Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Rudolph Shines Again

by Robert L. May, Stephen R. Thorne (Narrator)

Fans of the greatest reindeer of all will have a double helping of Christmas fun with this collection, which includes the title story plus Rudolph Shines Again. Near and dear to so many hearts, this is the story, the original story, of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, written by Robert L. May in 1939. Rudolph, loveable and generous, humble and good, embodies the spirit of Christmas and reminds us of the magical possibilities that exist within us all.

In the companion story, Rudolph Shines Again, Rudolph loses his light and is certain he is of no use to Santa now; he decides to go far away, where no one knows how bright his nose used to be. But on his journey, something magical happens. As enchanting as the original story, Robert L. May's uplifting sequel to his classic tale Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a joyous celebration of the spirit of Christmas.

Audible Audio

Published December 2, 2011

About the author

Robert Lewis May (1905–1976) was an American advertising copywriter who created Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer while working for Montgomery Ward in 1939, drawing on his own shy childhood and writing the story amid his first wife’s terminal illness; the poem became a massive commercial and cultural success, spawning millions of copies, song and film adaptations, sequels, merchandise, and an enduring Christmas legend. Educated at Dartmouth and influenced by Alfred Adler’s ideas on inferiority and self-assertion, May worked for several major department stores before and after the Depression, later regaining the copyright to Rudolph and briefly leaving—then returning to—Montgomery Ward as Rudolph’s popularity fluctuated. He wrote additional children’s books, oversaw a wide range of Rudolph-related enterprises, and remained active in civic organizations; after the death of his second wife, he converted to Catholicism, remarried, and died in Evanston, Illinois, in 1976.