A Christmas Carol, first published in 1843, is a novella by Charles Dickens. It tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserly and misanthropic businessman, who is visited by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come. Through these ghostly encounters, Scrooge is given a chance to change his ways and learn the true meaning of Christmas. The story has been adapted into numerous stage plays, films, and television specials. It is considered a classic and has been widely read and enjoyed for generations.