An immediate bestseller when it was first published in December 1843, A Christmas Carol has endured ever since as a perennial Yuletide favorite. Charles Dickens's beloved tale about the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge, who comes to know the meaning of kindness, charity, and goodwill through a haunting Christmas Eve encounter with four ghosts, is a heartwarming celebration of the spirit of Christmas. This Modern Library Paperback Classics edition also includes...
It's another of those odd, unlikely holidays—Curmudgeon's Day! And, of course, we're celebrating with books! Why are lovable grumps such a staple in literature? Maybe it's because it's so satisfying to find the kind heart underneath all their bluster. Here are seven of our favorite literary curmudgeons.