A Christmas Carol  is a novella by Charles Dickens, first published in London by Chapman & Hall on 19 December 1843.  The novella met with instant success and critical acclaim.  Carol tells the story of a bitter old miser named Ebenezer Scrooge and his transformation into a gentler, kindlier man after visitations by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of Christmases Past, Present and Yet to Come.  The book was written at a time when the British were examining and exploring Christmas traditions from the past as well as new customs such as Christmas cards and Christmas trees.  Carol singing took a new lease on life during this time.  (More from Wikipedia)