Charles Dickens was 31 and the author of six major works when he became outraged by the working conditions of children. With the hope that he could move more readers to action, he wrote A Christmas Carol in 6 weeks. But even with a sold-out publishing run, the funds available were insufficient now that his wife was pregnant with their fifth child. Dickens loved the theatre and took to reading A Christmas Carol to audiences. The novella soon gained fame, and millions of copies have been sold making the phrase "Merry Christmas" universal. Note from the author: "About twenty years ago, Jake Correll asked me to direct A Christmas Carol in the Courthouse Theatre. But the theatre was only available for two days, and we needed four performances to break even. And thus ... the hour-long version was born. It has charmed audiences ever since." -ABH About the Author: In addition to this illustrated edition of A Christmas Carol, Sentia has published three other books by Andrew B. Harris (Four Plays) and World Theatre (in two volumes). Prize-winning books include The Performing Set (UNT Press) and Broadway Theatre (Routledge). Dr. Harris has chaired theatre departments at SMU, TCU, and Columbia University. A UNT Professor Emeritus, he is an alumnus of the University of Chicago and New Dramatists. The Harrises make their home in McKinney, Texas.