London.

1843. Charles Dickens was walking alone that night. He was tense, worried, glum. He had been one of England's most popular writers, but now his latest books were disappointments. Sales were plummeting. Dickens was not a wealthy man, no child of privilege. He was only as good as his next book. Maybe he had lost his touch. Maybe it was gone forever. And so he walked alone every night through the black streets of London, 15 and 20 miles many a night, he wrote. When all the sober folks had gone to bed, he needed a miracle. That's when he had an idea, and in these long and lonely walks that idea would blossom. The characters, the story. He blazed away from morning to night, every night, stopping only 10 minutes for dinner. It was an obsession. He had six weeks to finish and publish his story before Christmas. Only six weeks. Finally, on December the 17th 1843, a Christmas carol was published. It would become a global phenomenon. In more than two centuries, it would spawn plays and musicals and films and radio shows and this podcast.

Hope.

Media Group is very proud to present an all new audio experience. Scrooge, a Christmas carol. Here's a taste.

Merry Christmas to you, Uncle. Good afternoon. Jacob, is that you? I wear the chain I forged in life, link by link. You will be visited by three spirits on this.

Very evening. Memories can be ignored, Ebenezer, but not forgotten.

So why have you come if you have nothing to say? Ebenezer, are you going to join us? Spirit do not leave me. No questions. Rule number one of the present never.

Question it.

Scrooge. Why show me these things if they are not to be?

Spirit, help me. Scrooge, a Christmas cattle is coming soon. Wherever you hear podcasts.