Books for Christmas

14 Dec

At home, at sea, in many distant lands,

This Kingly Feast without a rival stands!

Christmas is the most wonderful season for the whole family. All of us, children and adults, are waiting for this celebration in joyful anticipation. We would be more than happy to bring you more Christmas joy with this list of books for the holidays.

Christmas, Its Origin and Associations, Together with Its Historical Events and Festive Celebrations During Nineteen Centuries depicting:

memorable celebrations, stately meetings of early kings, remarkable event, romantic episodes, brave deeds, picturesque customs, time-honoured sports, royal Christmases, coronations and royal marriages, chivalric feats, court banquetings and revellings, Christmas at the colleges and the Inns of court, popular festivities, and Christmas-keeping in different parts of the world, derived from the most authentic sources, and arranged chronologically.

Compiled by William Francis Dawson.

Under the Evergreens; Or, A Night with St. Nicholas by George C. Lorimer

This simple story is but the elaboration of an old idea, — a new house on an ancient foundation. It was suggested by Dickens's “Christmas Carol;" and every reader conversant with that masterpiece of fiction will readily perceive that Mr. Scrooge is the prototype of Mr. Hezekiah Jonah.

Originally it was prepared for the entertainment of the Sabbath School. The story became popular and was published to enlighten readers. The author hoped the book would create “an humble place in the hearts of those who love a “Merry Christmas."

Old Christmas by Washington Irving

Illustrations by Randolph Caldecott

This wonderful title is a reproduction of the 1908 edition. It is a delightful description of early Christmas traditions, and that inspiring spirit of celebration.

A Christmas Carol

Known by everybody, this is one of the best works written by Charles Dickens. The novella tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a greedy miser who hates Christmas with all his heart, and his transformation into a gentle, kind and caring man after visitations of the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley, and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come. “A Christmas Carol" remains popular, having never been out of print. One could easily say it is the perfect book for those who truly appreciate Christmas.

A Budget of Christmas Tales by Charles Dickens and Others

This book presents 20 tales and stories related to Christmas. Inside you will find such great works as:

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
The Christmas Babe by Margaret E. Sangster
A Western Christmas by Mrs. W. H. Corning
Joe's Search for Santa Claus by Irving Bacheller
Angela's Christmas by Julia Schayer

and many others.

Speakin' o' Christmas, and Other Christmas and Special Poems by Paul Laurence Dunbar. This collection of poems dedicated to Christmas was published in 1914 and was written by the prolific author who is known as one of the first African-American writers that established an international reputation. He wrote a dozen books of poetry, four books of short stories, four novels, lyrics for a musical, and a play. He wrote the lyrics for the musical comedy In Dahomey, the first all-African-American musical produced on Broadway in New York.

Christmas day and other poems by John Skirrow Peart

The morning breaks — the natal morn of Christ:

As one by one the family appear,

From tongue to tongue that greeting old is passed —

"A Merry Christmas and a glad New Year."

The author described the poem "Christmas Day" as "an attempt to describe what Christmas Day is to nearly every man, woman, and child in England — a laughing, happy time. So far the poem is a national one."

Is it possible to imagine Christmas without music? Christmas songs and carols still remain an integral part of the holiday:

More books with Christmas carols can be found here.