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Delphi Christmas Collection Volume I (Illustrated)
THE DELPHI CHRISTMAS COLLECTION - The Perfect Christmas Anthology to get you in the Seasonal Mood! This collection includes seasonal short stories, poems and extracts from classic literature’s greatest writers. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Delphi Classics Contents A CHRISTMAS TREE by Charles Dickens THE HEAVENLY CHRISTMAS TREE by Fyodor Dostoyevsky MRS. PERKINS’S BALL by W.M. Thackeray CHRISTMAS AT DINGLEY DELL by Charles Dickens A CHRISTMAS SONG by Louisa May Alcott A CHRISTMAS TURKEY AND HOW IT CAME by Louisa May Alcott CHRISTMAS STORMS AND SUNSHINE by Elizabeth Gaskell CHRISTMAS DAY AT SEA by Joseph Conrad THE GIFT OF THE MAGI by O. Henry CHRISTMAS POEMS by Thomas Hardy THE THIEVES WHO COULDN’T HELP SNEEZING by Thomas Hardy THE DEVIL’S DICE BOX by Jack London A LETTER FROM SANTA CLAUS by Mark Twain ‘TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
263 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 20, 2012
3 people are currently reading
22 people want to read
About the author
Charles Dickens
11.9k books30.9k followersCharles John Huffam Dickens (1812-1870) was a writer and social critic who created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era. His works enjoyed unprecedented popularity during his lifetime, and by the twentieth century critics and scholars had recognised him as a literary genius. His novels and short stories enjoy lasting popularity.
Dickens left school to work in a factory when his father was incarcerated in a debtors' prison. Despite his lack of formal education, he edited a weekly journal for 20 years, wrote 15 novels, five novellas, hundreds of short stories and non-fiction articles, lectured and performed extensively, was an indefatigable letter writer, and campaigned vigorously for children's rights, education, and other social reforms.
Dickens was regarded as the literary colossus of his age. His 1843 novella, A Christmas Carol, remains popular and continues to inspire adaptations in every artistic genre. Oliver Twist and Great Expectations are also frequently adapted, and, like many of his novels, evoke images of early Victorian London. His 1859 novel, A Tale of Two Cities, set in London and Paris, is his best-known work of historical fiction. Dickens's creative genius has been praised by fellow writers—from Leo Tolstoy to George Orwell and G. K. Chesterton—for its realism, comedy, prose style, unique characterisations, and social criticism. On the other hand, Oscar Wilde, Henry James, and Virginia Woolf complained of a lack of psychological depth, loose writing, and a vein of saccharine sentimentalism. The term Dickensian is used to describe something that is reminiscent of Dickens and his writings, such as poor social conditions or comically repulsive characters.
On 8 June 1870, Dickens suffered another stroke at his home after a full day's work on Edwin Drood. He never regained consciousness, and the next day he died at Gad's Hill Place. Contrary to his wish to be buried at Rochester Cathedral "in an inexpensive, unostentatious, and strictly private manner," he was laid to rest in the Poets' Corner of Westminster Abbey. A printed epitaph circulated at the time of the funeral reads: "To the Memory of Charles Dickens (England's most popular author) who died at his residence, Higham, near Rochester, Kent, 9 June 1870, aged 58 years. He was a sympathiser with the poor, the suffering, and the oppressed; and by his death, one of England's greatest writers is lost to the world." His last words were: "On the ground", in response to his sister-in-law Georgina's request that he lie down.
(from Wikipedia)
Dickens left school to work in a factory when his father was incarcerated in a debtors' prison. Despite his lack of formal education, he edited a weekly journal for 20 years, wrote 15 novels, five novellas, hundreds of short stories and non-fiction articles, lectured and performed extensively, was an indefatigable letter writer, and campaigned vigorously for children's rights, education, and other social reforms.
Dickens was regarded as the literary colossus of his age. His 1843 novella, A Christmas Carol, remains popular and continues to inspire adaptations in every artistic genre. Oliver Twist and Great Expectations are also frequently adapted, and, like many of his novels, evoke images of early Victorian London. His 1859 novel, A Tale of Two Cities, set in London and Paris, is his best-known work of historical fiction. Dickens's creative genius has been praised by fellow writers—from Leo Tolstoy to George Orwell and G. K. Chesterton—for its realism, comedy, prose style, unique characterisations, and social criticism. On the other hand, Oscar Wilde, Henry James, and Virginia Woolf complained of a lack of psychological depth, loose writing, and a vein of saccharine sentimentalism. The term Dickensian is used to describe something that is reminiscent of Dickens and his writings, such as poor social conditions or comically repulsive characters.
On 8 June 1870, Dickens suffered another stroke at his home after a full day's work on Edwin Drood. He never regained consciousness, and the next day he died at Gad's Hill Place. Contrary to his wish to be buried at Rochester Cathedral "in an inexpensive, unostentatious, and strictly private manner," he was laid to rest in the Poets' Corner of Westminster Abbey. A printed epitaph circulated at the time of the funeral reads: "To the Memory of Charles Dickens (England's most popular author) who died at his residence, Higham, near Rochester, Kent, 9 June 1870, aged 58 years. He was a sympathiser with the poor, the suffering, and the oppressed; and by his death, one of England's greatest writers is lost to the world." His last words were: "On the ground", in response to his sister-in-law Georgina's request that he lie down.
(from Wikipedia)
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
December 24, 2017
This collection of Christmas stories includes English, Russian and American writers. Some have more a Christmas theme and some not at all but interesting nonetheless. Louisa May Alcott's and Jack London's stories had a fair amount of typos which I submitted to Kindle, and hopefully someone will correct but annoying at times did not take the enjoyment away from me.
*A Christmas Tree by Charles Dickens (1850) -Dickens remembers Christmas Trees and the toys of the past, returning home to boarding school and ending in the spirit of Christmas. (Interesting hearing about the tree and toys of the epoch)
*The Heavenly Christmas Tree by Fyodor Dostoevsky -A young starving boy ignored by society and his Christmas. (Very good, and very sad!)
*The Mulligan (of Ballymulligan), and How We Went to Mrs. Perkins's Ball by William Makepeace Thackeray - A dance with a cast of characters mentioned but nothing happening but describing the people who attend. (I have only read Catherine and Vanity Fair, which I loved, but even though I enjoyed the character of Mulligan, the rest of the story is not really a story at all but more a description of people. The ending was humorous because of Mulligan.)
*Christmas at Dingley Dell by Charles Dickens - This is an excerpt from The Pickwick Papers which has a Wedding and a story told by a character in the book. The Pickwick Papers has many stories in the story. This story is about a mean man and Christmas goblins, it is a precursor to A Christmas Carol. (I loved the Pickwick Papers and this was a good tale!)
*A Christmas Turkey and How It Came by Louisa May Alcott -A poor family and the children's desire to work for a turkey for Christmas. (I loved this story which is heartwarming! I need to read Little Women. I have seen both classic versions and heard OTR version too!)
*Christmas Storms and Sunshine by Elizabeth Gaskell (1848) - Can bitter enemies with different political views stay that way for Christmas? (I love Gaskell!! She has a great short story here and what a great message!)
*A Luckless Santa Claus by F. Scott Fitzgerald - A dandy of sorts takes on a bet from his fiance on Christmas Eve. (I had read the Great Gatsby in High School ages ago and have Fitzgerald on my list but have not read him since then, so I loved this taste of this short story which was clever and enjoyable!)
*A Christmas Day at Sea by Joseph Conrad - Christmas at Sea for a sailor. (Good)
*The Gift of The Magi by O'Henry - A couple gives a special gift to each other. (I put my extra thoughts in my notes section. I love this story and loved the movie too!)
*Christmas Poems by Thomas Hardy -
-A Christmas Ghost Story
-The Oxen
-The House of Hospitalities
-The Rash Bride an Experience of The Mellstock Quire
-The Reminder
-Seen By Waits
-Two Serenaded
-The Darkling Thrush
(enjoyable and my favorite was The Rash Bride)enjoyable
*The Thieves Who Couldn't Help Sneezing by Thomas Hardy - A young man and a group of highwaymen. (I loved this one. I also love Hardy's novels)
*The Devil's Dice Box by Jack London - Gold fever in the tundra. (Not Christmassy at all but an interesting story nonetheless, I never read him before and it was a nice taste.)
* A Letter From Santa Claus by Mark Twain - A cute letter to his daughter pretending to be Santa.
*Twas The Night Bed Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore and Major Henry Livingston, Jr. (1823) Who does not know this? Look on my notes for more of my thoughts of interested.
*A Christmas Tree by Charles Dickens (1850) -Dickens remembers Christmas Trees and the toys of the past, returning home to boarding school and ending in the spirit of Christmas. (Interesting hearing about the tree and toys of the epoch)
*The Heavenly Christmas Tree by Fyodor Dostoevsky -A young starving boy ignored by society and his Christmas. (Very good, and very sad!)
*The Mulligan (of Ballymulligan), and How We Went to Mrs. Perkins's Ball by William Makepeace Thackeray - A dance with a cast of characters mentioned but nothing happening but describing the people who attend. (I have only read Catherine and Vanity Fair, which I loved, but even though I enjoyed the character of Mulligan, the rest of the story is not really a story at all but more a description of people. The ending was humorous because of Mulligan.)
*Christmas at Dingley Dell by Charles Dickens - This is an excerpt from The Pickwick Papers which has a Wedding and a story told by a character in the book. The Pickwick Papers has many stories in the story. This story is about a mean man and Christmas goblins, it is a precursor to A Christmas Carol. (I loved the Pickwick Papers and this was a good tale!)
*A Christmas Turkey and How It Came by Louisa May Alcott -A poor family and the children's desire to work for a turkey for Christmas. (I loved this story which is heartwarming! I need to read Little Women. I have seen both classic versions and heard OTR version too!)
*Christmas Storms and Sunshine by Elizabeth Gaskell (1848) - Can bitter enemies with different political views stay that way for Christmas? (I love Gaskell!! She has a great short story here and what a great message!)
*A Luckless Santa Claus by F. Scott Fitzgerald - A dandy of sorts takes on a bet from his fiance on Christmas Eve. (I had read the Great Gatsby in High School ages ago and have Fitzgerald on my list but have not read him since then, so I loved this taste of this short story which was clever and enjoyable!)
*A Christmas Day at Sea by Joseph Conrad - Christmas at Sea for a sailor. (Good)
*The Gift of The Magi by O'Henry - A couple gives a special gift to each other. (I put my extra thoughts in my notes section. I love this story and loved the movie too!)
*Christmas Poems by Thomas Hardy -
-A Christmas Ghost Story
-The Oxen
-The House of Hospitalities
-The Rash Bride an Experience of The Mellstock Quire
-The Reminder
-Seen By Waits
-Two Serenaded
-The Darkling Thrush
(enjoyable and my favorite was The Rash Bride)enjoyable
*The Thieves Who Couldn't Help Sneezing by Thomas Hardy - A young man and a group of highwaymen. (I loved this one. I also love Hardy's novels)
*The Devil's Dice Box by Jack London - Gold fever in the tundra. (Not Christmassy at all but an interesting story nonetheless, I never read him before and it was a nice taste.)
* A Letter From Santa Claus by Mark Twain - A cute letter to his daughter pretending to be Santa.
*Twas The Night Bed Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore and Major Henry Livingston, Jr. (1823) Who does not know this? Look on my notes for more of my thoughts of interested.
Displaying 1 of 1 review