Overview: Charles Dickens’ short story “A Christmas Carol” was first released in 1843. The story centers on Ebenezer Scrooge, a cruel, wretched, and bitter old man who has no relatives and an unhealthy fixation with money. Scrooge is cruel to his worker Bob Cratchit, constantly harasses marketplace sellers who took cash to him, and is extremely frugal seven years after the death of his partner in business, Jacob Marley. Scrooge also dislikes Christmas, to a point when he finds it incomprehensible that Bob wants to depart early on Christmas Eve in order to enjoy time with his wife and kids, particularly Tiny Tim, his crippled son. He also refuses to accept his nephew Fred’s invitation to supper. Nevertheless, the ghost of his ex-partner Marley warns him one night before Christmas that three ghosts would follow him on excursions to reveal his past, present, and future. As each ghost appears, completes its mission, and departs, Scrooge waits anxiously throughout the night. And he gains knowledge from each one. Scrooge has changed by morning, and others around him can now enjoy his newly found happiness. ‘Bah! Humbug!’ and the epithet Scrooge, which is used to describe someone who is frugal, are both derived from a beloved Christmas Carol.
The PDF edition of this book is 53 pages long and has 28,570 words. It was first published in 1843.
Title: A Christmas Carol
Author: Charles Dickens
Book Type: Noval
Time/Place of Publication: Written in 6 weeks in London in 1843
Genre: Novella, ghost story, allegory, Victorian gothic
Date of Publication: December 19, 1843