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The Virago Book Of Christmas
Christmas began with a good but harassed woman giving birth in difficult domestic circumstances. Somewhere between then and now, the circumstances have changed, but for women today, Christmas is still a time of joys garnered against the odds. We have moved on from stables and mangers to supermarkets and microwaves; palm fronds and shepherds have given way to a spangled conifer and a fat man in a red suit. In this anthology, reflecting the experiences of more than 50 women at Christmas, Ntozake Shange and Agatha Christie rub shoulders with Emily Dickinson and Virginia Woolf. Curl up with a tantalizing volume that gives full reign to the seditious humor, peculiar discomforts, and exquisite social tortures of the season.
- GenresChristmasShort Stories
320 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2002
1 person is currently reading
45 people want to read
About the author
Michelle Lovric
112 books170 followersMichelle Lovric is a novelist, writer and anthologist.
Her third novel, The Remedy, was long-listed for the 2005 Orange Prize for Fiction. The Remedy is a literary murder-mystery set against the background of the quack medicine industry in the eighteenth century.
Her first novel, Carnevale, is the story of the painter Cecilia Cornaro, described by The Times as the possessor of ‘the most covetable life’ in fiction in 2001.
In Lovric’s second novel, The Floating Book, a chorus of characters relates the perilous beginning of the print industry in Venice. The book explores the translation of raw emotion into saleable merchandise from the points of view of poets, editors, publishers – and their lovers. The Floating Book, a London Arts award winner, was also selected as a WH Smith ‘Read of the Week’.
Her first novel for young adult readers, The Undrowned Child, is published by Orion. The sequel is due in summer 2010.
Her fourth adult novel, The Book of Human Skin, is published by Bloomsbury in Spring 2010.
Lovric reviews for publications including The Times and writes travel articles about Venice. She has featured in several BBC radio documentaries about Venice.
She combines her fiction work with editing, designing and producing literary anthologies including her own translations of Latin and Italian poetry. Her book Love Letters was a New York Times best-seller.
Lovric divides her time between London and Venice. She holds a workshop in her home in London with published writers of poetry and prose, fiction and memoir.
Her third novel, The Remedy, was long-listed for the 2005 Orange Prize for Fiction. The Remedy is a literary murder-mystery set against the background of the quack medicine industry in the eighteenth century.
Her first novel, Carnevale, is the story of the painter Cecilia Cornaro, described by The Times as the possessor of ‘the most covetable life’ in fiction in 2001.
In Lovric’s second novel, The Floating Book, a chorus of characters relates the perilous beginning of the print industry in Venice. The book explores the translation of raw emotion into saleable merchandise from the points of view of poets, editors, publishers – and their lovers. The Floating Book, a London Arts award winner, was also selected as a WH Smith ‘Read of the Week’.
Her first novel for young adult readers, The Undrowned Child, is published by Orion. The sequel is due in summer 2010.
Her fourth adult novel, The Book of Human Skin, is published by Bloomsbury in Spring 2010.
Lovric reviews for publications including The Times and writes travel articles about Venice. She has featured in several BBC radio documentaries about Venice.
She combines her fiction work with editing, designing and producing literary anthologies including her own translations of Latin and Italian poetry. Her book Love Letters was a New York Times best-seller.
Lovric divides her time between London and Venice. She holds a workshop in her home in London with published writers of poetry and prose, fiction and memoir.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 15, 2019
A great variety of Xmas stories from a huge range of female authors. Christmas at Cold Comfort Farm never fails to make me laugh and I particularly enjoyed another story that involved two Scottie dogs and marzipan sheep. No prizes for guessing how that turned out !
January 3, 2023
Such a wonderful collection of Christmas "spirits". Bits of celebrations, perspectives and history. Plus it has added to my list of authors that I need to seek out.
December 28, 2010
The entire reason I bought this book was because it contained a short story by Stella Gibbons called "Christmas at Cold Comfort Farm". That story is wonderful, and so funny. It features a younger Starkadder family a few years before Flora Poste came to straighten them out.
The other stories in this book are good too, but the Cold Comfort one was my favorite. A nice little collection of stories and a fun read.
The other stories in this book are good too, but the Cold Comfort one was my favorite. A nice little collection of stories and a fun read.
December 15, 2012
An interesting collection of Christmas-themed short stories, essays, snippets from letters etc.
A varied mix of authors and I particularly enjoyed each introductory paragraph that gave some detail about each.
As with most short story collections, some are far better than others, but there are a few gems amongst these.
A varied mix of authors and I particularly enjoyed each introductory paragraph that gave some detail about each.
As with most short story collections, some are far better than others, but there are a few gems amongst these.
December 20, 2011
I only read a few of these stories as they weren't as Christmassy as I thought they would be. I really liked reading an excerpt from Adrian Mole which was very funny. I don't think I would bother getting this out again from the library.
November 26, 2016
I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/12668794
An eclectic mix of short stories, poetry and biographical accounts.
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/12668794
An eclectic mix of short stories, poetry and biographical accounts.
October 5, 2024
I am always on the lookout for short Christmas stories. These were interesting to say the least. I can't say they screamed Christmas but I liked the originality of the choices made and the different centuries even that they were set in.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews