The Twelve Days of Christmas

by John Julius Norwich, Quentin Blake (Illustrations)

The classic Christmas carol is told with a very special twist. With inimitable illustrations by Quentin Blake, this is a most elegant and enchanting gift book.

My Dearest Darling -

That partridge, in that lovely little pear tree! What an enchanting, romantic, poetic present! Bless you and thank you.

Your deeply loving Emily

Everyone knows the "Twelve days of Christmas," but not as rewritten by John Julius Norwich in this delightful correspondence, which records the daily thank-you letters from one increasingly bemused young lady to her unseen admirer. And who but Quentin Blake could exploit the full comic possibilities of this hilarious debacle as first birds, then maids, and finally the full percussion section of the Liverpool Philharmonic create mayhem in the calm of an English country Christmas?

Genres: Christmas, Fiction, Humor, Short Stories, British Literature, Poetry

32 pages, Hardcover

First published November 5, 1998

About the author

John Julius Norwich was born in London and served in the Royal Navy before receiving a degree in French and Russian at New College, Oxford. After graduation, he joined the Foreign Service and served in Belgrade, Beirut, and as a member of British delegation to the Disarmament Conference in Geneva. In 1954, he inherited the title of Viscount Norwich. In 1964, he resigned from the Foreign Service to become a writer. He was a historian, travel writer, and television personality.

His books included The Normans in the South, A History of Venice, The Italian World, Venice: A Traveller's Companion, 50 Years of Glyndebourne: An Illustrated History, A Short History of Byzantium, Absolute Monarchs: A History of the Papacy, Sicily: An Island at the Crossroads of History, and A History of France. He and H. C. Robbins Landon wrote Five Centuries of Music in Venice.

Norwich was the host of the BBC radio panel game My Word! from 1978 to 1982. He wrote and presented more than 30 television documentaries including Maestro, The Fall of Constantinople, Napoleon's Hundred Days, Cortés and Montezuma, Maximilian of Mexico, The Knights of Malta, The Treasure Houses of Britain, and The Death of the Prince Imperial in the Zulu War.

In 1993, he was appointed CVO for having curated an exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum to mark the 40th anniversary of the Queen's accession to the throne. In 2015, he was awarded the Biographers' Club award for his lifetime service to biography. He died on June 1, 2018 at the age of 88.

Reviews

[Diane in Australia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious rendition of the 12 Days of Christmas. Read the blurb, and you'll understand why ... lol

4 Stars = Outstanding. It definitely held my interest.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young women writes daily thank you notes to a secret admirer that sends things from The Twelve Days of Christmas. At first she is pleased with her pear tree, but more and more strange things turn up and she ends up having to seek legal assistance.

This is a beautifully presented book, perfect to gift someone around Christmas time. The illustrations by Quentin Blake are as always fabulous. The story was above average but it wasn’t one of my favourites.

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't expect this 🤣😅

Now that is some Christmas celebration and gift sending!

The illustrations are fun. The writing is hilarious.

Too short I would say!

[Erin Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is how it really went down! A modern twist on a song that most people have thought at one time must be inconvenient for someone. It is short and fun, a holiday read worth sharing with family.

[Ernest · Rating 4 out of 5]

The song ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ is known by many, but have you thought about what it would be like to actually receive all those gifts? In a wonderfully charming imagination, the reactions to these gifts are revealed by a young woman’s letter replies to an unseen admirer. Humour, sometimes subtle and sly, combine with illustrations (not always suitable for little ones) to produce a book that is as delightful as it is funny. Extra points to my friend David for reading it to us during Christmas, complete with inflections, voices, and mannerisms.

[Burden · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not precisely sure who this book is aimed. At first glance, this seems to be an ordinary children's book, but some of the content and humor does tiptoe into the realms of adulthood. In many ways, it kind of reminds me of the humor found inside one of those comics from a British newspaper, like George and Lynne perhaps.

All in all, this was a fun book and a relatively amusing read. The book is only about 12 pages long, but it was still a good way to waste a handful of minutes.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun interpretation of a classic song. Illustrations are the real prize here. You will recognize Quentin Blake’s work if you are a fan of Roald Dahl. A perfect Christmas gift if you have someone in your life that loves this song!

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

January 3rd.

As I write this letter, ten disgusting old men are prancing about all over what used to be the garden - before the geese and the swans and the cows got at it; and several of them, I notice, are taking inexcusable liberties with the milkmaids. Meanwhile the neighbors are trying to have us evicted. I shall never speak to you again.

Emily

[Aimee · Rating 4 out of 5]

What it was like to be on the receiving end of all those gifts - really delightful. The illustrations by Quentin Blake are perfect.

[Graham Sillars · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilariously funny and gorgeously illustrated! A great way to pass half an hour or so.

[David Dunlap · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here is one clever author's response to: 'What did the recipient of all those gifts from the Twelve Days of Christmas think about them?' Very funny, with quirky illustrations by Quentin Blake. -- A little TOO quirky, perhaps: I don't understand why the dancing ladies are NAKED... (I always see them in my mind's eye as wearing beautiful, floor-length ballroom gowns.) Hence: I have deducted a full star from this review...

[Plum-crazy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A charming & amusing take on the traditional carol. Written in the form of thank-you letters from a young lady to her unseen admirer & illustrated with the delightful drawings of Quintin Blake.

I particularly smiled at the nine ladies dancing being portrayed as a regiment of shameless hussies with nothing..... well I'll say no more ;o)

A little gem.

[Hilary · Rating 5 out of 5]

If the twelve days of Christmas *did* happen, I can imagine it unfolding almost exactly like this. Clever text with great illustrations, as you'd expect, make this a favorite Christmas re-read every year.

[Emma Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young woman keeps receiving more and more outrageous gifts from her admirer, all tied to Christmas.

This was fine but I guess I was expecting more - more text (this is cruelly short) and more humour (this was worth a smile, but nothing more). Lovely illustrations though!

[شغاف القلب · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very funny. Really interesting illustration. And a delight to the heart.

[Catherine Jeffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A witty take on the Twelve Days of Xmas, with hilarious illustrations by Quentin Blake

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A charmingly funny take on the song that we all know. Loved the illustrations. A sweet and slightly wicked giggle for the holiday season. A lovely little Christmas happy.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good and thoughtful story, hilarious illustrations :D
Don't go too far even for nice actions to start with, and be sensitive to change of tone / expressions!

[Iwon (nanasanchez) · Rating 4 out of 5]

So now I know what we are reading for Christmas with my students.

[Kiki · Rating 5 out of 5]

So Fun and Funny 😂😂....

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute idea, maybe good for teenagers. The satire was entertaining at first, but it got a bit much/frustrating toward the end.

[Emily T · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a book that’s only 32 pages this was excellent I laughed out loud. Made more funny that myself and the main character share the same name. A whole new perspective on the 12 days of Christmas.

[Felicity · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant - enough said!

[Callie Corson]

This book is brilliant - it is just so funny 😆

[Mikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

So funny!! I read it every year and laugh just as hard.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very funny and excellent illustrations by Quentin Blake that only add to the humour

[Jo Beale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hardback first US edition 1998

[Brandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The attempt to maintain a very British politeness in the face of objectively ridiculous gift-giving - hilarious.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely hilarious would make a great small play!

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have heard this read out before at a Christmas carol concert a few years ago, but this Valentine's Day my other half very kindly gave it to me as a present. It didn't take long to read but it did make me smile and giggle a lot.

The images it produces in your head and thinking what would I do if that happened to me is brilliant. It is a really good take on the Twelve Days of Christmas and I loved the introduction by Joanna Lumley.

A fabulous read and I can't wait to read it again at Christmas.