This novella by Charles Dickens, originally published in 1843, was conceived and written in a few weeks. A unique combination of parable, social criticism, and ghost story, A Christmas Carol remains one of the most influential works of literature ever written. Dickens—hailed as one of the greatest novelists to ever live—was a socially-conscious force in the Victorian world. He gave a voice to the poor and the marginalized, challenging readers to see the world with compassion, pity, and outrage. A Christmas Carol is no exception, presenting characters whose stories cry out for social reform and challenge cultural norms. Through a series of spectral visions, the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge is allowed to review his life and to change its outcome. The Ghost of Christmas Past reveals vignettes of Scrooge’s early life as a schoolboy, an apprentice, and a young man in love. The Ghost of Christmas Present reveals to Scrooge that joy has little to do with wealth; together they visit the...