how long did it take to write a christmas carol

"Charles Dickens, the author of A Christmas Carol, spent many months crafting the story. The first draft was completed in 1843, and he continued to revise and refine the story over the next few years. In the end, he published the book on December 19, 1843, which was only a few weeks before Christmas. It was an instant success, and the book has become a beloved classic ever since."