The Greatest Christmas Novels, Tales & Poems (Illustrated) : A Treasury of Festive Stories and Poems

The Greatest Christmas Novels, Tales & Poems (Illustrated) brings together an unparalleled ensemble of literary greats, offering readers a treasure trove of festive stories that range from heartwarming tales to poignant poems. This collection underscores the multifaceted nature of the Christmas spirit, weaving together themes of love, hope, generosity, and renewal. The diversity in literary styles, from the enchanting fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen to the contemplative poems of William Butler Yeats, provides a broad spectrum of emotional and intellectual depth. The anthology stands as a testament to the enduring appeal of Christmas narratives, showcasing notable works that have shaped the literary and cultural significance of the holiday season. The contributing authors and editors, each a luminary in their own right, bring a rich tapestry of historical, cultural, and personal backgrounds to the anthology. Figures such as Charles Dickens and Leo Tolstoy contribute with their timeless narratives, reflecting the Victorian fascination with Christmas as a time for reflection and societal goodwill. Meanwhile, poets like Emily Dickinson offer intimate glimpses into the personal significance of the season. The anthology, therefore, not only aligns with several literary movements but also encapsulates the personal and societal transformations surrounding the Yuletide period, presenting a chorus of voices that together celebrate, critique, and contemplate the myriad aspects of Christmas. This anthology is recommended for anyone looking to explore the rich literary traditions of Christmas. It offers a unique opportunity to engage with the works of literary giants across different eras and genres, all congregated around the central theme of Christmas. Readers will find solace in familiar tales, be challenged by the moral questions posed in others, and delight in the discovery of lesser-known gems. The Greatest Christmas Novels, Tales & Poems (Illustrated) is an essential addition to the libraries of scholars, enthusiasts of Christmas literature, and anyone seeking to deepen their appreciation for the holiday season through the lens of diverse and compelling literary works.

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1557 books
Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens was born in 1812 and grew up in poverty. This experience influenced ‘Oliver Twist’, the second of his fourteen major novels, which first appeared in 1837. When he died in 1870, he was buried in Poets’ Corner in Westminster Abbey as an indication of his huge popularity as a novelist, which endures to this day.
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1167 books
Mark Twain
Mark Twain, born Samuel Langhorne Clemens in 1835, left school at age 12. His career encompassed such varied occupations as printer, Mississippi riverboat pilot, journalist, travel writer, and publisher, which furnished him with a wide knowledge of humanity and the perfect grasp of local customs and speech manifested in his writing. It wasn't until The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1885), that he was recognized by the literary establishment as one of the greatest writers America would ever produce. Toward the end of his life, plagued by personal tragedy and financial failure, Twain grew more and more cynical and pessimistic. Though his fame continued to widen--Yale and Oxford awarded him honorary degrees--he spent his last years in gloom and desperation, but he lives on in American letters as "the Lincoln of our literature."
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123 books
William Wordsworth
William Wordsworth was a major English Romantic poet who, with Samuel Taylor Coleridge, helped to launch the Romantic Age in English literature with the 1798 joint publication Lyrical Ballads.
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518 books
Walter Scott
Sir Walter Scott was born in Scotland in 1771 and achieved international fame with his work. In 1813 he was offered the position of Poet Laureate, but turned it down. Scott mainly wrote poetry before trying his hand at novels. His first novel, Waverley, was published anonymously, as were many novels that he wrote later, despite the fact that his identity became widely known.
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675 books
Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling was born in Bombay, India, in 1865. One of the most revered writers in recent history, many of his works are deemed classic literature. To this day, he maintains an avid following and reputation as one of the greatest storytellers of the past two centuries. In 1907, he received the Nobel Prize for Literature. He died in 1936, but his stories live on—even eighty years after his passing.
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322 books
Beatrix Potter
Helen Beatrix Potter was an English writer, illustrator, natural scientist and conservationist; she was best known for her children's books featuring animals, such as The Tale of Peter Rabbit.
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167 books
Emily Dickinson
Emily Dickinson (1830–1886) was an American poet. Born in Amherst, Massachusetts, to a successful family with strong community ties, she lived a mostly introverted and reclusive life, but today is considered to be one of the most influential poets in American history.
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423 books
O. Henry
William Sydney Porter—later to be known as O. Henry—was born in North Carolina in 1862. Known for his surprise endings and ability to capture the hope and pathos of ordinary people, Henry is best remembered for his stories about New York City. The Gift of the Magi was written in 1906, four years before his death.
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663 books
Leo Tolstoy
Leo Tolstoy grew up in Russia, raised by a elderly aunt and educated by French tutors while studying at Kazen University before giving up on his education and volunteering for military duty. When writing his greatest works, War and Peace and Anna Karenina, Tolstoy drew upon his diaries for material. At eighty-two, while away from home, he suffered from declining health and died in Astapovo, Riazan in 1910.
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77 books
Clement Moore
Clement Clarke Moore, (1779-1863), was a professor at New York City's General Theological Seminary (built on land donated by his father) who, in an 1836 reprint of A Visit From St. Nicholas (more commonly known today as Twas the Night Before Christmas), was first credited as the author of the poem, and later included it in an anthology of his work.
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The Greatest Christmas Novels, Tales & Poems (Illustrated) : A Treasury of Festive Stories and Poems

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