A Christmas Carol

This is one of the best-known stories of Charles Dickens, a prolific English 19th-century author. It is a moral tale in which a mean and unkind employer Ebenezer Scrooge (whose surname has since become synonymous with extreme parsimony) learns to understand how he could become a nicer and kinder man.

Charles Dickens (1812–1870) is often regarded as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era, combining keen observation of character and society with a uniquely powerful storytelling prowess. Dickens's early experiences of poverty shaped his work, documented in his semi-autobiographical novel 'David Copperfield'. His capacity to craft complex characters and dramatize social issues has earned him both critical and popular acclaim. 'A Christmas Carol' remains one of his most beloved works, a novella that has profoundly influenced the way Christmas is celebrated in English-speaking cultures. With its vivid portrayal of the miser Ebenezer Scrooge, and its journey through Christmases past, present, and future, the story encapsulates Dickens's blend of social commentary and fanciful storytelling. His literary style, marked by wit, satire, and a dash of melodrama, aimed to entertain as well as to critique the social ills of his time, from child labor to class inequality. Dickens's influence extends beyond literature into the broader cultural sphere, affirming his status as a towering figure in the English literary canon.