What do you think?
Rate this book
An Edwardian Christmas
Illustrations without text depict the celebration of Christmas in an English country home at the turn of the century. Here, depicted in loving detail, is Christmas as it was at the beginning of the twentieth century, indoors and out, above stairs and below, as seen through the eyes of the same boy and girl whose progress through the sunlit peace of Edwardian England was celebrated in An Edwardian Summer.
64 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1977
185 people want to read
About the author
John S. Goodall
116 books35 followersJohn S. Goodall (7 June 1908 – 2 June 1996) was a British author, watercolour painter and illustrator, best known for his wordless picture books such as The Adventures of Paddy Pork, although his output included more conventional pictures, and illustrations for a wide range of publications (including the Radio Times) and books by the "fictitious village schoolmistress Miss Read". Goodall became one of England's most beloved artists due to the subject matter of his works, the Victorian and Edwardian eras.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
December 30, 2022
Reread of a much loved Christmas favourite.
Wonderful book. No words, beautiful illustrations of a well off Edwardian family's Christmas. Our copy is treasured. This book holds lovely memories of passing to a child next to me in bed on Christmas morning and asking them to read it to me to get a few minutes extra sleep. One year this was passed at 4 am. Lots of detail, lovely for a child to look at and describe. Luckily now they wake up long after I do.
Wonderful book. No words, beautiful illustrations of a well off Edwardian family's Christmas. Our copy is treasured. This book holds lovely memories of passing to a child next to me in bed on Christmas morning and asking them to read it to me to get a few minutes extra sleep. One year this was passed at 4 am. Lots of detail, lovely for a child to look at and describe. Luckily now they wake up long after I do.
December 2, 2020
John S. Goodall presents and features generally delightful, beautifully descriptively lush paintings full of exquisite visual details of a typical turn of the 20th century British Christmas celebration in his wordless picture book An Edwardian Christmas (with both outdoor and indoor fun and games, with elaborate parties and presents, with much dancing and copious amounts of food and drink). But while this book is titled An Edwardian Christmas, it does in my opinion really only or at least mostly reflect how the wealthy, how those Englishmen and Englishwomen living in large manor houses and employing a sizeable contingent of domestic servants and staff celebrated and experienced the holidays. And while indeed I have very much enjoyed being taken on a visual journey and tour into their Christmas gaieties, I do believe that I would have both liked and also appreciated An Edwardian Christmas quite a bit more, if John S. Goodall had also included a few pictures showing less wealthy individuals, perhaps even scenes featuring how the working classes in Edwardian England celebrated the Yuletide season (or perhaps did not celebrate if they could not afford to do so).
Furthermore, I also feel that I do have to offer the caveat that An Edwardian Christmas does feature some pictures that might, that could perhaps prove offensive to modern sensibilities. For the illustration of the butcher shop with a large amount of animal carcasses hanging in the window in a rather in one's face manner might indeed and well be problematic for vegetarians and vegans, although truth be told, the picture is also not in any way gratuitous but simply John S. Goodall showing the reality of time and place (and equally is that the children of the house seem to own an African looking doll as a toy, for indeed, in early 20th century England and actually much of Western Europe, it was unfortunately all the rage for children to be given exotic looking black skinned dolls from the so-called colonies, not politically correct of course, according to today's standards, but I for one do very much appreciate John S. Goodall's sense of and for historic realism here).
Furthermore, I also feel that I do have to offer the caveat that An Edwardian Christmas does feature some pictures that might, that could perhaps prove offensive to modern sensibilities. For the illustration of the butcher shop with a large amount of animal carcasses hanging in the window in a rather in one's face manner might indeed and well be problematic for vegetarians and vegans, although truth be told, the picture is also not in any way gratuitous but simply John S. Goodall showing the reality of time and place (and equally is that the children of the house seem to own an African looking doll as a toy, for indeed, in early 20th century England and actually much of Western Europe, it was unfortunately all the rage for children to be given exotic looking black skinned dolls from the so-called colonies, not politically correct of course, according to today's standards, but I for one do very much appreciate John S. Goodall's sense of and for historic realism here).
August 3, 2023
With 15 days to go until Santa arrives (I still do believe in him) it was time to read (or in this instance view) another Christmas book. And having enjoyed this one immensely I feel satiated for Christmas now for I have run the whole gamut of the festive season in 64 pages.
These views of an Edwardian Christmas shows just how much the festive season and life in general has changed over the past 100 years. Of course there are still parties, family dinners, shows, games and all the rest but not on the scale of Edwardian days as the images in this delightful book amply demonstrate.
It all begins with a train arriving at a bustling country station with porters present to unload all the packages and chauffeurs ready to transport the new arrivals to their destination. Opulence abounds and continues when the newcomers arrive at their friends' country house to be greeted by the owners and their servants. The latter then assist everyone to unpack and make themselves comfortable.
It is a few days before Christmas so the following morning holly is gathered from the woods and this is taken to church where the altar, nave and walls are bedecked.
A Christmas market then beckons with all sorts of fancy goods on offer and nearby there is also a family butcher with the chickens and turkeys hung outside and a general store to get all those little extra bits.
Excitement reigns when everyone arrives back at the country house and in the larger than life entrance hall a massive Christmas tree is erected with the children having great fun in decorating it. Later on carol singers arrive and the butler takes out hot drinks for the party while the family and guests stand back and listen to such as 'O, Come all ye faithful'.
Late evening sees what appears to be an early evening service after which the children return to their bedrooms and start putting out their Christmas stockings for Santa to drop the presents in.
The following morning it is all bustle in the kitchen with a myriad of staff preparing the Christmas dinner, which is served and then enjoyed by all and sundry. Afterwards presents are opened and the children play with their new toys while the adults enjoy a drink before joining in the fun and games such as blind man's bluff.
A hunt, skating on the frozen lake, a visit to some older people is followed by a pierrot show before night falls and everyone goes off to a masquerade ball where there is food and drink aplenty. Meanwhile back at the house, the servants hold their own party and everyone has a jolly good time.
The main festivities over, there is sledging the following day while the gentlemen go out on a shooting expedition and the ladies make their way to the winter sale. A professional show, watched from the boxes of the gentry and a soiree at home with the hostess playing the piano ends the festivities before everyone departs and make their way home.
Phew, after all that riotous behaviour I am worn out and will have to take a back seat this coming Christmas to recover!
These views of an Edwardian Christmas shows just how much the festive season and life in general has changed over the past 100 years. Of course there are still parties, family dinners, shows, games and all the rest but not on the scale of Edwardian days as the images in this delightful book amply demonstrate.
It all begins with a train arriving at a bustling country station with porters present to unload all the packages and chauffeurs ready to transport the new arrivals to their destination. Opulence abounds and continues when the newcomers arrive at their friends' country house to be greeted by the owners and their servants. The latter then assist everyone to unpack and make themselves comfortable.
It is a few days before Christmas so the following morning holly is gathered from the woods and this is taken to church where the altar, nave and walls are bedecked.
A Christmas market then beckons with all sorts of fancy goods on offer and nearby there is also a family butcher with the chickens and turkeys hung outside and a general store to get all those little extra bits.
Excitement reigns when everyone arrives back at the country house and in the larger than life entrance hall a massive Christmas tree is erected with the children having great fun in decorating it. Later on carol singers arrive and the butler takes out hot drinks for the party while the family and guests stand back and listen to such as 'O, Come all ye faithful'.
Late evening sees what appears to be an early evening service after which the children return to their bedrooms and start putting out their Christmas stockings for Santa to drop the presents in.
The following morning it is all bustle in the kitchen with a myriad of staff preparing the Christmas dinner, which is served and then enjoyed by all and sundry. Afterwards presents are opened and the children play with their new toys while the adults enjoy a drink before joining in the fun and games such as blind man's bluff.
A hunt, skating on the frozen lake, a visit to some older people is followed by a pierrot show before night falls and everyone goes off to a masquerade ball where there is food and drink aplenty. Meanwhile back at the house, the servants hold their own party and everyone has a jolly good time.
The main festivities over, there is sledging the following day while the gentlemen go out on a shooting expedition and the ladies make their way to the winter sale. A professional show, watched from the boxes of the gentry and a soiree at home with the hostess playing the piano ends the festivities before everyone departs and make their way home.
Phew, after all that riotous behaviour I am worn out and will have to take a back seat this coming Christmas to recover!
September 8, 2019
A lovely wordless picture book featuring an Edwardian family and their holiday preparations. This is a well-to-do family so we have a bit of Upstairs/Downstairs going on with servants, elaborate parties, and gorgeous dresses. A few of the period details were ones I could have done without in an otherwise "cozy" holiday book (the butcher shop, and the oddly done African baby doll that the children had- given the time period I just thought it smacked of racism) I can't really fault Goodall for including them since he is trying to be accurate to the time but some readers may wish to know in advance of these details if they are sharing with children. Overall, though, the illustrations are full of warmth and joy and I am hoping to find more of his Edwardian family books in the future!
November 28, 2022
I adored this beautiful book! I became familiar with John S. Goodall's pen and ink illustrations from my favorite Miss Read books (both Thrush Green and Fairacre series). He is one of my most loved illustrators of all time and when I heard that he had his own series of picture books (with no text), I had to find a copy.
Because I love the Victorian and Edwardian time period and Christmas books in general, this book seemed like the perfect choice. Every set of full color, double-page scenes are wonderfully nostalgic and extremely charming. I could look at each scene over and over and find something new in it. (They're almost like the I Spy books in some way.)
I'm now on the hunt for more of these lovely little landscape books for my collection. Highly, highly recommended!!
Because I love the Victorian and Edwardian time period and Christmas books in general, this book seemed like the perfect choice. Every set of full color, double-page scenes are wonderfully nostalgic and extremely charming. I could look at each scene over and over and find something new in it. (They're almost like the I Spy books in some way.)
I'm now on the hunt for more of these lovely little landscape books for my collection. Highly, highly recommended!!
December 4, 2019
Beautiful wordless book! If I could escape into a book, I would escape into an Edwardian world painted by John Goodall.
December 6, 2011
An out-of-print, elegantly painted and wordless story about a family gathering at Christmas in the early 1900's. The plentiful pictures evoke the warmth of festivities past and are full of historical detail.
August 3, 2023
No words. "Edwardian" refers to the reign of Edward VII (1901–1910).
December 2, 2016
Gem of a picturesque Christmas season in the times of King Edward VII.
So much of their lifestyle is redundant to 21st Century culture. Looking at the images it becomes notable how their activities and cultural responses were ingenious for the needs and era they were in.
So much of their lifestyle is redundant to 21st Century culture. Looking at the images it becomes notable how their activities and cultural responses were ingenious for the needs and era they were in.
November 20, 2012
Adorable illustrated journey of Christmas traditions and customs during the Edwardian period. Not too terribly informative but still fun and engaging for children.
December 31, 2024
(Okay, I apparently wrongfully added a book to my read list this year. This made my total 29 books. I didn't like that number, so I quickly scrambled over to my bookcase and got out this small book that consists solely of illustrations just to get to 30 books in 2024.
Is this stupid? Incredibly so.
Am I above it? Clearly I am not.)
That being said: cute illustrations(*). I don't quite know how historically accurate they all are, but they make for some really lush and pretty paintings. (Note, maybe "A Rich Family's Edwardian Christmas" might've been a better title.)
(*)There was one doll depicted multiple times... I did not quite like the depiction of said doll... Not at all. Different times, I guess, but it still rubbed me the wrong way. :'(
Is this stupid? Incredibly so.
Am I above it? Clearly I am not.)
That being said: cute illustrations(*). I don't quite know how historically accurate they all are, but they make for some really lush and pretty paintings. (Note, maybe "A Rich Family's Edwardian Christmas" might've been a better title.)
(*)There was one doll depicted multiple times... I did not quite like the depiction of said doll... Not at all. Different times, I guess, but it still rubbed me the wrong way. :'(
January 7, 2016
(at least one of these stars may be due to nostalgia, as I have very fond memories of looking at the pictures in this book when I was small.)
December 15, 2018
I didn't know this was a picture book, but the drawings are so well done. It really puts you in a Christmas mood.
January 7, 2019
No words, but the pictures tell of an old English Christmas, right down to the holiday crackers around the dining room table at Christmas dinner!
January 24, 2021
Beautifully-illustrated watercolors tell a story of An Edwardian Christmas, with family members young and old enjoying holiday festivities at home and in town. This is a delightful little book for all ages, told in pictures rather than words.
June 7, 2024
I have become completely obsessed with these weird little books. The pictures are awesome. There're is no text. My favorite of all are the ones where it is one place through time, but seeing home the rich lived pre WWI is fun too lol.
April 23, 2020
I loved looking at this book and wonder where it is now, Christmas is so special when I think of my parents.
December 30, 2021
A must-see book anytime of the year. Leaves a lot to the imagination. There are beautiful pictures and the child and/or parent get to make up a story.
August 3, 2023
This is a delightful wordless book! It has illustrations of scenes of rich people celebrating Christmas during the Edwardian period, in a country mansion.
December 22, 2024
Picture book with lovely illustrations.
December 1, 2023
⸙ This book is all pictures! It shows different scenes throughout Edwardian society as various people celebrate Christmas. Very pleasant to experience. ⸙
December 15, 2021
I enjoy looking at this beautifully illustrated picture book each year. Depicting the story of an Edwardian Christmas, each page has a vast amount of detail within it. It’s great to conjure up your own stories about what you see in the illustrations. This is a book I will never tire of.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews