Victoria: A Woman's Christmas: Returning to the Gentle Joys of the Season

by Arlene Hamilton Stewart, N. Y.) Victoria (New York

A lavishly illustrated seasonal guide explains how festive Victorian touches can be applied to the holidays with easy-to-manage gift and entertainment ideas, decoration suggestions, and recipes. 25,000 first printing.

Genres: Christmas, Art, Nonfiction

144 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1995

Reviews

[Joy O’Toole · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely book full of beautiful photographs and thoughtful practices.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't like it at all. It was very superficial, and I was disappointed. I really had hoped for more. It focused on a lot of the fluff of the holiday season, without any depth. I suppose the reason I didn't ditch it was because I enjoyed some of the vintage pictures and verses included. But I do not recommend it at all. There are so many better Christmas books out there.

This book focused on decorating (which is fine), but very little on meaning. There was a sense of nostalgia in the writing that didn't quite do it for me, like it was lacking something. It was contradictory in parts (Loosely quoting: "gifts...need only be well-considered, not expensive"; then the book suggests purchasing an upscale or vintage copy of A Christmas Carol as a gift. $$$!!! I have nothing against A Christmas Carol, I just found the suggestions in this book very pompous.)

In the book's defense, I did find maybe two paragraphs that focused on service.

[Sheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

For me, this is more like the magazine than the Christmas with Victoria series. It's primarily rambly editorializing with very little depth, beautiful pictures, and snippets of quotes. There's a recipe or instructions for a crafty project here and there, but the focus is on feel-good prose and pictures.

Like Victoria magazine, there's an appreciation for the late Victorian era -- or rather, for what some people imagine it was like; I suspect most Victorians would be surprised at how godless this vision of Christmas is. I would further guess that a lot of what's in the pictures, and some of the suggestions, are as far out of reach for most modern readers as the clothes in the fashion plates in Godey's Lady's Book were for most readers back in the day. But, like Godey's, Victoria tucks in the practical now and again.

[Erika · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice book, focusing as much on the genteel as the gentle. It offers ways, big and small, that we can cozy up the holidays. Delicacy is in the details, and this book doesn't overlook any. It includes blank lined pages at the end of each section to add your own ideas, which is - appropriately - a nice touch.

[Jane · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lots of crafty suggestions. Good suggestions for someone who loves that kind of thing. Suggestions after Suggestions after Suggestions then with the admonition not to do too much. HA!
Many ideas are for the well to do like Manhattan or Chevy Chase MD. Also a bit dated as it was published in 1995. That was ok but caviar at midnight??
Well intentioned but not for me. Glad I got it used. I will pass along.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorites of their Christmas books, filled with beautiful photos and ideas for gift giving, decorating, crafting, and creating your own family traditions. There are even pages for keeping your own holiday journal. The antique Victoria images are especially delightful.

[Awjtf · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely book!

[Marlejp06 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super quick little read but it totally got me in the mood to begin decorating for Christmas and try to make some personal touches to my decorating.