The Golden Christmas: A Tale of Lowcountry Life

by William Gilmore Simms, David Aiken

Rife with historical details and peppered with comic characters, The Golden Christmas remains a timeless tale of South Carolina's rich holiday heritage. Originally published in 1852, William Gilmore Simms's classic lowcountry romance chronicles the social customs and Christmas traditions of an antebellum plantation near Charleston.

Drawing influence from Romeo and Juliet and A Christmas Carol, Simms centers his plot on the pride of a Huguenot family, the prejudice of an English family, and the plight of star-crossed lovers, Ned Bulmer and Paula Bonneau, to win the blessings of both feuding houses amid a festive and frantic holiday season. Simms populates his novel with a lively cast--a learned Northern professor, a young English nobleman, opinionated widows, a blustery plantation owner, a condescending servant, a pig-thieving coachman, and a good-hearted barrister.

Interwoven into the text are engrossing details about the lavish decorations and festivities that were the hallmark of Christmas celebrations in the antebellum South. Vibrant fireworks, candles nestled in holly, games of whist and backgammon, Yule logs, eggnog, and a visit from Father Chrystmasse all play their parts as the narrative unfolds. Here, too, are accurate descriptions of dress, dialogue, recreation, cultural mores, social hierarchy, and a vivid tableau of a shopping trip to Charleston's King, Queen, and Meeting streets in the 1850s.

Equal parts novel of manners and comic romance, The Golden Christmas is now, as it has always been, a holiday gift to lovers of Southern lore from South Carolina's most famous author. This edition includes an introduction by Simms historian David Aiken.

Genres: Christmas

168 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1852

About the author

William Gilmore Simms (April 17, 1806 – June 11, 1870) was a poet, novelist and historian from the American South whose novels achieved great prominence during the 19th century, with Edgar Allan Poe pronouncing him the best novelist America had ever produced. In recent decades, though, Simms' novels have fallen out of favor, although he is still known among literary scholars as a major force in antebellum Southern literature. He is also remembered for his strong support of slavery and for his opposition to Uncle Tom's Cabin, in response to which he wrote reviews and a novel.

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Golden Christmas” is an historical plantation romance by William Gilmore Simms, who is hailed in literary circles as the “father of Southern literature.” Serialized in 1852 and then released as one volume, this short novel includes elements of both “Romeo and Juliet” and “A Christmas Carol” and also displays the wide knowledge of the author by its multitude of literary references. For instance, chapter two provides a discourse in answer to Austen’s “It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.”A fair amount of religious references may also be found, but the story is secular for the most part and refrains from preaching. Simms employs the regional Gullah and Creole dialects, which enhances the authenticity of the narrative, and his verbosity of description is well peppered with humor and cunning puns. The only caveat to readers is the abundant utilization of both French and archaic phrases which, though familiar to a nineteenth-century audience, will likely require today’s partakers to have a dictionary on hand for a better understanding of the text. This time lapse is aided, however, by David Aiken’s 2005 introduction, which presents pertinent background information.

Set in the city of Charleston in Berkeley County, South Carolina, in 1851, “The Golden Christmas” tells the age-old story of star-crossed lovers, which is balanced by an account of both daily customs and Christmastime in the antebellum South. Dick Cooper, a young lawyer, provides first-person narration, relating the ongoing feud between the English Bulmers of the Bulmer Barony and the French Huguenot Bonneaus. His close friend, Ned Bulmer, designs to marry Paula Bonneau, while Dick fancies Beatrice Mazyck. Although the storyline lacks a strong plot and is devoid of any mystery or adventuresome excitement, Simms does spice up the narrative with a few humorous and unexpected occurrences before providing the expected ending. “The Golden Christmas” is a pleasant and short read for anyone interested in learning about pre-Civil War Charleston and the Christmas traditions of the American South, and it will also satisfy those who enjoy amorous stories.

[Harlan Whatley · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting read about historical Charleston but definitely a racist tome.

[Kerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

A novel written and set in 1850's Charleston, SC. Lots of fun.

[Shelly Nicholson · Rating 2 out of 5]

“Southern Literature” It’s quite a boring book.

[Anne]

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