Who wrote 'A Christmas Carol'?

Charles Dickens wrote “A Christmas Carol.” The novella, whose full title is A Christmas Carol. In Prose. Being a Ghost Story of Christmas, was published in London by Chapman & Hall on 19 December 1843.

The story follows Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserly businessman whose outlook changes after visits from the ghost of Jacob Marley and the Spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come. Dickens used the supernatural plot to explore poverty, social responsibility, generosity and personal redemption.

Dickens wrote the book during a difficult period: sales of Martin Chuzzlewit had disappointed, and he needed a successful work. He completed the novella in roughly six weeks. Its first printing of 6,000 copies sold out by Christmas Eve, and the story has never been out of print.

A common mix-up is confusing Dickens with the illustrator John Leech, whose artwork accompanied the first edition. Another neighbouring fact readers often ask about is Tiny Tim, whose illness and Scrooge’s concern for him became central to the story’s emotional power.