1. A Christmas Carol
Charles Dickens’ iconic tale begins with Ebenezer Scrooge’s miserly disdain for Christmas, casting a shadow over the festive season. The chilling visitation by Marley’s ghost warns of grim consequences, setting the stage for Scrooge’s transformation. Dickens exposed Victorian society’s indifference to poverty and suffering, making the tale as much a social critique as a festive story (britishlibrary.cn).
