What do you think?
Rate this book
A Louisa May Alcott Christmas Book and Charm: Selected Holiday Stories and Poems
Oh, the beautiful old story!
Of the little child that lay
In a manger on that morning,
When the stars sang in the day ...
One of America's most treasured authors, Louisa May Alcott shines her brightest in this collection of holiday stories and poems. Each selection radiates with the true meaning of the season -- charity, hope, kinship, and love. From the Bassett family's holiday meal in An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving to Little Effie receiving a grand surprise in A Christmas Dream, and How It Came True, the girls and boys of this simpler time bring joy to our hearts today.
Of the little child that lay
In a manger on that morning,
When the stars sang in the day ...
One of America's most treasured authors, Louisa May Alcott shines her brightest in this collection of holiday stories and poems. Each selection radiates with the true meaning of the season -- charity, hope, kinship, and love. From the Bassett family's holiday meal in An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving to Little Effie receiving a grand surprise in A Christmas Dream, and How It Came True, the girls and boys of this simpler time bring joy to our hearts today.
- GenresChristmas
288 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2004
About the author
Louisa May Alcott
4,448 books11.2k followersLouisa May Alcott (1832–1888) was an American novelist, short story writer and poet, best known for her beloved novel Little Women (1868) and its sequels, Good Wives (1869), Little Men (1871) and Jo's Boys (1886).
Raised in New England by her transcendentalist parents, Abigail May Alcott and Amos Bronson Alcott, she grew up surrounded by some of the most prominent intellectuals and writers of her time. Among the family's friends and acquaintances were Margaret Fuller, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Henry David Thoreau and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
The Alcott family struggled with financial difficulties, and Louisa began working at an early age to help support her family. Despite these responsibilities, she remained determined to pursue her literary ambitions. She began achieving critical recognition during the 1860s. Early in her career, she sometimes wrote under pseudonyms, most notably A. M. Barnard, publishing sensational stories and novels for adult audiences that often explored themes of passion, revenge and forbidden desires.
Published in 1868, Little Women is set in Concord, Massachusetts, and draws heavily on Alcott's own childhood experiences growing up with her three sisters: Anna Bronson Alcott Pratt, Elizabeth Sewall Alcott and Abigail May Alcott Nieriker. The novel was an immediate success and has remained a beloved classic for generations of readers, both young and old. It has been adapted numerous times for the stage, film and television.
Alcott was a committed abolitionist, feminist and advocate for social reform. Throughout her life, she supported causes including women's suffrage and the temperance movement. She never married and remained devoted to her family and literary work. She died in Boston on March 6, 1888, at the age of 55, just two days after the death of her father.
Raised in New England by her transcendentalist parents, Abigail May Alcott and Amos Bronson Alcott, she grew up surrounded by some of the most prominent intellectuals and writers of her time. Among the family's friends and acquaintances were Margaret Fuller, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Henry David Thoreau and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
The Alcott family struggled with financial difficulties, and Louisa began working at an early age to help support her family. Despite these responsibilities, she remained determined to pursue her literary ambitions. She began achieving critical recognition during the 1860s. Early in her career, she sometimes wrote under pseudonyms, most notably A. M. Barnard, publishing sensational stories and novels for adult audiences that often explored themes of passion, revenge and forbidden desires.
Published in 1868, Little Women is set in Concord, Massachusetts, and draws heavily on Alcott's own childhood experiences growing up with her three sisters: Anna Bronson Alcott Pratt, Elizabeth Sewall Alcott and Abigail May Alcott Nieriker. The novel was an immediate success and has remained a beloved classic for generations of readers, both young and old. It has been adapted numerous times for the stage, film and television.
Alcott was a committed abolitionist, feminist and advocate for social reform. Throughout her life, she supported causes including women's suffrage and the temperance movement. She never married and remained devoted to her family and literary work. She died in Boston on March 6, 1888, at the age of 55, just two days after the death of her father.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 22, 2024
3.51⭐
An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving 4⭐
The Silver Party 3.25⭐
Oh, the Beautiful Old Story (poem) 3⭐
Sophie's Secret 4⭐
Rosa's Tale 4.5⭐
The Little Red Purse 4⭐
Tessa's Suprises 3.5⭐
A Song for a Christmas Tree (poem) 2.75⭐
A Christmas Turkey, and How It Came 4.25⭐
What the Bells Saw and Said 2.5⭐
A Hospital Christmas 4⭐
How It All Happened 4.25⭐
Tilly's Christmas 4⭐
What Polly Found In Her Stocking (poem) 3.25⭐
A Christmas Dream, and How It Came True 3.25⭐
Kate's Choice 3.25⭐
A Christmas Dream, and How It Came True 3.25⭐
Mrs. Podgers' Teapot 4.5⭐
A Country Christmas 4⭐
Cousin Tribulation's Story 3⭐
Merry Christmas (poem) 4⭐
An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving 4⭐
The Silver Party 3.25⭐
Oh, the Beautiful Old Story (poem) 3⭐
Sophie's Secret 4⭐
Rosa's Tale 4.5⭐
The Little Red Purse 4⭐
Tessa's Suprises 3.5⭐
A Song for a Christmas Tree (poem) 2.75⭐
A Christmas Turkey, and How It Came 4.25⭐
What the Bells Saw and Said 2.5⭐
A Hospital Christmas 4⭐
How It All Happened 4.25⭐
Tilly's Christmas 4⭐
What Polly Found In Her Stocking (poem) 3.25⭐
A Christmas Dream, and How It Came True 3.25⭐
Kate's Choice 3.25⭐
A Christmas Dream, and How It Came True 3.25⭐
Mrs. Podgers' Teapot 4.5⭐
A Country Christmas 4⭐
Cousin Tribulation's Story 3⭐
Merry Christmas (poem) 4⭐
Want to Read
September 27, 2018I really like this cover. It reminds of A Christmas Carol (so I think it represents the story A Christmas Dream).
1. An old-fashioned Thanksgiving. +
2. The Silver Party. - (nice ending, but too odd.)
3. Oh, the Beautiful Old Story. +
4. Sophie's Secret ?
1. An old-fashioned Thanksgiving. +
2. The Silver Party. - (nice ending, but too odd.)
3. Oh, the Beautiful Old Story. +
4. Sophie's Secret ?
June 2, 2018
Read this a while ago though I remember liking it. Also there aren't as many books solely about Christmas so that's a bonus entertainment to read every time Christmas comes around :)
May 17, 2014
I liked this book, but my stupid dogs ripped it up when I was only three stories in. That being said, I expect I would have continued to like it, but short stories aren't my thing, so it's unlikely it would have gotten more than three stars, anyway.
December 12, 2014
We listened to the audio version with two short stories for children. Perfect for Christmastime.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews