HarperCollins is proud to present its incredible range of best-loved, essential classics. Time was, with most of us, when Christmas Day, encircling all our limited world like a magic ring, left nothing out for us to miss or seek; bound together all our home enjoyments, affections, and hopes; grouped everything and every one around the Christmas fire... This heart-warming collection of festive short stories and novellas perfectly captures the spirit of reflection and faith that Christmas brings. Centred on the journeys taken through life and the inherent goodness of mankind, these stories capture the true meaning behind Christmas and bask in the season of goodwill. Imbued with a direct moral message, Dickens's writing gives a voice to the plight of middle-class workers and families during a period of social and political change in Victorian England. With such tales as The Chimes, The Battle of Life and What Christmas is as We Grow Older, this is a beautiful collection for Dickens fans, and a wonderful companion for all those who cherish A Christmas Carol.