A Book for Christmas

by Selma Lagerlöf, Peter Graves (translator), Sarah Death (translator)

A little girl receives an unexpected Christmas present; creatures of the forest gather to celebrate the New Year in the glow of a wood nymph’s torch; an evil noblewoman schemes against her beautiful niece; and a cantankerous gravedigger dines with a skull on Christmas Eve.

In this selection of her most beloved winter stories, Selma Lagerlöf weaves together magic and miracles, Swedish folklore and Biblical fables, darkness and light with heartfelt joy and boundless imagination. Newly translated into English for the first time, these stories comprise the ultimate festive anthology from one of the most important woman writers of the twentieth century.

Genres: Christmas, Short Stories, Fiction, Classics, Fantasy, Sweden, Holiday

96 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 7, 2024

About the author

Selma Ottilia Lovisa Lagerlöf (1858-1940) was a Swedish author. In 1909 she became the first woman to ever receive the Nobel Prize in Literature, "in appreciation of the lofty idealism, vivid imagination and spiritual perception that characterize her writings". She later also became the first female member of the Swedish Academy.

Born in the forested countryside of Sweden she was told many of the classic Swedish fairytales, which she would later use as inspiration in her magic realist writings. Since she for some of her early years had problems with her legs (she was born with a faulty hip) she would also spend a lot of time reading books such as the Bible.

As a young woman she was a teacher in the southern parts of Sweden for ten years before her first novel Gösta Berling's Saga was published. As her writer career progressed she would keep up a correspondance with some of her former female collegues for almost her entire life.

Lagerlöf never married and was almost certainly a lesbian (she never officially stated that she was, but most later researchers believe this to be the case). For many years her constant companion was fellow writer Sophie Elkan, with whom she traveled to Italy and the Middle East. Her visit to Palestine and a colony of Christians there, would inspire her to write Jerusalem, her story of Swedish farmers converting into a evangelical Christian group and travelling to "The American Colony" in Jerusalem.

Lagerlöf was involved in both women issues as well as politics. She would among other things help the Jewish writer Nelly Sachs to come to Sweden and donated her Nobel medal to the Finnish war effort against the Soviet union.

Outside of Sweden she's perhaps most widely known for her children's book Nils Holgerssons underbara resa genom Sverige (The Wonderful Adventures of Nils).

Reviews

[Jack Edwards · Rating 3 out of 5]

"But what shall I do on Christmas night if no-one has given me a book?" So true bestie.

[Alwynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of stories set at, and around, Christmas by Swedish writer Selma Lagerlöf who was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize for Literature. These date back to the early 20th century, a mix of childhood recollections as in “A Book for Christmas,” fairy tales and parable-like pieces. Lagerlöf was a teacher for many years and her work here often has an educational feel, sometimes moving into morality tale territory – I see why she was nicknamed “the snow queen.” But I lapped up her story about a childhood Christmas Eve desperately hoping for a present of a book, I also enjoyed “The Rat Trap” in which a cynical wanderer is changed by an unexpected act of kindness. “The Legend of Saint Lucia” which promotes the idea that virtue will be rewarded was an interesting foray into Swedish mythology, and I loved the more macabre aspects of “The Skull.” Some of the stories were just a little too religious for me particularly “Redbreast” and “In Nazareth” which are probably more likely to appeal to a Christian reader – I think inspired by stories Lagerlöf heard from her grandmother. But I’d definitely like to sample more of Lagerlöf’s writing in future. Translated by Sarah Death, Peter Graves, and Linda Schenck.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher Penguin for an ARC

Rating: 2.5

[Jan-Maat]

I liked this, a collection of nobel prize winner Selma Lagerlöf stories with a Christmas or wintery theme several of which teach us the true meaning of Stockholm syndrome. They reminded me of one of my current hobby horses which is how different we are from our recent ancestors - my other current hobby horse is how much I forget, so there is no point in asking me about my third, neigh.

One simple difference is food, the most frequently mentioned christmas food in these stories is rice pudding, for all I know maybe still a popular Swedish Christmas dish, but I would be suprised it it was the main attraction on the festive table.

Another is the brutality of husbands, perhaps Lagerlöf was unhappily married, or had close acquaintance with somebody else's marriage. A wife's primary task was husband management: supporting his giant ego, dampening down his anger, generally biding her time until 'death do us part' as the Church wedding vow goes in Britain.

Most of the stories had a simple style that put me in mind of folk tales, fables, or stories about saints - possibly because one was, a tale about how Saint Lucia stepped in with holy Sicilian alcohol to help out a young wife, who herself was like saint Elizabeth of Thuringia (or of Hungary). Notably saint Lucia attempts to manage the husband even her powers are not enough to transform him into a chivalrous soul.

The first story will appeal to all readers, the terrible tale of child waiting for the present of a book that she van read in bed by candlelight all through Christmas night, and who among us has not been there, hoping for a book shaped present to lose themself in?

[Katie Lumsden · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really enjoyable festive collection.

[Emma Angeline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovey little collection. Folktales and parables set around Christmas time and winter. Very cosy and very sweet for this time of year.

[Christopher Walthorne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Whilst the stories are well written (but not always well translated) the messages within them are incredibly dated. I’m not sure why Penguin thought it would be a good idea to translate this collection for a Christmas release, since the stories (aimed primarily at children) suggest that you mustn’t displease your husband by not preparing his breakfast, mustn’t grow up to think that you’re special, that wiping out bears and wolves is good for animals, and that it’s ok if your partner fires a shotgun at you as long as he feels bad about it afterwards. I honestly can’t think of any parent or child who would find much to enjoy in these out-of-touch literary relics.

[Tom Mooney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed these folk tales, fairy tales and parables. The Rat Trap was the best.

[Anna P (whatIreallyRead) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this pretty little volume of short stories primarily because it looked cute, and I was curious to read something by Selma Lagerlöf. The titular story was in my opinion the best, and I liked The Rat Trap and Lucia too. But even these three weren't that remarkable. The others were a bit too religious (God and Jesus were literally characters in multiple), which I guess is appropriate for a Christmas collection, but it's just not my cup of tea. I thought I'd rate the collection 3 stars, but the last 2 stories were bizarre to me as a modern reader.

Skull features a psychopath of a husband who makes unreasonable requests of people, perceives refusals as slights, then harbors resentment and desires retaliation. Which culminates in him SHOOTING at his wife, who spent the Christmas Eve cooking and scrubbing the whole house to please him, because she refused to bring the food and drinks to the parish assembly hall (church property) so he can get drunk there. She avoids the bullet but runs away and decides he crossed a line and this is unforgivable (reasonable conclusion, right?). But no, the story concludes with the husband (a gravedigger by profession) finding a skull with a bullet hole in it, and both he and the wife decide it's A SIGN FROM GOD SIGNALING GOD IS WATCHING OVER THEM AND WISHES THEM WELL, which is why they both feel intense joy, and the wife decides to stay with the husband after all, not even demanding an apology for being shot at. Like, WTF is that. Um, ok, so Selma wrote this like 100 years ago, but you selected and published it in 2024, what kind of message is that? The dude is a dangerous abuser, he already almost murdered her! Time to feel intense joy, I guess?!?!?!

The last one, about animals on New Year's Eve, was also bizarre but in an unintentionally funny way. A priest sees a "forest witch" mark some farm animals to be killed off by wild animals in the next year. He pities the farm animals, for how cruel it is for them to die from wild animals, how cruel the witch is for selecting who dies and who doesn't! "Because mankind should have been their only masters". So, sure, lol, it's totally cool to be selected and killed by humans, but it is cruel if it's a witch and wild animals? Lmao. So the priest pulls out a prayer book and defeats the evil witch, what a badass lol. And the happy ending is that all the bears and wolves in the region are completely wiped out 👍

[Emmeline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of 19th century short stories by Swedish Nobel Prizewinner Selma Lagerlöf is really nice Christmas read, undemanding but interesting.

The title comes from the first story, a memoirish piece about how important it is to receive a book for Christmas, and of course it's impossible not to enjoy this while reading your own little decorative hardcover, not too long, enough to get you through a few doldrum days.

"The Legend of Saint Lucia's Day" adds context to the Swedish practice of celebrating Saint Lucia, the golden-haired girl with the crown of candles. "The Princess of Babylon" is a mildly amusing slice of life. The real meat of the book is a trio of stories combining folklore, magic and, for lack of a better description "winter vibes." "The Rat Trap" is a standout, a shorter "Christmas Carol" or "Master and Man" about a poor rat catcher who is mistaken in poor light for a rich man's friend fallen on hard times. "The Skull" is a domestic noir with shades of magic that aren't totally dispelled by the religious explanation, and "The Animals' New Year's Night" is a chilly but compelling tale with a witch, reminding me a little of Gogol's Christmas stories, blended with C.S. Lewis's sermonizing in some of The Chronicles of Narnia.

There were two more directly religious tales, which didn't play to my interests, but even they were well-crafted and didn't outstay their welcome.

An enjoyable fireside read.

[Stephen the Bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Translated for the first time into English, this selection of stories by Selma Lagerlóf was first published in the 1930s.

It is a curious selection of tales- some closely linked to the Christmas period and story and others more in the form of folktales..

There is a sense of period and old fashioned attitudes within them - powerful men controlling castles and homes and evil aunts.

Some of the stories have a festive charm - if you are intrigued by international stories that have a wintery feel the this could be for you- but there is a brooding sense of melancholia within them that could be linked to an old fashioned gothic style

A short compendium that would appeal to anyone intrigued by vintage Scandinavian tales

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this a little disappointing and would probably only recommend about three of the stories in this collection. The rest were very religious and and I skimmed them if I'm honest... I loved the fairytale feel of The Legend of Saint Lucia's Day, which was my favourite, and I wish more of them were like this!

[Nadia Zeemeeuw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not every year am I lucky enough to find such a proper Christmas read as this little book. It’s not that I don’t enjoy the occasional cozy story filled with snow, presents, food, and slightly annoying relatives. But it’s rare to come across something that captures the essence of a more old-fashioned Christmas—with Jesus, animals, patron saints, and little grey birds hoping to earn their red breasts and live up to their name. I thoroughly enjoyed this collection.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a short collection of traditional(?) Swedish folk and religious tales, most set around Christmas. Thematically, they don't all hang together for me; the one featuring five year old Jesus was particularly unexpected. That said, the translations seem well done and it was a quick and light introduction into another culture's holiday-adjacent storytelling.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

[Ashley Bowers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read Harder Challenge: A collection of short stories. 🎄

[Sarah Kimberley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Book For Christmas feels like stepping out of the cold and into the quiet, Swedish magic of Christmas. A collection of translated stories steeped in fairy-tale folklore from Scandinavia. It feels very gothic winter-fable rather than your light Christmas cheer, and not every story is warm which I love. The religious aspects I wasn’t a big fan of but it was a decent wintery read. For anyone unfamiliar with Swedish folk tales, the book opens a door to old customs, tales, and sensibilities. Selma’s serious prose feels carved from old wood and winter air 🤍

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enchanting collection, featuring all the humour, evil, magic and religion that folk and fairy tales should contain. There is a charming reminiscence by the author by way of introduction, and the book is beautifully presented.

[J.M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some if the stories are heart warming especially the Rat Trap.

[Nadja · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite holiday reads, A Book for Christmas by Selma Lagerlöf brings all the cozy Christmas vibes. Set in snowy Scandinavia, it’s a collection of short stories that feel like stepping back in time to a world where goodness and kindness always win (especially in the story about Lucia—that one’s always been close to my heart). Lagerlöf captures that feeling perfectly, with tales that are just as much about wintery spirit as they are about timeless values.

Her writing style is something I’ve loved since I was young, with Nils Holgersson being a childhood favorite (even if it’s insanely long!). Here, she packs that same magic into short stories—so much depth in just a few pages. The translation really shines, too, making it easy to get lost in the snowy landscapes and cozy scenes.

This is one of those books you can simply enjoy for the holiday atmosphere or dive a little deeper to reflect on the themes if you want. But the main message for me? Kindness always wins.

[Claire Sycamore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up because I love Swedish authors, I lived in Sweden and love their writing style.

If you are picking this up expecting happy Christmas tales, please lower your expectations. This is a collection of stories from Selma Lagerlöf written in late 19th/early 20th century. The writing is more akin to fables or fairy tales, and nearly all the stories have a strong Christian or moral outcome to them (which makes sense for the time they were written).

Robert Ferguson wrote about the Scandinavian approach to gothic/melancholy literature in “Scandinavians: in search of the soul of the north” and I would put these stories in that category. Yes they are wintery but don’t expect happy Christmas stories. If that’s your cup of tea you will enjoy this, if not you will not like. I personally like my winter books quite bleak, let’s truly reflect the weather of Northern Europe in our writing. If I wanted sunshine I would have already moved to Australia.

Having lived in Sweden you can also see the traditions coming through in the book as well which I find very nostalgic and would be a nice introduction for someone who has never come across this before. For example opening presents on Christmas Eve is very common. Also linked to the first story Iceland has Jólabókaflóð which is “Christmas book flood”, where you exchange books and read on Christmas Eve (sounds perfect, sign me up). I also enjoyed the story centred on Lucia and the description of winter traditions in many of the stories (and the reference to schnapps).

This is a nice collection perfect for curling up with some candles and a glögg in December.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a beautifully produced little book but maybe not the best introduction to Lagerlöf’s writing. Nevertheless it’s still a lovely seasonal read with a combination of folklore and more religious tales set around Christmas, with some of the stories for children and others that definitely are not. Overall most do read like fables and have a very definite moral to them (some of which don’t particularly suit our day and age). They also feel that they should be told around the fireside during the dark winter months and I think that reading them piecemeal around Christmas and New Year is probably the best way to appreciate them.

[Anca · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 definitely a product of its time. A lot more religious than I was expecting (as in, Jesus and Judas are the main characters in one of the stories) and some of the stories had the women forgiving the men because “oh no, poor husband was sick/upset and thats why he wanted to throw me out/kill me, so I must forgive him” which thanks but no thanks. Again, probably fitting with the headspace of the 1910s-1930s, but still. Saying that, there were 2-3 stories that I enjoyed so thats where the round up to 3⭐️ is coming from.

[Mel · Rating 3 out of 5]

**I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley.**

So, the positives: these stories are all written in a very tight, compelling way, and despite their age it isn't a lot of effort to get through them.

I just wished I enjoyed them more. They're all interesting, in their way, but there was something lacking in all of them, something that left me feeling lukewarm. The way this book is described in the blurb made me think these were going to be more fairy tale-esque, less guy tries to shoot his wife and then stares at a skull and realizes he could've killed her. (The blurb describes the skull as an "unexpected companion," so you can see why I would've expected something a touch more whimsical.) Packaged differently, I would've gone in with different ideas about what I was going to get (or I wouldn't have gone in at all: I am very much not the market for a Jesus and Judas as childhood playmates story).

If you're a short story lover above all else, then sure, this is worth trying. But if you were hoping for stories with an old timey Christmas atmosphere (or a wintry atmosphere), this isn't that, and I wouldn't recommend it to you.

[Carys Attwater-Sheen · Rating 5 out of 5]

These short stories are so beautiful.. I had so much fun reading them all. They have quite a religious (Christianity) theme but that makes them ever so more special. I definitely want to read more from this author!!

[Charles Coleman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this because its only vaguely related to christmas.

[Beorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an absolutely delightful collection of stories that was simply a perfect read from Christmas to New Year's Eve. Pure magic!

[Joanne Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the short stories in this collection that was written over 100 years ago.

[Catherine Jeffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The perfect Christmas book to curl up with on Christmas Eve with your Xmas coffee and a warm mince pie.

[Melanie Tiernan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A delightful collection of short stories. This is a lovely little book, perfect for a cosy December evening. I thoroughly enjoyed reading them.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful book of stories centred around Christmas that would make a lovely gift to read on Christmas Eve either on your own or to your children. This has the feel of old school fairytales and fables which I love and has made me feel all warm and christmasy. A lovely read and a lovely gift.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mlle Alice, pouvez-vous nous raconter votre rencontre avec A Book for Christmas ?
"Il est dans ma wishlist de Noël depuis une éternité. Tellement qu'il a fini par être épuisé et que je me suis maudite de ne pas avoir craqué avant. Puis il a été réédité, en français et en anglais, vous n'avez donc que l'embarras du choix."

Dites-nous en un peu plus sur son histoire...
"Huit courtes nouvelles de Noël de Selma Lagerlöf, autrice suédoise connue notamment pour son roman le Merveilleux Voyages de Nils Holgersson, ont été rassemblées ici et témoignent des traditions et croyances de son pays."

Mais que s'est-il exactement passé entre vous ?
"J'ai été étonnée de découvrir que les nouvelles avaient toutes un style assez différent. Sans surprise donc, comme c'est souvent le cas dans ces circonstances, j'en ai aimé certaines plus que d'autres. Mes préférées sont 'le livre de Noël', dans laquelle tous les lecteurs du monde devraient se reconnaître et 'le rouge-gorge', extrêmement touchante, et j'espère pouvoir les relire de temps à autre. J'ai beaucoup aimé en découvrir plus sur la légende de Sainte-Lucie aussi, fêtée dans les pays scandinaves et évoquée dans une de mes séries préférées de Noël, Home for Christmas, et j'ai ri à la chute de 'la Princesse de Babylone'. J'ai apprécié encore 'la Nuit du Nouvel An dans la Forêt' et je n'ai rien à reprocher au 'Piège à Rats'. Ça n'en laisse donc que deux pour lesquelles je n'ai tout simplement pas trouvé grand intérêt, ni dans le lecture, ni dans les émotions, ni dans la conclusion. Je trouve que cela fait quand même une bonne moyenne et un recueil qui apporte beaucoup par sa diversité."

Et comment cela s'est-il fini ?
"Si vous avez la chance de trouver d'occasion la version française en grand format, vous pourrez en plus profiter de belles illustrations."

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