"Charles Dickens as he appears when reading."
(Harper's Weekly, v. 11, no. 571, 7 December 1867, p. 777.)

There are many "resplendent resources" already available on-line about Charles Dickens,
 A Christmas Carol, Victorian England & Christmas as well.  So as not to reinvent the wheel,
so to speak, some GREAT LINKS to this information are simply provided below.  Bon Appetit!

Dickens' Own Words About His Visit to Boston and New York, Nov-Dec 1867

Original Handwritten Manuscript!

1843 First Edition Facsimile

Project Gutenberg's Online Book with Original Illustrations

AND . . .

Dickens Motivation & Publishing of 1843 "A Christmas Carol"

Wikipedia's "A Christmas Carol"

David Perdue's Webpage on "A Christmas Carol"

Wikipedia's "Charles Dickens"

David Perdue's Website on Charles Dickens

Wikipedia's "Victorian Era"

Wikipedia's "Christmas"