Ebenezer Scrooge and the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and to come are as much a part of a traditional Christmas as mistletoe, carolers, and candlelight processions.
Charles Dickens (1812-1870) is generally regarded as the greatest English novelist of the Victorian period. The author of many noted works, including David Copperfield, The Adventures of Oliver Twist, A Tale of Two Cities, and Great Expectations, Dickens has remained popular with readers for more than 150 years. His novels are praised by critics and scholars alike, and 2012 marks the 200th anniversary of his birth.