Thomas Ruys Smith's Blog

 

Available for pre-order now! The first ever anthology of the poems, stories and illustrations that helped shape the Santa Claus that we all know and love. From familiar favourites to delightful obscurities, I've scoured nineteenth century newspapers, books and magazines to provide a definitive portrait of the growth and development of a true global icon. This collection reshapes our understanding of not just a beloved cultural figure but also the development of popular culture in the nineteenth...

 

The latest book in our Children's Corner Critical Edition series - as ever, co-produced with our final year students - is available for pre-order now. This timely edition of Nathaniel Hawthorne's groundbreaking book of Greek myth for children (first published in 1851) should delight a new generation of rewaders, young and old, and has already garnered some wonderful words of praise:

"This splendid edition will allow new readers of all ages to enjoy Hawthorne’s high-spirited, inventive retellings...

 I'm giving a talk about Mary and Anna Sewell on Friday January 17th at the Time and Tide Museum in Great Yarmouth:

Thomas Ruys Smith - thomasruyssmith.com

 I appeared on the Inside the Newport Mansions podcast to talk about Christmas Past:

Thomas Ruys Smith - thomasruyssmith.com

I spoke to the Associated Press about Santa Claus - available here - which got picked up around the world, including by Time magazine, here. 

Thomas Ruys Smith - thomasruyssmith.com

I'm quoted in this USA Today article about White Christmases:

Thomas Ruys Smith - thomasruyssmith.com

I'm in this month's UN Today magazine (the magazine of United Nations civil servants) with an article about Christmas traditions around the world. You can read the whole thing here or below.  

Thomas Ruys Smith - thomasruyssmith.com

I've been quoted in The Guardian in a fun article about contemporary Christmas movies - enjoy here. 

Thomas Ruys Smith - thomasruyssmith.com

 

Delighted to announced that our edition of Lydia Maria Child's writing for children, co-produced with our students, was awarded The Literary Encyclopaedia's biennial prize for Scholarly Editions.

The full announcement can be found on The Literary Encyclopaedia's pages here and below.



Thomas Ruys Smith - thomasruyssmith.com

I'm quoted in this month's National Geographic History Magazine in an article about the ongoing significance of A Visit from St. Nicholas - a snippet below:




 

Thomas Ruys Smith - thomasruyssmith.com