The Cricket on the Hearth: A Fairy Tale of Home by Charles Dickens

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About this eBook

Author Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870
Illustrator Doyle, Richard, 1824-1883
Illustrator Landseer, Edwin Henry, Sir, 1802-1873
Illustrator Leech, John, 1817-1864
Illustrator Maclise, Daniel, 1806-1870
Illustrator Stanfield, Clarkson, 1793-1867
Title The Cricket on the Hearth: A Fairy Tale of Home
Note Wikipedia page about this book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cricket_on_the_Hearth
Note Project Gutenberg has several editions of this eBook:
#20795 (Some B & W illustrations)
#37581 (Many fine B & W illustrations)
#678 (Not illustrated)
Note Reading ease score: 80.0 (6th grade). Easy to read.
Credits Produced by Chris Curnow, Emmy and the Online Distributed
Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was
produced from images generously made available by The
Internet Archive)
Summary "The Cricket on the Hearth: A Fairy Tale of Home" by Charles Dickens is a fictional novella written in the mid-19th century. It centers around the Peerybingle family, particularly focusing on young Mrs. Peerybingle, affectionately called Dot, and her husband John, a carrier, as they navigate the joys and challenges of home life. The tale is infused with themes of love, companionship, and the comfort of home, symbolized by the cricket that chirps on the hearth, suggesting that happiness can thrive in the simplest of settings. At the start of the story, we meet Mrs. Peerybingle, who is busy in her snug home, setting the kettle on the fire and chatting about the evening's excitement as she prepares for her husband’s return. The kettle and a cricket on the hearth come to life in a whimsical way, representing elements of comfort and festivity in their relationship. John's entrance is met with warmth and humor despite the dreariness of the weather outside. Their lively banter showcases their affection for one another. The narrative hints at underlying tensions, especially with the introduction of a mysterious old gentleman staying with them, as well as the character of Gruff and Tackleton, who is set to marry Dot’s old friend, May. This sets the stage for intertwining lives and the exploration of love and contentment within the confines of a domestic setting. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Language English
LoC Class PR: Language and Literatures: English literature
Subject England -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction
Subject Christmas stories, English
Subject Holidays -- Fiction
Category Text
EBook-No. 37581
Release Date
Most Recently Updated Jan 8, 2021
Copyright Status Public domain in the USA.
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