The Penguin Book of Christmas Stories: From Hans Christian Andersen to Angela Carter (Penguin Clothbound Classics)
The Penguin Book of Christmas Stories: From Hans Christian Andersen to Angela Carter (Penguin Clothbound Classics) book cover

The Penguin Book of Christmas Stories: From Hans Christian Andersen to Angela Carter (Penguin Clothbound Classics)

Hardcover – November 8, 2022

Price
$16.74
Format
Hardcover
Pages
288
Publisher
Penguin Classics
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-0241455654
Dimensions
4.6 x 1 x 7.4 inches
Weight
11.2 ounces

Description

Review “From Hans Christian Andersen to Angela Carter, this greatest hits compilation also happens to be beautifully published. Inside you’ll find ghosts, miracles, grouchy curmudgeons, and plenty of snow.” ― Daily Mail (“Books of the Year”) “Perfect for any looming Boxing Day boredom.” ― The Herald (Scotland) About the Author Jessica Harrison (editor) is the editorial director of Penguin Classics UK. Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. Contents “The Fir Tree” by Hans Christian Andersen “The Cat on the Dovrefjell” by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe “A Christmas Party and a Wedding” by Fyodor Dostoyevsky “St. Anthony and His Pig” by Paul Arène “Boys” by Anton Chekhov “Midnight Mass” by Joaquim Maria Machado de Assis “Reginald’s Christmas Revel” by Saki “The Legend of the Christmas Rose” by Selma Lagerlöf “A Chaparral Christmas Gift” by O. Henry “Noël” by Irène Némirovsky “Dancing Dan’s Christmas” by Damon Runyon “The Necklace of Pearls” by Dorothy L. Sayers “One Christmas Eve” by Langston Hughes “The Christmas Turkey” by Mário de Andrade “Green Holly” by Elizabeth Bowen “Christmas Morning” by Frank O’Connor “A Child’s Christmas in Wales” by Dylan Thomas “The Little Restaurant near Place des Ternes” by Georges Simenon “The Gift” by Ray Bradbury “A Visit to the Bank” by Shirley Jackson “The Prisoners” by Bienvenido Santos “The Leaf-Sweeper” by Muriel Spark “A Christmas Memory” by Truman Capote “The Loan” by Wolfdietrich Schnurre “Christmas Eve” by Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen “The Loudest Voice” by Grace Paley “A Cold Christmas Walk in the Country” by Laurie Lee “Santa’s Children” by Italo Calvino “Christmas” by Tove Jansson “Just Because of Xmas” by Cyprian Ekwensi “Noël. Texas. 1956” by Lucia Berlin “The Ghost Ships” by Angela Carter Read more

Features & Highlights

  • The ultimate festive anthology of the best Christmas stories of all time, selected from around the worldA Penguin Classics Hardcover
  • This is a collection of the most magical, moving, chilling and surprising Christmas stories from around the world, taking us from frozen Nordic woods to glittering Paris, a New York speakeasy to an English country house, bustling Lagos to midnight mass in Rio, and even outer space.Here are classic tales from writers including Truman Capote, Shirley Jackson, Dylan Thomas, Saki and Chekhov, as well as little-known treasures such as Italo Calvino's wry sideways look at Christmas consumerism, Wolfdietrich Schnurre's story of festive ingenuity in Berlin, Selma Lagerlof's enchanted forest in Sweden, and Irène Nemerovsky's dark family portrait. Featuring santas, ghosts, trolls, unexpected guests, curmudgeons and miracles, here is Christmas as imagined by some of the greatest short story writers of all time.

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
30%
(119)
★★★★
25%
(99)
★★★
15%
(59)
★★
7%
(28)
23%
(91)

Most Helpful Reviews

✓ Verified Purchase

Does not match size of every other Penguin Clothbound Classic

It is over half an inch shorter and three quarters of an inch narrower than every other penguin clothbound classic book produced. I have about 30 of them and this is the only one that comes in a different size. Instant return. What was the editor thinking?
8 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

not quite what I was hoping for in a Christmas story collection

I will happily read a Christmas anthology of most varieties and was thrilled to receive an early copy of this one; however, I soon found that this anthology is definitely heavier on the downcast tales, and unfortunately, much less so on the joyous stories I tend to look for during the holidays. I wouldn’t want to read this if I were looking to increase my holiday spirit or mental health levels.

This one was too depressing for me. Others may appreciate a more melancholy collection, but for me, this is a detour I prefer not to often take.

I wouldn’t recommend this as a read-aloud with children / family.

eARC kindly provided by Penguin Classics and NetGalley. Opinions shared are my own.
3 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Lovely little book

This book has lots must-read Christmas stories and many which are new to me. The book is smaller in size, the print is smaller, and there is no little book mark ribbon like the other Penguin Clothbound Classics. But I love it just the same.
3 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

I liked it!

The Penguin Book of Christmas Stories is a compilation of short stories set at or around Christmas, compiled by Jessica Harrison. As with all anthologies, there were some stories that I enjoyed more or less than others. Overall, though, this was a pleasant read and one I enjoyed for December.

** Thanks so much to Jessica Harrison, Penguin Classics, and NetGalley for this ARC! The Penguin Book of Christmas Stories is available now. **