Cover of The Cricket on the Hearth

The Cricket on the Hearth

by Charles Dickens

First published
1845
Reading level
Plain English
Price
Free

About the book

"The Cricket on the Hearth: A Fairy Tale of Home" by Charles Dickens is a novella published in 1845. John Peerybingle, a humble carrier, lives happily with his young wife Dot until a mysterious stranger arrives at their home. When John witnesses what appears to be a betrayal between Dot and the disguised lodger, his world shatters. As he contemplates revenge, the cheerful cricket on their hearth reveals visions that challenge everything he believes about his wife's faithfulness and their marriage.

  • England
  • Christmas stories, English
  • Holidays

Updated September 2026. Public domain in the USA. Text and summary from Project Gutenberg eBook #678. The Cricket on the Hearth on Wikipedia.

More free books by Charles Dickens

About Charles Dickens