Twelve Classics of Christmas

by Various

Count down to the holidays with this collection of twelve of the most famous Christmas stories in this cozy anthology.

Usher in the holidays with this collection of twelve classic short stories and poems from renowned authors such as Louisa May Alcott, F. Scott Fitzgerald, the Brothers Grimm, and Charles Dickens. From “A Visit from St. Nicholas” to “The Gift of the Magi,” many of these classics full of hope, humor, and holiday magic have been staples of the season for generations. With each one brief enough to be read in one sitting, these tales from Christmases past are the perfect way to welcome the holiday.

This cozy collection
“A Kidnapped Santa Claus” by L. Frank Baum
“The Elves and the Shoemaker” by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
“The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry
“Tilly’s Christmas” by Louisa May Alcott
“Squeaky and the Scare Box” by Georgene Faulkner
“Papa Panov’s Christmas Special” by Ruben Saillens, translated by Leo Tolstoy
“The Christmas Masquerade” by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman
“A Christmas Inspiration” by L. M. Montgomery
“A Luckless Santa Claus” by F. Scott Fitzgerald
“The Legend of the Babouscka” by Anonymous
“The Story of the Goblins Who Stole a Sexton” by Charles Dickens
“A Visit from St. Nicholas” by Clement C. Moore

128 pages, Paperback

Published September 9, 2025

About the author

Various is the correct author for any book with multiple unknown authors, and is acceptable for books with multiple known authors, especially if not all are known or the list is very long (over 50).

If an editor is known, however, Various is not necessary. List the name of the editor as the primary author (with role "editor"). Contributing authors' names follow it.

Note: WorldCat is an excellent resource for finding author information and contents of anthologies.

Reviews

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Copy provided by the publisher

One of three paperbacks in a holiday themed box set, along with Hoffman's The Nutcracker and Dickens' A Christmas Carol.

The heavy hitters here are O. Henry's The Gift of the Magi (which never fails to anger me-- hair grows back, but if you sell a pocket watch, it's gone) and Fitzgerald's A Luckless Santa Claus, as well as A Visit from St. Nicholas which I've come to think was NOT written by Clement C. Moore. But that's a long story in itself.

Others are a bit uninspired, although Alcott's Christmas scene from Little Women is NOT trotted out, and there's Tilly's Surprise instead. The Montgomery offering is also a bit week. I would have included Howell's Christmas Everyday; it's at least rather amusing.

I'm not quite sure who the audience is for these books. It's a very nice boxed set, so I imagine a lot of people will get it as a gift for children who won't be super excited about reading 200 year old stories, but there's money to be made after the copyright has expired.

Apparently not in a Christmas mood here! It's very pretty.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the compilation of authors found in this "Twelve Classics of Christmas." Though many, including myself, are already familiar with O. Henry and Charles Dickens's Christmas-centric stories, there were quite a few that i was totally unfamiliar with. A great addition to one's collection of Christmas literary works.

https://www.theepochtimes.com/bright/...

[Melissa Cosner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing love it

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect little book for Christmas time. I loved that it included stories from all these different authors. I found myself reading a story a night leading up to Christmas. However I did finish early.

[Tatiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful edition of classic Christmas stories. I like that some of them have a happy ending, and others not quite.

[Marlyna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute compilation of short stories. I read one for each of the 12 days of Christmas!