A Christmas Carol is a novella by English author Charles Dickens, first published by Chapman and Hall, and first released on 19 December 1843. The book met with instant success and critical acclaim. The novella tells the story of sour and stingy Ebenezer Scrooge, and his transformation into a warm-hearted philanthropist after being visited by several ghosts on Christmas Eve. The book was written and published at a time when Britain was experiencing a nostalgic interest in its forgotten Christmas traditions, and at at time when new customs such as the Christmas tree and greeting cards were being introduced. Dickens's 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 the Christmas stories of Washington Irving. The tale was pirated immediately, adapted several times to the stage, and has been credited with returning the holiday to one of merriment and festivity in Britain and America after a period of sobriety and sombreness. A Christmas Carol remains popular, has never been out of print, and has been adapted to film, opera, and other media.

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