Gothamist

A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.

Gothamist

Listen Live

Donate

Arts & Entertainment

Here's Charles Dickens' Personal Copy Of 'A Christmas Carol' At The NYPL

By

Jen Carlson

Published Dec 25, 2016

Modified Dec 25, 2016

Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail

Never miss a story

 Email address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .

By

Jen Carlson

Published Dec 25, 2016

Modified Dec 25, 2016

Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail

We rely on your support to make local news available to all

Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

Charles Dickens's own, marked up copy of A Christmas Carol. (Jen Carlson/Gothamist)

The New York Public Library has taken out some of their treasured holiday items and put them on display. The centerpiece is Charles Dickens's own copy of A Christmas Carol, which he used for public readings. His edits, voice instruction, and notes on audience reaction are in the margins.

In addition, their “A Writer's Christmas" exhibit (which is free) also includes:

• A 1929 Christmas card from James Joyce to a friend.
• A typed Christmas card from Jack Kerouac to his soon-to-be wife Stella, with a drawing.
• A “season’s greetings” card signed by Maurice Sendak to Randall and Mary Jarrell.
• Poetic Christmas greetings from Sean O’Casey and E. E. Cummings.
• Books with Christmas themes by T. S. Eliot and Edmund Wilson.
• Pen-and-ink drawings by Joseph Clayton Clark, a photograph of the “real” Tiny Tim, and porcelain figures connected to A Christmas Carol

These items are all from the Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Literature, and will be on display through January 8th in the Library’s McGraw Rotunda on the third floor. More details here.

Tagged

a writer's christmas

charles dickens

exhibit

nypl

Jen Carlson

Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.

Read more

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

MORE arts-entertainment

The Knicks are NBA champions. Now they have to start dressing the part.

Before they attempt to fend off LeBron James and the 76ers on Tuesday, the Knicks will have a chance to show off their winning mentality through their tunnel fits.

By

Sonia Rao

Published Oct 19, 2026

Will Barnes and Noble in the East Village spell doom for smaller shops? It's complicated.

Independent booksellers are grappling with whether the big-box chain is a threat or an ally in the fight against Amazon.

By

Sonia Rao

Arts & Entertainment

Will Barnes and Noble in the East Village spell doom for smaller shops? It's complicated.

Independent booksellers are grappling with whether the big-box chain is a threat or an ally in the fight against Amazon.

By

Sonia Rao

Can eligible NYC singles find love with 30 minutes and some really spicy food?

By

Elizabeth Shwe

and

James Ramsay

How the NYC Marathon has changed in the last 50 years

By

Hannah Frishberg

A visit to Art of Play, the Brooklyn store in an animatronic bird beef with Kelly Clarkson

By

Sonia Rao

Never miss a story

Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.

Sign upEmail address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .