Video: '19th December 1843: A Christmas Carol first published'

(Tuesday, December 19, 1843) — A Christmas Carol, a novella by English author Charles Dickens, was first published today in London by Chapman & Hall.

A Christmas Carol recounts the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, an elderly miser who is visited by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley and the spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come.

After their visits, Scrooge is transformed into a kinder, gentler man.

Video: 'The story of "A Christmas Carol"'

A Christmas Carol was written in just six weeks from September 1843. Although released by an established publisher, Dickens was unwilling to take a lump-sum fee for the story and so instead published it at his own expense. However, the high production costs meant that the profits were smaller than he hoped for.

Despite this disappointing financial return for its author, A Christmas Carol is said to be responsible for establishing much of the modern interpretation of the Christmas holiday.

Video: 'A Christmas Carol - Full Story Audio'

Historian Ronald Hutton refers to the book’s theme of “social reconciliation,” and views the story as establishing the link between individuals, families and their place within the wider community as well as the importance of charitable giving.

A Christmas Carol has never been out of print and has been translated into several languages; the story has been adapted many times for film, stage, opera and other media.