Novel classic, Martha or Tim's story? (1,9,5)

I believe the answer is:

a christmas carol

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'story?' is the definition.
(Charles Dickens novella)

'novel classic martha or' is the wordplay.
'novel' indicates anagramming the letters (letters in a new or novel order).
'classic'+'martha'+'or'='classicmarthaor'
'classicmarthaor' with letters rearranged gives 'A CHRISTMAS CAROL'.

'tim's' acts as a link.
This may not be right. It may belong to another bit of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for a christmas carol that I've seen before include "Scrooge's tale" , "haunting story for 8 [EBENEZER SCROOGE]" , "novel" , "Seasonal song" , "Classic book" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.

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