Merry Christmas, Mr. Baxter

by Edward Streeter, Dorothea Warren Fox (Illustrator)

All that is inevitable, enjoyable, maddening and amusing about Christmas provides a perfect background for the adventures of this new Streeter "hero"--a grandfather who has not yet achieved the age of discretion and gives little promise of ever doing so.

George Barton Baxter--who is more of a sentimentalist than he thinks--decides early in the fall that Christmas this year must be approached sensibly and with careful planning. But he reckons without Susan, his wife, or his children and grandchildren and in defiance of the irresistible machinery of what has become one of our most popular national industries.

The situations which confront the Baxters--and Mr. Baxter in particular--as Christmas Eve approaches are described with the wry humor which has endeared Mr. Streeter's books to so many. As in Father of the Bride and Mr. Hobbs' Vacation, he has caught the poignant, frustrating and laughable aspects of a family situation which thousands will recognize as their own.

As for Mr. Baxter himself, the reader must be prepared to share all with him: his secret Christmas list, his trip to Schwarz with a grandson who has eaten too many hamburgers, his frustrations with Christmas cards, his harrowing experiences with office parties and his last-minute shopping expedition when the spirit of Christmas finally overcomes his scruples and his resistance.

Merry Christmas, Mr. Baxter will delight everyone who has ever, late in the evening of December 24, placed (or criticized the placing of) the star on the top of a Christmas tree.

Genres: Christmas, Fiction, Humor, Novels

181 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1956

About the author

Edward Streeter was an American novelist and journalist.

Reviews

[Carrie Brownell · Rating 5 out of 5]

2024: I figured this was a good year to re-read this one. I just loved it when I first encountered it back in 2019.

I would say the sheen faded a little in the second reading, but I'll leave the rating because it's still funny. Very Streeter. Not AS funny as I remembered, but I also am not complaining about it because it still made me chuckle a time or two. Highly worth a read, in my opinion. Definitely a little risqué in the final few chapters but not exactly over the top. Just eye-rolling.

2019: I'd never heard of this book before but picked it up at my local library sale on a whim - and I'm SO glad that I did! The sad part about library sales is that public libraries are getting rid of so many wonderful classic books in favor of newer, flashy (and usually empty!) new novels. Merry Christmas, Mr. Baxter is rich in wit and humor. Written by the same author who wrote "Father of the Bride" this book tells the story of an American family in the throes of holiday preparation. It has a good laugh at the expense of Americans who are in a frenzy before the holidays but who, in the end, have to confess they enjoy the magic of it all.

A cheery holiday read to be sure! I'd give it 10 stars if Goodreads would let me.

[Charla Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was like taking a walk back in time. It was written in 1956. I grew up in the 60's, so, much of it was famialiar to me. I am a big fan of old black and white movies and my favorite all time movie is "It's a Wonderful Life." Edward Streeter wrote that too! Maybe that is another reason I loved this book. It is a quick read that will put you in the Christmas Spirit. The story is that of Mr. Baxter and his Christmas dilemma of wanting to cut down on expenses and not get as worked up over the holiday season as usual. The story takes you through his daily life from October through Christmas. Mr. Baxter lives in New York City and his story takes you on a nostalgic trip of Christmas in New York. It is a pleasure to relive such wonderful days! Even though things were so different then, in many ways they are still so much the same!

Please visit my book review blog at http://booktalkswithcharla.blogspot.com

[Gina House · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5🌟 I liked this book, but I didn't love it. The cover is much more attractive than the story itself. It may be that I don't have the same sense of humor as the author (very probable), but I didn't feel like this story was as amusing as I hoped it would be.

I really enjoyed the beginning of the book until it reached the section of 'December'. After that (and until almost the very last chapter of the book), the main male character mused almost continuously about how expensive, pointless and frustrating the Christmas season is when it finally arrives. It got a bit tiresome after a while.

Edward Streeter's writing style, on the other hand, is very appealing. I just wish that the subject matter made me feel less frustrated. It was disappointed because I'd hoped Merry Christmas, Mr. Baxter would be a fun and festive book. Though it might be a highly entertaining story for some readers, I thought it was a bit depressing and almost got me out of the Christmas spirit.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 STARS

A humorous look at Christmas and all it's preparation and trimmings as seen through the eyes of middle-aged New York City family and business man Mr. Baxter in the 1940s. By turns sweet and sardonic, Streeter is a master at capturing the foibles of a population becoming a bit too bogged down in hustle and bustle and commercialization of the holidays yet still very much filled with a yearning for the warm, quiet spirit of Christmas. At times he was a bit too cynical for my taste, and the references to the attractiveness of various sales girls was a bit grating to my modern sensibilities, but on the whole I loved reading this story and may well read it again in future years. Like Mr. Baxter, it is a bit gruff around the edges sometimes but is actually totally dear. I can't help but think of it fondly as a fuzzy teddy bear all tied up with a Christmas bow ;-)

[Ruth Chatlien · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s very much a product of its time, but I read it as a teenager and really wanted to revisit it.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

The struggle of one man to reclaim order to his holiday season beginning in October was quite humorously written. Mr Baxter endeavors to have his wife stick to a budget, trim down the Christmas card addressee list, and attempts to resist the “machinery” of the holiday. Despite his intentions, he remains a sentimentalist and gamely finds himself embroiled in holiday predicaments such as office parties and gift buying.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four stars though it felt rather bleak and cool, until the ending at least. The ending was lovely. I would reread this but likely only every ten years. I do feel it's worth a read. Mr. Baxter is a business man who starts the Christmas season rather cynical or perhaps realisticly looking at life and the people in his life. His grandchildren sound awful but his wife is lovely.

[Deb · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good to know that Christmas in 1956 was just as annoying and commercial as it is today.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first discovered this book (or a version of it, rather) in one of my mom's old Readers Digest condensed books. This appeared in, I believe, one of the volumes for 1956. I read and re-read that story in the book for decades.

After online book buying became common, I found the full book on Amazon.com and I immediately noticed the additional material since I practically knew the condensed version verbatim. The author, Edward Streeter, also wrote "Father of the Bride" and "Mr. Hobbs' Vacation", among other books, but those two were made into movies. The title character in "Merry Christmas, Mr. Baxter" is a gentleman who you can picture also being played by Spencer Tracy, but inexplicably, it has never been turned into a play or movie. I think it would be a fabulous holiday movie. Like "Father of the Bride", as you read this book you picture much of the dialogue being voiceover narration by Mr. Baxter. It's about a harried businessman in Manhattan, trying to get through each day and alternating between complaining and marveling at the stresses-and also great joys-- of the Christmas season.

I read this book without fail every December and also without fail, it entertains me completely. I just wish it was better-known. It certainly deserves to be.

**#92 of 100 books pledged to read/review in 2015**
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**172 of 172 books pledged to read during 2019**
**110 of 120 books pledged to read during 2020**
*154 or 155 books pledged to read during 2021**
#136 of 136 books pledged to read duriing 2022
137 of 140 books in 2023

[Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had very high hopes from the author of “Father of the Bride” and “Mr. Hobbs’ Vacation,” but oh well. This is a fun peak into a mid-1950’s Christmas in New York City. Actually, this is one of those novels where New York City could be considered an additional character. This feels like 2 short stories (“December” and “Christmas Eve”) that were stretched out into a novel with the additional chapters of “October” and “November.” Not a complete waste of time as is a neat period piece, with illustrations, but it really didn’t hold my attention.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh Edward Streeter, your world-weariness is so amusing! You also seem to have written chapters on Christmas cards and holiday parties especially for my parents' benefit. I'm just glad I don't have to wrestle through New York for the month leading up to the holidays.

Also, I bought a signed copy on eBay for $7.50. Pretty rad.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished reading MERRY CHRISTMAS, MR. BAXTER, by Edward Streeter. Published in 1956, with illustrations by Dorthea Warren Fox. Though there are illustrations, this is not a children's book.

This was a very pleasant novel to get one into the holiday season. It combines wit, sentimentality, and cynicism all wrapped with a pretty ribbon and bow on top.

It's about Mr. Baxter, who once again prepares for the holiday season. It's all about him and his wife expecting relatives, who to send Christmas cards to, shopping, office Christmas parties, commercialism, etc. But through it all, Mr. Baxter prevails. I wish I could say more about the plot, but there really isn't much to it, except that it takes bits and pieces of the season and places Mr. Baxter in it.

But more importantly than this, this is a real love story to Christmas in New York City in the mid-1950s. The city is somewhat a character itself in this story and the author does a wonderful job at describing what it was like to spend the holiday in such a bustling metropolis.

Speaking of the author, Edward Streeter spent much of his life in New York City and had just retired from being president of a bank at the time this book came out. While his name isn't familiar to many these days, it's important to point out that he is the author of FATHER OF THE BRIDE (which was made into a film in 1950 with Spencer Tracy, Joan Bennett, and Elizabeth Taylor and again in 1991 with Steve Martin and Diane Keaton) and MR. HOBBS' VACATION (made into the film Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation with James Stewart and Maureen O'Hara.)

While I enjoyed this book, especially the third section titled "Christmas Eve", my one complaint would be that there wasn't much of a plot, in the way of conflict. Sure there were the little conflicts of all these to-dos during the holiday season, but no substantial conflict contributed to a story arch.

Be that as it may, it still was enjoyable. I love Christmas nostalgia, and this was a great way to kick off the holiday season. It's a shame that it's currently out of print. MERRY CHRISTMAS, MR. BAXTER, by Edward Streeter. My rating - 4/5

[J. Merwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're anything like me old black and white Christmas movies give the sort of nostalgic comfort you need in times of stress and these are times of stress aren't they? Even in good times, old Christmas movies are part of what makes up the best of holidays and are eagerly awaited...even sometimes indulged in in July! Movies like It's a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, The Holly and the Ivy, etc., etc. take you back if not into you're own 50's childhood at least let you escape for a while into an imaginary scrubbed and polished 50's world. Mr. Baxter takes you there with one added ingredient...the whole time I read this delightful book I heard Spencer Tracy's voice reading it! Since this is the author of Father of the Bride and Mr. Hobb's Vacation, I couldn't help it! A Philosophical old guy spinning his tale about the hassles of Christmas chores (Who to send cards to, dept. store shopping, obnoxious children), totally upper class white bread but the atmosphere of 50's New York City, hustle and bustle...a delightful escape!

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved reading this! Though written in the 1950s, the NYC captured so wittily is completely identifiable with NYC today, from the crowded buses and subways to the Saks Christmas shopping experience to everything in between. There is nothing dated about this story!

Read as my book with a red spine for 2017 Pop Sugar Reading Challenge.

[Ed Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Streeter's mid-1950s era Christmas charmer, in four easy to read sections leading up to Christmas Eve as a humbug businessman decides this year's Christmas will mean less fuss and less expense.

Not his strongest or most insightful, but a lovely holiday divertissement that hits all the notes you want a book like this to hit.

[Emily Carroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a gem of a book. Written in the ‘50s by Edward Streeter who also wrote Father of the Bride and was a banker as well as a writer. Maybe that’s why I connected with the main character Mr. Baxter. It seems that so much has changed but yet so much also remains the same 50 years later. I recommend this for a nice holiday read.

[Sally · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. A book that will have you time traveling back to the 1950s. It’s definitely a bit of a time capsule, painting a portrait of another era. And yet, there are still some universal things about Christmas that stand the test of the years! A fun little read, and a bit anachronistic, but also somewhat charming.

[Bob Peterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read to start the month of December with! Good old Edward Streeter, he set the stage for the 1950s and early 1960s. The trip back in time. New York, 1950s, men with suit coats in fedoras, gender roles are very stereotypical. Still, a fun read and a good way to kick off the month.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I usually enjoy Edward Streeter books.
I loved the way every description drew a perfect picture of a vintage holiday season.
I'm going to make this one a holiday tradition. 🎄

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little uneven. I would say most of the book is a 3, but some chapters were so brilliant and spot on that I rounded up. On the whole it was a delight to read this time of year.

[Craig Schlossin · Rating 3 out of 5]

More frustrating than funny.

[Mónica Serrano · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was just ok. Cute, but didn't wow me in the least. Could have gone without reading it, to be honest.

[Samantha Glasser · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like the beginning of Christmas with the Kranks, you’ll probably enjoy this book. The Baxters decide they spend entirely too much money on Christmas and try to start eliminating expenses. When they suggest not sending Christmas cards, they become horrified of cutting longtime friends and family off the list until it ultimately expands.

As much as Mr. Baxter resists Christmas, it comes anyway, and ultimately he enjoys it, in spite of himself.

“Well if you don’t know now you’ll never learn. You just loll in your chair and read and have no idea what a lot of work Christmas is. While everybody else is half dead with exhaustion you just sit there and have fun.”

[Debra]

I chose three books to read for Christmas. This is the only one I managed to finish. It is a light comedy about a family man coping with the challenges of Christmas, by the author of "Father of the Bride" and "Mr. Hobbs' Vacation". The story dates from the mid-1950s, which in itself serves as a descriptor for the story. I enjoyed the story and the characters. Light holiday fun.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is entirely perfect, for what it is: a droll picture of a Manhattan businessman during a typical Christmas season. The (then contemporary) mid-20th-century setting gives this book all the appeal of a totally lost era. Mr. Baxter himself is a dear. Charming.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really fun book and, although it was written in the 1950's, it is timeless in many ways. When I was growing up, my mother would read it every year sometime between about Halloween and Christmas. By the time I was in High School, I started that tradition, too. Lots of fun!

[Ruth Hoernig · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just love this fast read, very dated but so funny book. I like to read it every November to start the thoughts of Christmas. It's completely secular so don't expect the real story of Christmas but it is just fun. It will make you wish for a Christmas trip to New York City.

[Nathan K · Rating 3 out of 5]

As George says, "It's of its time...", still a nice look at what the Christmas season was to Manhattanites in the 1950s.

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute little commentary on Christmas festivities and the pains we go to to make it a fun relaxing time for family (tee hee hee).

[Bitsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

1956