FREE/BARGAIN — Audiobooks

[tubemonkey]

Christmas Stories 2019 v1 --> Assorted Stories -- updated 25 Dec 2019

Tis that time of year to compile a collection of free/inexpensive Christmas stories. Vol 1 will include all Christmas stories except A Christmas Carol. Due to the sheer volume of that perennial classic, it'll be the subject of Vol 2. Both posts will be linked in the OP.

Master Index

• Christmas Stories 2019 v1 --> Assorted Stories (this post)
  
• Christmas Stories 2019 v2 --> A Christmas Carol

Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world. A feast central to the Christian liturgical year, it is preceded by the season of Advent or the Nativity Fast and initiates the season of Christmastide, which historically in the West lasts twelve days and culminates on Twelfth Night; in some traditions, Christmastide includes an octave.

Spoiler:

Audible

• The Chronicles of St Mary's
  
• FREE --- When a Child Is Born (bk 2.5) -- J Taylor (32 min) --> details
  
• FREE --- Christmas Present (bk 4.5) -- J Taylor (1.3 hrs) --> details
  
• FREE --- Ships & Stings &... (bk 6.5) -- J Taylor (1.4 hrs) --> details
  
  
• FREE --- Christmas Bonus (series) -- N Alexander (1.4 hrs) --> details
  
• FREE --- Christmas in Kitchen (bk 7.5) -- N Singh (19 min)
  
• FREE --- Gather ‘Round the Sound -- multiple (1.2 hrs) --> details
  
• FREE --- Little Donkey (bk 1.5) -- J Taylor (1.1 hrs) --> details
  
• FREE --- The Cricket on the Hearth -- C Dickens (3.6 hrs)
  
• $1.25 -- The Hunt -- O de Muriel (30 min)
  
• FREE --- The Most Wonderful Tales of Year -- multiple (1.8 hrs) --> details

Lit2Go

• FREE -- A Visit from St Nicholas -- C Moore (3.3 min)
  
• FREE -- Dickens' Christmas Stories -- C Dickens (2.1 hrs) --> 5 shorts
  
• FREE -- The Bird's Christmas Carol-- KD Wiggin (xx hrs)

ThoughtAudio

• FREE -- The Gift of the Magi -- O Henry (14 min)
  
• FREE -- Twas Night Before Christmas -- C Moore (4 min)

other Sources

• FREE -- Child's Christmas in Wales -- D Thomas (25 min) --> details
  
• FREE -- First Christmas Tree -- H Van Dyke (55 min)
  
• FREE -- Holmes' Christmas Quest -- K Griffin (5.5 min) --> details
  
• FREE -- Little Women & other Stories -- LM Alcott (20.3 hrs) --> details
  
• FREE -- Santaland Diaries -- D Sedaris (7.5 min)
  
• FREE -- The Gift of the Magi -- O Henry (19.6 min)

Collections

• FREE -- Christmas Stories (22 titles) -- LibriVox
  
• FREE -- Christmas Stories (29 titles) -- LibriVox
  
• FREE -- Christmas Stories (35 titles) -- LibriVox
  
• FREE -- Christmas Stories (5 titles) --- Lit2Go
  
• FREE -- Christmas Stories (25 titles) -- Storynory

The Night Before Christmas -- Clement Moore

• FREE -- A Visit from St Nicholas -- Lit2Go (3.3 min)
  
• FREE -- The Night Before Christmas -- Chipmunks (3 min)
  
• FREE -- Twas Night Before Christmas -- M Scott (4 min)
  
• FREE -- Twas Night Before Christmas -- LibriVox (9 versions)
  
• FREE -- Zelda's Night Before Christmas -- Big Finish (3 min) --> details
  
• Spoiler:

  "A Visit from St. Nicholas", more commonly known as "The Night Before Christmas" and "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" from its first line, is a poem first published anonymously in 1823 and later attributed to Clement Clarke Moore, who claimed authorship in 1837. Some commentators now believe the poem was written by Henry Livingston Jr..
  
  The poem has been called "arguably the best-known verses ever written by an American" and is largely responsible for some of the conceptions of Santa Claus from the mid-nineteenth century to today. It has had a massive impact on the history of Christmas gift-giving. Before the poem gained wide popularity, American ideas had varied considerably about Saint Nicholas and other Christmastide visitors. "A Visit from St. Nicholas" eventually was set to music and has been recorded by many artists.

  A Visit from St. Nicholas
  
  Versions of A Visit from St. Nicholas generally attributed to Clement Clarke Moore; possibly by Henry Beekman Livingston
  
  The poem "Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas", also known as "The Night Before Christmas" from its first line, and first published in 1823, is largely responsible for the contemporary American conception of Santa Claus, including his appearance, the night he visits, his method of transportation, the number and names of his reindeer, and that he brings toys to children. Prior to the poem, American ideas about St. Nicholas and other Christmastide visitors varied considerably.
  
  The poem was published anonymously in 1823 by the Troy Sentinel. It was first attributed to Clement Clarke Moore in 1837 by Charles Fenno Hoffman in The New York Book of Poetry. Moore himself first claimed authorship in his 1844 book Poems. Circa 1860, the family of Major Henry Livingston, Jr. (1748–1828) discovered the claims of Moore's authorship, but waited until after Moore's death to publicly argue that Livingston had first composed the poem circa 1807.
  
  The last two reindeer names were Dunder and Blixem when the poem was first published anonymously on December 23, 1823. The editor of the 1825 McClure Almanac was the first to change Blixem to Blixen. When Moore later published the work as his own (Poems, 1844), the names were spelled Donder and Blitzen. In a number of later reprintings, Dunder/Donder's name is further simplified to Donner.
  
  — Excerpted from A Visit from St. Nicholas on Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

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[tubemonkey]

Christmas Stories 2019 v2 --> A Christmas Carol -- updated 25 Dec 2019

Tis that time of year to compile a collection of free/inexpensive Christmas stories. Vol 1 will include all Christmas stories except A Christmas Carol. Due to the sheer volume of that perennial classic, it'll be the subject of Vol 2. Both posts will be linked in the OP.

Master Index

• Christmas Stories 2019 v1 --> Assorted Stories
  
• Christmas Stories 2019 v2 --> A Christmas Carol (this post)

A Christmas Carol -- Charles Dickens (1812~1870)

A Christmas Carol is a novella by Charles Dickens. It was first published in London by Chapman & Hall on 19 December 1843. The novella met with instant success and critical acclaim. Carol tells the story of a bitter old miser named Ebenezer Scrooge and his transformation into a gentler, kindlier man after visitations by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of Christmases Past, Present and Yet to Come.

The book was written at a time when the British were examining and exploring Christmas traditions from the past as well as new customs such as Christmas cards and Christmas trees. Carol singing took a new lease on life during this time. Dickens' sources for the tale appear to be many and varied, but are, principally, the humiliating experiences of his childhood, his sympathy for the poor, and various Christmas stories and fairy tales.

Audiobooks (narrator)

• FREE -- A Christmas Carol -- 3.0 hrs -- J Dale ----> Audiobooks.org
  
• FREE -- A Christmas Carol -- 2.8 hrs -- A Bath ---> LearnOutLoud ---> details
  
• FREE -- A Christmas Carol -- 2.9 hrs -- multiple --> Lit2Go
  
• FREE -- A Christmas Carol -- 2.8 hrs -- M Scott --> ThoughtAudio

Dramatizations (narrator)

• FREE -- A Christmas Carol -- 59 min -- Orson Welles --> Campbell Playhouse
  
• FREE -- A Christmas Carol -- 54 min -- Jon Winters ----> Natl Public Radio
  
• FREE -- A Christmas Carol -- 1.4 hrs -- Neil Gaiman ---> NY Pub Library ---> details
  
• FREE -- A Christmas Carol -- 3.0 hrs -- full cast --------> LibriVox
  
• FREE -- A Christmas Carol -- 3.7 hrs -- full cast --------> WOUB Radio

LibriVox (narrator)

• FREE -- A Christmas Carol (25 titles) -- multiple
  
• FREE -- A Christmas Carol -- 3.2 hrs -- Kyle Munley

Podcasts (narrator)

• FREE -- A Christmas Carol -- 2.2 hrs -- Alan Smith --> BBC Radio ---> details
  
• FREE -- A Christmas Carol -- 3.0 hrs -- Pat Horgan --> Stitcher

Reviews (narrator)

• FREE -- An Intro to A Christmas Carol -- 29 min -- David Timson

================================================== ==========

eBooks & other Sources

• FREE -- Google | iTunes | Kindle | Kobo | Nook | Proj Guten

• FREE -- A Christmas Carol --> original 1843 edition published by Chapman & Hall
  
• FREE -- A Christmas Carol --> 1920 facsimile edition published by Little, Brown & Co
  
• FREE -- other Sources -------> copies, collections, libraries, etc

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[melmac]

Audible Australias free Editors Extra is The Widow by Fiona Barton 10hrs offer ends 6th January.
If you are a current Aussie member and already own this title check your email as they will usually send you a $14.95 coupon instead

[tubemonkey]

Amazon -- Kindle Unlimited

• $0.99 --- Kin Unlim Subscription -- 3 months -- limited time -- YMMV
  
• $29.97 -- Kin Unlim Subscription -- 6 months -- exp 31 Dec -- YMMV

3 Months (Deal) -- $29.97 $0.99
Renews at $9.99/month afterwards. Limited time offer.

6 Months (Deal) -- $59.94 $29.97
Renews at $9.99/month afterwards. Offer valid until 12/31/2019.

Deal Terms and Conditions

• Spoiler:

[tubemonkey]

Daily Deals -- exp 08 Dec @ 11:59 PM PT

• Audible ---> $2.95 -- Into the Wild (book 1) -- Erin Hunter --> kids 8-10
  
• Down -----> $4.95 -- Beasts of the Frozen Sun (book 1) -- Jill Criswell --> fantasy
  
• eStories --> TBA

[socnsum1]

Audible UK

2 for 1 BBC Sale (ends 15 December)

https://www.audible.co.uk/special-pr..._c0_banner_img

[tubemonkey]

Audible UK -- Daily Deal -- exp 09 Dec @ 11:59 pm GMT

• £1.99 -- Super Attractor -- Gabrielle Bernstein --> NF self-help

* Super Attractor: Methods for Manifesting a Life Beyond Your Wildest Dreams

[tubemonkey]

Daily Deals -- exp 09 Dec @ 11:59 pm PT

• Audible ---> $4.95 -- The Escape (book 3) -- David Baldacci --> detective
  
• Down -----> $3.95 -- The Edge (book 3) -- Tim Lebbon --> fantasy
  
• eStories --> TBA

[tubemonkey]

Audible UK -- Daily Deal -- exp 10 Dec @ 11:59 pm GMT

• TBA -- Dadland -- Keggie Carew --> NF memoir

[tubemonkey]

Alexa UK -- Monthly Offers -- exp 31 Dec @ 11:59 pm GMT

"Alexa, what's free from Audible?" -- streaming only

• FREE -- The Beatrix Potter Collection -- Beatrix Potter/ A Scott -- 4.2 hrs -- classic
  
• FREE -- The Christmas Hirelings -- Mary E Braddon/ J Saunders -- 4.0 hrs -- classic
  
• FREE -- Ghostly Tales -- Charles Dickens, et al/ S Callow, et al -- 2.5 hrs -- anthology

We have some exciting news for Alexa users. Each month we will offer a selection of brilliant audiobooks you'll be able to listen to for free on your Alexa device. Browse this month's selection below.

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[tubemonkey]

Daily Deals -- exp 10 Dec @ 11:59 pm PT

• Audible ---> $2.95 -- The Boston Girl -- Anita Diamant --> historical
  
• Down -----> TBA
  
• eStories --> TBA

[abqkjh]

I purchased one of the $30 Audible Gift cards. I would prefer to hold onto it until I cancel my current membership, but am wanting to verify that it will actually work.

[tubemonkey]

Audible UK -- Daily Deal -- exp 11 Dec @ 11:59 pm GMT

• TBA -- The Girl Who Fell from the Sky -- Simon Mawer --> literary

[tubemonkey]

Daily Deals -- exp 11 Dec @ 11:59 pm PT

• Audible ---> $4.95 -- My Lady Jane (book 1) -- Cynthia Hand, et al --> YA historical
  
• Down -----> TBA
  
• eStories --> TBA

[wandalynn]

Originally Posted by abqkjh

I purchased one of the $30 Audible Gift cards. I would prefer to hold onto it until I cancel my current membership, but am wanting to verify that it will actually work.

I bought one at Best Buy last weekend and had no trouble redeeming it. Just follow the directions on the back - after you enter the code you'll be prompted to log into your account. I'm on the 'lite' plan and got the three credits up front, btw. I was curious whether I'd get that or three months of full membership.