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A New Christmas Treasury
An anthology of favorite and little-known stories, memoirs, sketches, and poems by American and European masters, past and present, captures all the pleasures of Christmas as celebrated in different times and places
560 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 1991
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 23, 2020
A tough book to rate because there is so much to love and dislike about the book. How about a 3 1/2 star rating?
The front flap of the book boasts this Revised and Expanded "A New Christmas Treasury" includes eighty-seven memorable stories, poems, and essays that lovingly celebrate the season".
If you're looking for something light to read over the holidays, this may not be the book for you. Yes, it includes the famous "A Visit from St. Nicholas" by Clement C. Moore with the memorable lines "Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house...." and so many other holiday classics by well known authors and poets. However, several of the stories were dark, even depressing, reminding the reader that Christmas isn't always a happy time for all.
What I loved about the book is that it is eclectic in its offering; so many different genres and writing styles are included. Expect to laugh, to cry, to cheer, to even be angry. For example, P.D. James presents a mystery in which Santa Claus dies and there are sad tales about soldiers celebrating Christmas on the battlefield.
However, the danger of presenting so many different styles is that there were stories that I loved for their descriptions or literary qualities; and stories that didn't hold my attention due to the storyline or the subject matter. Also with the book published in 1982, some of the stories felt dated. It made me want to seek out more current holiday stories published in the last 30 years.
I do give the editor Jack Newcombe credit for gathering all this material in one location. With over 530 pages assembled in alphabetical order by author, that's a massive project. I would have enjoyed a biography section to learn more about the authors, especially those writers I was not familiar with and whose work I enjoyed.
The front flap of the book boasts this Revised and Expanded "A New Christmas Treasury" includes eighty-seven memorable stories, poems, and essays that lovingly celebrate the season".
If you're looking for something light to read over the holidays, this may not be the book for you. Yes, it includes the famous "A Visit from St. Nicholas" by Clement C. Moore with the memorable lines "Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house...." and so many other holiday classics by well known authors and poets. However, several of the stories were dark, even depressing, reminding the reader that Christmas isn't always a happy time for all.
What I loved about the book is that it is eclectic in its offering; so many different genres and writing styles are included. Expect to laugh, to cry, to cheer, to even be angry. For example, P.D. James presents a mystery in which Santa Claus dies and there are sad tales about soldiers celebrating Christmas on the battlefield.
However, the danger of presenting so many different styles is that there were stories that I loved for their descriptions or literary qualities; and stories that didn't hold my attention due to the storyline or the subject matter. Also with the book published in 1982, some of the stories felt dated. It made me want to seek out more current holiday stories published in the last 30 years.
I do give the editor Jack Newcombe credit for gathering all this material in one location. With over 530 pages assembled in alphabetical order by author, that's a massive project. I would have enjoyed a biography section to learn more about the authors, especially those writers I was not familiar with and whose work I enjoyed.
December 31, 2020
I love this eclectic collection of Christmas tales from the ages. I've reread this 1982 volume each Christmas over the decades and each time find something new to enjoy. It begins with the Christmas story as told by both Saints Luke and Matthew and concludes with The Magi by William Butler Yeats. Between are almost 90 Christmas delights, happy, sad, gothic, and memorable--stories, and poems, memories for me.
December 26, 2020
A perennial I pull out year after year, read and reread. It’s become part of my Christmas, a tradition, and gives the sense of sharing the holiday, and all it holds, with favorite authors.
December 31, 2014
There's a good reason these stories are classics. Well worth the read this Christmas and for many Christmases to come.
December 15, 2023
Trying to find some new Christmas stories
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews