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A Christmas Story
A touching memoir of Christmas past by the renowned late actor focuses on a young boy who, on Christmas eve, is obsessed with the idea that his sister is about to die
41 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 1991
About the author
Richard Burton
214 books19 followersLibrarian note: There is more than one author with this name in the Goodreads database.
Do not confuse with Richard Francis Burton
Richard Burton, CBE (10 November 1925 – 5 August 1984) was a Welsh actor. He was nominated seven times for an Academy Award – for My Cousin Rachel (1952), The Robe (1953), Becket (1964), The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965), Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966), Anne of the Thousand Days (1969) and Equus (1977) – six of which were for Best Actor in a Leading Role, without ever winning. He was a recipient of BAFTA, Golden Globe and Tony Awards for Best Actor. Although never trained as an actor, Burton was, at one time, the highest-paid actor in Hollywood.
He remains closely associated in the public consciousness with his second wife, actress Elizabeth Taylor. The couple's turbulent relationship was rarely out of the news.
Do not confuse with Richard Francis Burton
Richard Burton, CBE (10 November 1925 – 5 August 1984) was a Welsh actor. He was nominated seven times for an Academy Award – for My Cousin Rachel (1952), The Robe (1953), Becket (1964), The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965), Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966), Anne of the Thousand Days (1969) and Equus (1977) – six of which were for Best Actor in a Leading Role, without ever winning. He was a recipient of BAFTA, Golden Globe and Tony Awards for Best Actor. Although never trained as an actor, Burton was, at one time, the highest-paid actor in Hollywood.
He remains closely associated in the public consciousness with his second wife, actress Elizabeth Taylor. The couple's turbulent relationship was rarely out of the news.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 17, 2023
He never saw many White Christmases, as a boy in Wales.
Perhaps our winds were too wild and salty for the snow to get a grip.
But to future acting superstar, Richard Burton, his childhood festive seasons (during the Depression) were fondly remembered as though they were indeed full of white snow. Like any boy, he had his own holiday rituals and he remembered going to bed sleepless and agog. In this very short remembrance of one particular Christmas, Burton tells us how he received a gift he would have never expected.
The wind, tigerish, now crouched, now circled, now menaced the bonfire.
This is a perfect stocking stuffer, a tiny Christmas book that can be held in the hand in the true spirit of St. Nick. Burton's story ends at page 24 and the rest of the book is a description of Burton's childhood and family, as told by his last wife, Sally Burton. It's this last section which is most interesting. Burton was the twelfth of thirteen children (his mother would die two years later after giving birth to the last child). His father was a miner, as were most men in the village, but little Richard would grow to love the English language and that gift would eventually transport him to a starry world he could never have imagined.
A lovely tome, just right.
Book Season = Winter (starry, starry nights)
Perhaps our winds were too wild and salty for the snow to get a grip.
But to future acting superstar, Richard Burton, his childhood festive seasons (during the Depression) were fondly remembered as though they were indeed full of white snow. Like any boy, he had his own holiday rituals and he remembered going to bed sleepless and agog. In this very short remembrance of one particular Christmas, Burton tells us how he received a gift he would have never expected.
The wind, tigerish, now crouched, now circled, now menaced the bonfire.
This is a perfect stocking stuffer, a tiny Christmas book that can be held in the hand in the true spirit of St. Nick. Burton's story ends at page 24 and the rest of the book is a description of Burton's childhood and family, as told by his last wife, Sally Burton. It's this last section which is most interesting. Burton was the twelfth of thirteen children (his mother would die two years later after giving birth to the last child). His father was a miner, as were most men in the village, but little Richard would grow to love the English language and that gift would eventually transport him to a starry world he could never have imagined.
A lovely tome, just right.
Book Season = Winter (starry, starry nights)
December 22, 2019
Of course being Welsh (well half anyway) I appreciate this short story written by the great Richard Burton reminiscing on his life and childhood in Wales and of the Christmas eve night when his sister who was rearing him gave birth to a little girl.
Simply told with all the innocence and nuances of a child it's a rare and fascinating glimpse into the man's beginnings.
Shame he didn't write more as I far prefer his writing style to the for me, over hyped Dylan Thomas.
Really enjoyed this and also looking at the historical photographs of Wales.
Makes me proud.
Simply told with all the innocence and nuances of a child it's a rare and fascinating glimpse into the man's beginnings.
Shame he didn't write more as I far prefer his writing style to the for me, over hyped Dylan Thomas.
Really enjoyed this and also looking at the historical photographs of Wales.
Makes me proud.
April 26, 2014
In this short book, Richard Burton gives us a snippet of what his childhood in Wales was like. Raised by his sister after his mother died when he was two, Burton selected a single Christmas night to illustrate the poverty and the peculiarity of surroundings, including some rather strange relatives, that was his life. Fearing for his sister’s well-being, it is with great relief that the young Richard learns she is not sick. An afterward written by Burton’s widow sheds more light on a somewhat sparse tale. An interesting vignette.
December 18, 2014
A sweet and intimate look into one brief memory of Richard Burton's childhood. Surprisingly, the writing was excellent. The simple sentences in this slim story reminded me often of how so many of my Christmas wishes as a child were never fulfilled, yet never made me feel dissatisfied about what I received. At least I never got a new sister-niece on Christmas eve.
December 24, 2019
I liked the actor Richard Burton when I was young (despite all the craziness of his marriages to Liz Taylor) and absolutely loved his marvelous Welsh accent. I remember back in one of my college English lit classes, listening to a recording of Burton reading Coleridge's "Rime of the Ancient Mariner." It was absolutely mesmerizing!
Anyway, I was interested in this little book and enjoyed it a lot. I loved the biographical info at the beginning, written by Sally Burton. (I think she was Burton's wife in the last years of his life. ???) The actual story, taken from a Christmas when Burton was very young, is sweet and charming and put me right in the little Welsh coal mining village where he grew up. And oh, the photos throughout the book are marvelous! I love Christmas memories, taken from the lives of all types of people, and this is a nice one.
Anyway, I was interested in this little book and enjoyed it a lot. I loved the biographical info at the beginning, written by Sally Burton. (I think she was Burton's wife in the last years of his life. ???) The actual story, taken from a Christmas when Burton was very young, is sweet and charming and put me right in the little Welsh coal mining village where he grew up. And oh, the photos throughout the book are marvelous! I love Christmas memories, taken from the lives of all types of people, and this is a nice one.
December 2, 2022
Amazing!!!I just discovered this book. Where has it been all my life? A terrible yet wonderful tale of Welsh childhood. I decided from the moment I started it that I MUST READ THIS WITH Richard Burton's voice in my head. But as I read I did not have to try. He was there. In every word!!
August 7, 2018
A wonderful story beautifully told by a man I adore!
December 13, 2019
An oddly short and intimate recollection of an old Welsh Christmas. It touched my heart. I wish there was more.
January 28, 2026
keset jaanuari pole vb õige aeg jõulujutu jaoks, aga 1) raamatukogul läks kõvasti aega, et see rariteet mu jaoks kuskilt hoidlast välja kaevata - tegu on esmatrükiga, esimese laenutuse tähtaeg on olnud kenasti jõululaupäev 1965 ja viimati on ta kellegi juurde koju sattunud suvel 1981 (oh, mulle meeldib, et nad panevad siin endiselt hoolikalt neid templeid raamatutesse, selline tore ajalooürik), 2) ega ta tegelikult nii ülemäära jõululik polegi.
lihtsalt üks selline lapsepõlvelugu, ühest õhtust, mis on jäänud meelde ka muudel põhjustel kui kingiootus - väike Richard (kes on orb ja keda kasvatab ta vanem õde, kes tundub ikkagi üsna noor) saadetakse jõuluõhtul koos onuga kodust ära ja kui ta tagasi jõuab (lubatakse), on talle sündinud õetütar. ühesõnaga, ega siin suurt midagi ei juhtu, aga meeleolu on hästi edasi antud. mulle meeldib eriti algus, kus seletatakse, et mingeid valgeid jõule selles Walesi osas ju eriti ei olnud (sest ilm/kliima/georgraafiline asukoht), aga et Charles Dickensi ja Dylan Thomase mõjul tunduvad tagantjärele kõik lumised. ja siis hiljem lapse mure, et mis ta kingiks saab ja ega ometi mitte naabripoisi vana mänguasja, sest see oleks küll piinlik.
seda raamatut on ainult 30 lehekülge ja sellestki kolmandik pildid. sellest võiks küll olla üks selline luksuslik pildiväljaanne, mida siis kodus hoida ja jõuluajal vahelk üle lugeda, nii... Dylan Thomase tasakaalustamiseks.
lihtsalt üks selline lapsepõlvelugu, ühest õhtust, mis on jäänud meelde ka muudel põhjustel kui kingiootus - väike Richard (kes on orb ja keda kasvatab ta vanem õde, kes tundub ikkagi üsna noor) saadetakse jõuluõhtul koos onuga kodust ära ja kui ta tagasi jõuab (lubatakse), on talle sündinud õetütar. ühesõnaga, ega siin suurt midagi ei juhtu, aga meeleolu on hästi edasi antud. mulle meeldib eriti algus, kus seletatakse, et mingeid valgeid jõule selles Walesi osas ju eriti ei olnud (sest ilm/kliima/georgraafiline asukoht), aga et Charles Dickensi ja Dylan Thomase mõjul tunduvad tagantjärele kõik lumised. ja siis hiljem lapse mure, et mis ta kingiks saab ja ega ometi mitte naabripoisi vana mänguasja, sest see oleks küll piinlik.
seda raamatut on ainult 30 lehekülge ja sellestki kolmandik pildid. sellest võiks küll olla üks selline luksuslik pildiväljaanne, mida siis kodus hoida ja jõuluajal vahelk üle lugeda, nii... Dylan Thomase tasakaalustamiseks.
December 8, 2018
A decent, but very short book about Richard Burton. It did mention a few things about his childhood Christmas experiences. I wish the book would have been longer.
January 11, 2019
Alakuun luin kirjasta ääneen ittelleni. Kokeilin, miltä tuntuu pitkästä aikaa lukea englanniksi ääneen. Ennemmin oisin kirjasen lukenut ihan Suomeks. Oli ihan ok kirjanen.
December 25, 2024
[ 5 stars ]
(review to come)
(review to come)
November 30, 2014
Quaint.
Want to Read
February 10, 2017I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/13118369
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/13118369
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews