Charles Dickens was born in 1812 in Portsmouth, England. His most famous work, A Christmas Carol, tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge through five chapters or "staves." Dickens drew from his own experiences, such as his father's imprisonment in debtors' prison, which left a deep impression and influenced his writing. The story is set in 1800s London and describes elements of life at that time, including doors, pubs, and Bedlam, an infamous asylum for the mentally ill.