A Christmas Carol is a novella by English author Charles Dickens first published by Chapman & Hall on 19 December 1843. The story tells of sour and stingy Ebenezer Scrooges ideological, ethical, and emotional transformation after the supernatural visitations of Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of Christmases Past, Present, and Yet to Come. The novella met with instant success and critical acclaim.
The book was written and published in early Victorian era Britain when it was experiencing a nostalgic interest in its forgotten Christmas traditions, and at the time when new customs such as the Christmas tree and greeting cards were being introduced. Dickens sources for the tale appear to be many and varied but are principally the humiliating experiences of his childhood, his sympathy for the poor, and the Christmas stories of Washington Irving.
The tale was pirated immediately, was adapted several times to the stage, and has been credited with restoring the holiday to one of merriment and festivity in Britain and America after a period of sobriety and sombreness. A Christmas Carol remains popular, has never been out of print,and has been adapted to film, opera, and other media.
从1843年到1848年间,狄更斯几乎在每年圣诞节都发表一个与节日有关的中篇小说,其中《圣诞颂歌》具有极其特殊的地位:书中的情节和人物在西方家喻户晓,一百多年来积聚的“人气”使其成为狄更斯的小说中最深入人心的一部。文学评论家认为,《圣诞颂歌》的发表是狄更斯的创作生涯中的重大转折点;而社会学家则相信,这部作品深刻地改变了现代圣诞节在西方世界的地位和价值,狄更斯本人也因此被称为“发明圣诞节”的人。