer and Clarkson Stanfield, an active/navigable table of content, and a Free audiobook link for download (which can be downloaded using a PC/Mac) at the end of the book.

The Cricket on the Hearth is Charles Dickens third of five Christmas books. Dickens described the novel as quiet and domestic, innocent and pretty. It is a story about relationships and how they are affected by such emotions as love and egotism. The story centers on John Peerybingle and his family who are visited by a guardian angel in the form of a cricket who is constantly chirping on their hearth. A cricket, believed to be a symbol of good luck, works as a cementing factor between the couple.The book includes original illustrations by Daniel Maclise, John Leech,Richard Doyle, Edwin Landseer and Clarkson Stanfield, an active/navigable table of content, and a Free audiobook link for download (which can be downloaded using a PC/Mac) at the end of the book.

The Cricket on the Hearth is Charles Dickens third of five Christmas books. Dickens described the novel as quiet and domestic, innocent and pretty. It is a story about relationships and how they are affected by such emotions as love and egotism. The story centers on John Peerybingle and his family who are visited by a guardian angel in the form of a cricket who is constantly chirping on their hearth. A cricket, believed to be a symbol of good luck, works as a cementing factor between the couple.The book includes original illustrations by Daniel Maclise, John Leech,Richard Doyle, Edwin Landseer and Clarkson Stanfield, an active/navigable table of content, and a Free audiobook link for download (which can be downloaded using a PC/Mac) at the end of the book.

The Cricket on the Hearth is Charles Dickens third of five Christmas books. Dickens described the novel as quiet and domestic, innocent and pretty. It is a story about relationships and how they are affected by such emotions as love and egotism. The story centers on John Peerybingle and his family who are visited by a guardian angel in the form of a cricket who is constantly chirping on their hearth. A cricket, believed to be a symbol of good luck, works as a cementing factor between the couple.The book includes original illustrations by Daniel Maclise, John Leech,Richard Doyle, Edwin Landseer and Clarkson Stanfield, an active/navigable table of content, and a Free audiobook link for download (which can be downloaded using a PC/Mac) at the end of the book.

The Cricket on the Hearth is Charles Dickens third of five Christmas books. Dickens described the novel as quiet and domestic, innocent and pretty. It is a story about relationships and how they are affected by such emotions as love and egotism. The story centers on John Peerybingle and his family who are visited by a guardian angel in the form of a cricket who is constantly chirping on their hearth. A cricket, believed to be a symbol of good luck, works as a cementing factor between the couple.The book includes original illustrations by Daniel Maclise, John Leech,Richard Doyle, Edwin Landseer and Clarkson Stanfield, an active/navigable table of content, and a Free audiobook link for download (which can be downloaded using a PC/Mac) at the end of the book.

The Cricket on the Hearth is Charles Dickens third of five Christmas books. Dickens described the novel as quiet and domestic, innocent and pretty. It is a story about relationships and how they are affected by such emotions as love and egotism. The story centers on John Peerybingle and his family who are visited by a guardian angel in the form of a cricket who is constantly chirping on their hearth. A cricket, believed to be a symbol of good luck, works as a cementing factor between the couple.The book includes original illustrations by Daniel Maclise, John Leech,Richard Doyle, Edwin Landseer and Clarkson Stanfield, an active/navigable table of content, and a Free audiobook link for download (which can be downloaded using a PC/Mac) at the end of the book.