Twelve Classic Christmas Stories: A Feast of Yuletide Tales

by Timothy Larsen (editor)

A feast of great literature—12 Classic Christmas Stories all in one volume!

Celebrate this magical season with some of the greatest literary figures in history. The wisdom and warmth of Christmas are wrapped in the stories of beloved and gifted authors such as Charles Dickens, Louisa May Alcott, O. Henry, G. K. Chesterton, Willa Cather, Conan Doyle, Washington Irving, George MacDonald, Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anthony Trollope, and other classic storytellers.

Not only will you be immersed in the Christmas spirit, but you will draw from the insight of historian Dr. Timothy Larsen who introduces each tale, sharing with readers the history, background, and inspiration behind the literature.

This collection invites us to contemplate and savor all that is good and true about God’s redemptive story and our call to be Christ-like. The stories call us to generosity, reconciliation, and sacrifice. They encourage us to live with joy and gratitude. Hope and wonder abound as gather your family around the fire and read aloud the Twelve Classic Christmas Stories.

Increasing our love for great tales and for Christmas, this beautiful hardcover book is the perfect gift.

Genres: Christmas, Classics

333 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 3, 2024

About the author

Timothy Larsen is McManis Professor of Christian Thought at Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois, and an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David.

Reviews

[Carrie Brownell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my main Christmas read for the month of December and I loved it. My only quibble, being a devoted student of Lucy Maud Montgomery, is to disagree with the editor of the book (Larsen) who said that she was a "devout Christian." It is true that she was married to a minister, but I'm afraid there's ample evidence that her faith was not devout.

Otherwise though, I in every way recommend this read. My favorite story was The Romance of a Christmas Card, by Kate Douglas Wiggin. I had not read that one before and it was delightful!

Fantastic collection. A wonderful read this Christmas season.

[Panda Incognito · Rating 5 out of 5]

I greatly enjoyed this book, and I am thankful that I had the chance to review this. I had only encountered two of these stories before, and the rest were new to me. The editor of this collection focused on stories by beloved classic authors such as Louisa May Alcott, G.K. Chesterton, and Charles Dickens, but the stories themselves are mostly little-known. Like with any anthology, I enjoyed some stories more than others, but the selection never felt repetitious, and there is something here for everyone. The editor, Timothy Larsen, hopes that families will experience this book together as a Christmas read-aloud, and it is also delightful for solo reading.

Before each story, a one-page introduction describes that story's content and themes, explains some of the history around it, and mentions some best-known works by that author. These introductions do not give away the plot, but help to orient the reader. Larsen also indicates how long each story is, so that someone can choose one that is appropriate for their current needs. Some stories have multiple chapters, while others are just a few pages long. All of them feature Larsen's annotations, which define unfamiliar words, explain historic cultural references, and cite Scripture passages for biblical quotations and references. Because I grew up reading Victorian-era literature, I needed the annotations far less than many readers will, but I still found some of the annotations essential for understanding something, and also learned actual definitions for things that I had always made contextual guesses about before.

When it comes to content warnings, I have very little to mention. The stories are age-appropriate for any child who has the attention span to listen to them. However, families who have experienced child loss should know that one story involves the death of a newborn. This occurs in the George MacDonald story. Although the death happens off-page, there is a vivid depiction of an older sibling unexpectedly encountering the body. Also, parents of especially sensitive and easily frightened children may want to preview the Charles Dickens story to determine if the goblins will be too much for their child. Other than that, parents should be aware that many stories include archaic words and expressions that now have an exclusively sexual meaning. For example, there are several mentions of couples "making love," which meant at the time that they were merely flirting. I hope that parents will warn their kids when a word or phrase isn't something to repeat in modern life.

This is one of the best short story anthologies I have ever read. The editor did a wonderful job curating these stories, and I appreciated the range of different genres and themes represented here, as well as the balance between male and female authors. This book is also a beautiful, high-quality hardcover, and the thick cream pages have standard margins and a comfortable font size. The annotations are also very helpful, both for people who love classic literature and for people who feel timid about reading stories written so long ago. I highly recommend this wonderful Christmas anthology to a broad audience, and I look forward to reading it again in the future.

I received a free copy from the publisher, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[J.R. Brady · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Thanks to the publisher for sending a free copy in exchange for a review!)

This is a gorgeous hardback collection of Christmas short stories! An excellent read aloud for families or to enjoy yourself!

Many of these I had never heard of! There’s a little introduction before each story and annotations sprinkled through where needed to define terms/historical references. An excellent read aloud for families or to enjoy yourself! I appreciated the appendix in the back which gives a detailed historical and scriptural explanation for the origins of Christmas. Timothy Larsen does a good job debunking the popular myth that Christmas has only pagan origins.

🎄Tilly’s Christmas by Louise May Alcott
🎄The Adventures of the Blue Carbuncle by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
🎄Christmas Day at Kirby Cottage by Anthony Trollope
🎄The Burglar’s Christmas by Willa Cather
🎄Old Christmas at Bragebridge Hall by Washington Irving
🎄The Shop of Ghosts by GK Chesterton
🎄The Gift of The Child Christ by George MacDonald
🎄Christmas Eve Story by Fanny Jackson Coppin
🎄Aunt Cyrilla’s Christmas Basket by LM Montgomery
🎄The Goblins Who Stole a Sexton by Charles Dickens
🎄The Romance of a Christmas Card by Kate Douglas Wiggin
🎄 The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry

[Stephanie’s Ninth Suitcase · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher. Opinions expressed are my own.
Editorial Additions (and Spiritual Themes!)

In the case of Twelve Christmas Stories, I ended up reading the Introduction after I had read the stories, as I was eager to dig into the “meat” of the book. Having read the book “out of order” in this sense, it was neat to see Larsen’s summation of the stories after I had already read them. Larsen writes, “The deepest, truest theme in Christmas stories is… reconciliation. This is fitting, of course, because that is also the theme of the gospel, the greatest story ever told” (p. 13). This is a beautiful summation of the collection and of the Christmas season, as a whole. I appreciate the connection Larsen is making, which extends our celebration and understanding of Christmas beyond the advent season. It’s an invitation to follow in the footsteps of Ebenezer Scrooge and to ” honour Christmas in [our] heart(s) and try to keep it all the year.”

Timothy Larsen introduces each of the stories with a robust paragraph, offering background on the work and author. These introductions also communicate the tone of the story (i.e., whether the story is happy or bittersweet), “so that [readers] can see if it is the story that [they] want to select to read at that particular time” (p. 11: Introduction).

Larsen also includes a fair number of footnotes alongside the text, offering additional explanations of concepts that may be unfamiliar to readers. Notes define potentially unfamiliar terms, offer additional context, and clarify dialect.

Following the text of the twelve stories is an appendix entitled, “Is Christmas Unbiblical and Pagan?” which argues that the celebration of Christmas is extrabiblical, not unbiblical. Larsen also engages with the familiar arguments about the origin of certain Christmas traditions, noting that certain elements attributed to pagan cultures are not pagan in origin.

Selection of Stories

Going into the collection, I had previously read four of the stories: “The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle” (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle), “The Shop of Ghosts” (G.K. Chesterton), “Aunt Cyrilla’s Christmas Basket” (L.M. Montgomery) and “The Gift of the Magi” (O. Henry). With the exception of the last (and most famous, according to Larsen) story in the collection, I had only read these stories once before. (As a note: I did NOT reread these prior to reviewing).

Stories offer a range of subject matters and tones, and I preferred the more lighthearted content. Of the new-to-me stories, my favorite was “Christmas Day at Kirkby Cottage,” by Anthony Trollope. The story is a romance, and the narration is delightfully witty.

Indeed, humor is a common thread uniting many of the stories in the collection. I’m referencing the ability to recognize humor in a moment, and not merely to make jokes. (Think Marilla Cuthbert and the “saving something about her mouth which, if it had been ever so slightly developed, might have been considered indicative of a sense of humor). The story is often conveyed wittily and, even the moments that are not “funny” are so well-grounded in their commentary of the human experience. Authors demonstrate an ease with this sort of storytelling, which conveys a good deal of information– and a sense of camaraderie– beyond the events unfolding on-page.

Even in the story that was the “slowest” for me (Irving’s “Old Christmas at Bracebridge Hall”), I observed the richness of the narrative in phrases like “I value this delicious home-feeling as one of the choicest gifts a parent could bestow,” and “How easy it is for one benevolent being to diffuse pleasure around him!” (pp.111 and 145, respectively). This same story concludes with a gorgeous, powerful statement about the author’s motive in writing: not, perhaps, to “improve” the world, but to “by any lucky chance… make [the] reader more in good humor with his fellow human beings and himself….” (pg. 152).

In assessing the collection as a whole, I feel that I have a treasure. Larsen has done a fantastic job in collating classic stories by both well-known and less popular authors of yesteryear. I think I would enjoy rereading most of these stories, and it is a good feeling to have the works of such excellent writers contained in a single (and beautifully bound!) volume.

Content Notes

In the introduction, Larsen mentions that Christmastime, was, traditionally, a time to share ghost stories. In spite of having grown up on (and even performed in) A Christmas Carol, I did not realize that ghost stories were connected to this season.

“The Shop of Ghosts” by G.K. Chesterton, includes an assemblage of “ghosts,” but these are less “scary,” as the ghosts are historical people. And the message (about the enduring power of Christmas) is a beautiful one.

The Dickens selection, “The Goblins who Stole a Sexton,” also discloses the major “content” concern by means of title. This short story includes a bunch of goblins who carry a cantankerous man down into their underworld. Compared to A Christmas Carol (not included in the collection), I considered this one to be a bit darker, as well as less developed. This makes sense because, according to Larsen, “The Goblins who Stole a Sexton” would be “rework[ed]” into the famous novella “A Christmas Carol.” In this earlier rendition, the goblins are described in detail, while the redemption element is glossed over in summary.

There are occasional uses of the Lord’s name (or colloquial versions of it) in everyday speech.

The story “The Gifts of the Christ Child,” was a challenging read for me. In addition to a specific tragic moment, the story revolves around a young child’s (often rather confused) interpretation of the Lord “chastening” His children. Although it ends on a redemptive note, I found the tragic scene to be rather disturbing (albeit instrumental to the plot).

Recommendation Status

Twelve Classic Christmas Stories is a delightful, old-fashioned addition to the Christmas bookshelf. While I could see many, if not all, of the stories being enjoyed by families, I would recommend that stories (particularly “The Gifts of the Christ Child” and “The Goblins who Stole a Sexton” ) be previewed before being offered to younger readers.

[JoeK · Rating 3 out of 5]

I disliked the religious preamble to this collection, but I liked the copious footnotes which gave historical context to words that aren’t used now the same way they were used way back when. Unfortunately the religiousity of the introduction carried over into the footnotes with the editor adding notes for words like Gay, Gayety, Queer, and Lustily to ensure we know that these words aren’t being used in a sexual manner. My overal rating is an average of all my ratings. See below.

Tilly’s Christmas by Louisa May Alcott
3/5 Basic little tale of a poor child’s Christmas wish being over-heard by someone who could make it come true.

The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
4/5 A Sherlock Holmes tale that occurs at Christmas but really doesn’t have much to do with the season except the weather and Christmas geese being used to transport illicit goods.

Christmas Day at Kirkby Cottage by Anthony Trollope
1/5 Pride and Prejudice writ small, or so I’ve been lead to believe. This comedy of manners/misunderstandings was unfunny, and uninteresting. Emotional people saying the wrong things and then too embarrassed to explain themselves, or ask forgiveness. When things finally get ironed out, it happens off-screen as if the author had painted himself in a corner and had to use magic to fix the problem he created.

The Burglar’s Christmas by Willa Cather
2/5 William runs away from his prosperous family and lives the life he chooses experiencing the highs and lows. Now, hungry, alone, and in despair, he decides to become a thief. Luckily the house the tries to rob belongs to his parents… Oh My. What a coincidence.

Old Christmas at Bracebridge Hall by Washington Irving
3/5 It’s amazing an that American, Washington Irving, was writing about the English not following old national Christmas traditions 40 years before Charles Dickens. Not much of a narrative, but interesting from a historical perspective. Scads of footnotes in this one (over 100). A set from the editors and another set from the original author.

The Shop of Ghosts by G. K. Chesterton
4/5 The MC stumbles across a toy store where the shop-owner won’t accept money for the toys. When asked if he is the embodiment of Christmas, the old man confesses to being Father Christmas and states that he is dying. A succession of (long dead) authors who have written about Christmas spirit dying, all appear and recognize Father Christmas and reveal that he said the same thing about dying back in their day as well.

The Gifts of the Child Christ by George MacDonald
1/5 Terrible story. Did the author actually think that people thought the way they do in this story. Was he a terrible person who thought terrible thoughts and assumed that everyone else did too. Terrible people treating other people terribly, sprinkled liberally with religion.

Christmas Eve Story by Fanny Jackson Coppin
1/5 A story more important for who wrote it and for when it was written than for the actual content. It tells of how a childless old woman's life is forever changed with the Christmas Eve arrival of two poor orphans.

Aunt Cyrilla’s Christmas Basket by L. M. Montgomery
5/5 A delightful Christmas tale about Aunt Cyrilla and her basket trapped on a train with many other people having the worst Christmas ever. This one sort of counts as a fantasy since she was carrying what must have been 80 pounds of stuff in it her basket, and luckily it covered everything she needed for a perfect holiday away.

The Goblins Who Stole a Sexton by Charles Dickens
4/5 Kind of fun practice run on A Christmas Carol. A sexton is kidnapped by goblins who show him what human kindness is all about through images in a magic cave.

The Romance of a Christmas Card by Kate Douglas Wiggin
5/5 Letty Boynton, the lonely guardian of her brother’s twins, feels abandoned and unfulfilled. Meanwhile the minister's wife, Reba Larrabee, explores a career as poet and artist while still performing wifely duties for her husband’s parish. When the Reba’s Christmas card—featuring Letty’s home—captures the interest of a card publisher, it causes her stepson and Letty’s brother to head back home in time for Christmas. I liked this one even thought the story could have come from the Hallmark Channel. Without the footnotes I never would have known about the biblical quotes scattered through the story, although they didn’t interfere with the narrative.

The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry
5/5 The classic story tells of a young couple dealing with the challenge of buying Christmas gifts for each other with very little money. I’ve read this one a few times and it never gets old. I think because the writing is still good writing even if the story is so well known.

I skipped the last section Is Christmas Unbiblical and Pagan? A Christian Affirmation of Yuletide Joy and Celebrations, so I guess this book could go onto my didn’t finish list.

[Luminous Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Featuring beloved authors like Louisa May Alcott, Charles Dickens, and L.M. Montgomery, these tales have a timeless, nostalgic feel. There is something for everyone in this collection, with a fun mix of genres including mystery, romance, children’s adventures, and more!

Each story begins with a brief introduction that provides a helpful look into the themes and length, helping you pick the perfect read for your mood and schedule. Plus, if one of these authors captures your heart, you’ll find suggestions for the next book to explore!

Among my favorites are Tilly’s Christmas by Louisa May Alcott, Aunt Cyrilla’s Christmas Basket by L.M. Montgomery, and The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

This is a collection I’ll cherish and revisit year after year! ✨


I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Veronica Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a delightful collection of short stories and novellas from classic authors. I had only read Gift of the Magi from this collection but I'm familiar with each of the authors other works that they have done. Some of the stories were quite funny, and a couple were sad and poignant. My only quibble is I wasn't sure who the audience was that the editor of this book was writing for. His annotations and definitions seemed geared for elementary students, but the stories themselves are geared more for high school and above just in the language style. I ended up ignoring what the author/editor had to say and just enjoyed the written stories.

[Drew Bennett · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this collection of Christmas stories, from well-known authors such as G.K. Chesterton, Charles Dickens, Arthur Conan Doyle, etc. There are twelve stories and twelve days of Christmas - from December 25 - January 5. I read a story on each of the days of Christmas. Some are longer than others. But, together, they are warm and encourage the reader with the wonder of the Incarnation and inspire our own love and generosity in response.

I especially love "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry. A lovely parable of overcoming gratitude and sacrificial love.

G.K. Chesterson's "The Shop of Ghosts" was also really enjoyable.

[Brittany Roberson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What if you were to take short stories from some favorite classic authors - like Charles Dickens and G.K. Chesterton and George MacDonald and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - and compile them into one volume for “A Feast of Yuletide Tales”?

It would be this, friends. Last year, Timothy Larsen compiled these stories for @moodypublishers to print, and it is delightful. I have not read through all of the stories yet (saving some for a little closer to Christmas), but the ones I have read are so sweet and are putting me in the Christmas spirit, even the first part of November. There is something about Christmas stories.

Be sure to check it out. And come read it with me this season!

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

My go-to seasonal cozy read is usually Louisa May Alcott's Christmas Treasury, but this was a fun change of pace. I liked most of the selections. The favorite new-t0-me one was probably "The Romance of a Christmas Card" by Kate Douglas Wiggin, but selections by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, L.M. Montgomery, Anthony Trollope, George MacDonald, O. Henry, and (of course) Louisa May Alcott were all enjoyable (although if Larsen had chosen "Mrs. Podgers' Teapot" as the selection for Alcott I would have been over the moon). Worthwhile, and I will definitely revisit it.

[Lyra Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very cute, festive anthology. Except for The Gift of the Magi, I had never heard of any of the stories, but I recognized a lot of the authors. I enjoyed some of the stories more than others, but it was overall a good collection to read around Christmas and put me in the festive mood.

Read my full review here: https://lyrat16.wixsite.com/read-it-a...

[Mrs.MakesReadingFun · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful collection of classic Christmas stories, that would make the perfect gift or new tradition for your own family.

I can just picture reading this collection beside the fireplace, Christmas tree twinkling, and the holiness of this Christmas season all around.

[Teresa Forsberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thus was an unexpected addition to my holiday reading, which I thoroughly enjoyed. It is a compilation of twelve Christmas short stories written by various classics authors. I definitely enjoyed some of the stories more than others, but overall it was a quiet, slow paced, enjoyable read.