Written by Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol was first published in 1843. It is the story of the transfor- mation of Scrooge, a selfish, miserly old man, by the supernatural visits of the ghost of his dead partner and the three ghosts of Christmas-past, present and future. At the end of these encounters, Scrooge is a changed man. The story brings out the spirit of Christmas with its message of hope and cheer. It teaches us that by learning from our past mistakes, we can improve our present, leading to a happier future. The evocative illustrations further help in capturing the imagination of the reader.