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On Christmas: A Seasonal Antology
A seasonal anthology of Christmas-themed writings to savour during the highs and lows of Christmas Day.
This delightful anthology—described in Gyles Brandreth’s introduction as “a plum pudding stuffed with good things”—offers an array of writers, both old and new, who have expressed their thoughts about Christmas with joy, nostalgia, grumpiness, and wit. Devour in one sitting, or savor at your leisure through the long winter nights.
On Christmas includes selections from Charles Dickens, William Sandys, Deborah Bull, C.S. Lewis, Saint Bonaventure, Clement A. Miles, Robert Benchley, Quentin Crisp, the Koran, Queen Victoria, Anthony Trollope, Francis Kilvert, Samuel Pepys, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Jerome K. Jerome, Edmond de Goncourt, Mrs Beeton, Kathy Lette, Paul Fournier, Anton Chekhov, Charles Dudley Warner, Sue Townsend, O. Henry, Suhel Seth, Saki, Ali Smith, William Makepeace Thackeray, Henry Lawson, Guy de Maupassant, Will Self, and P.G. Wodehouse.
This delightful anthology—described in Gyles Brandreth’s introduction as “a plum pudding stuffed with good things”—offers an array of writers, both old and new, who have expressed their thoughts about Christmas with joy, nostalgia, grumpiness, and wit. Devour in one sitting, or savor at your leisure through the long winter nights.
On Christmas includes selections from Charles Dickens, William Sandys, Deborah Bull, C.S. Lewis, Saint Bonaventure, Clement A. Miles, Robert Benchley, Quentin Crisp, the Koran, Queen Victoria, Anthony Trollope, Francis Kilvert, Samuel Pepys, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Jerome K. Jerome, Edmond de Goncourt, Mrs Beeton, Kathy Lette, Paul Fournier, Anton Chekhov, Charles Dudley Warner, Sue Townsend, O. Henry, Suhel Seth, Saki, Ali Smith, William Makepeace Thackeray, Henry Lawson, Guy de Maupassant, Will Self, and P.G. Wodehouse.
166 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2017
3 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
About the author
Gyles Brandreth
464 books400 followersFull name: Gyles Daubeney Brandreth.
A former Oxford Scholar, President of the Oxford Union and MP for the City of Chester, Gyles Brandreth’s career has ranged from being a Whip and Lord Commissioner of the Treasury in John Major’s government to starring in his own award-winning musical revue in London’s West End. A prolific broadcaster (in programmes ranging from Just a Minute to Have I Got News for You), an acclaimed interviewer (principally for the Sunday Telegraph), a novelist, children’s author and biographer, his best-selling diary, Breaking the Code, was described as ‘By far the best political diary of recent years, far more perceptive and revealing than Alan Clark’s’ (The Times) and ‘Searingly honest, wildly indiscreet, and incredibly funny’ (Daily Mail). He is the author of two acclaimed royal biographies: Philip Elizabeth: Portrait of a Marriage and Charles Camilla: Portrait of a Love Affair. In 2007/2008, John Murray in the UK and Simon & Schuster in the US began publishing The Oscar Wilde Murder Mysteries, his series of Victorian murder mysteries featuring Oscar Wilde as the detective.
As a performer, Gyles Brandreth has been seen most recently in ZIPP! ONE HUNDRED MUSICALS FOR LESS THAN THE PRICE OF ONE at the Duchess Theatre and on tour throughout the UK, and as Malvolio and the Sea Captain in TWELFTH NIGHT THE MUSICAL at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Gyles Brandreth is one of Britain’s busiest after-dinner speakers and award ceremony hosts. He has won awards himself, and been nominated for awards, as a public speaker, novelist, children’s writer, broadcaster (Sony), political diarist (Channel Four), journalist (British Press Awards), theatre producer (Olivier), and businessman (British Tourist Authority Come to Britain Trophy).
He is married to writer and publisher Michèle Brown, with whom he co-curated the exhibition of twentieth century children’s authors at the National Portrait Gallery and founded the award-winning Teddy Bear Museum now based at the Polka Theatre in Wimbledon. He is a trustee of the British Forces Foundation, and a former chairman and now vice-president of the National Playing Fields Association.
Gyles Brandreth’s forebears include George R. Sims (the highest-paid journalist of his day, who wrote the ballad Christmas Day in the Workhouse) and Jeremiah Brandreth (the last man in England to be beheaded for treason). His great-great-grandfather, Benjamin Brandreth, promoted ‘Brandreth’s Pills’ (a medicine that cured everything!) and was a pioneer of modern advertising and a New York state senator. Today, Gyles Brandreth has family living in New York, Maryland, South Carolina and California. He has been London correspondent for “Up to the Minute” on CBS News and his books published in the United States include the New York Times best-seller, The Joy of Lex and, most recently, Philip Elizabeth: Portrait of a Royal Marriage.
A former Oxford Scholar, President of the Oxford Union and MP for the City of Chester, Gyles Brandreth’s career has ranged from being a Whip and Lord Commissioner of the Treasury in John Major’s government to starring in his own award-winning musical revue in London’s West End. A prolific broadcaster (in programmes ranging from Just a Minute to Have I Got News for You), an acclaimed interviewer (principally for the Sunday Telegraph), a novelist, children’s author and biographer, his best-selling diary, Breaking the Code, was described as ‘By far the best political diary of recent years, far more perceptive and revealing than Alan Clark’s’ (The Times) and ‘Searingly honest, wildly indiscreet, and incredibly funny’ (Daily Mail). He is the author of two acclaimed royal biographies: Philip Elizabeth: Portrait of a Marriage and Charles Camilla: Portrait of a Love Affair. In 2007/2008, John Murray in the UK and Simon & Schuster in the US began publishing The Oscar Wilde Murder Mysteries, his series of Victorian murder mysteries featuring Oscar Wilde as the detective.
As a performer, Gyles Brandreth has been seen most recently in ZIPP! ONE HUNDRED MUSICALS FOR LESS THAN THE PRICE OF ONE at the Duchess Theatre and on tour throughout the UK, and as Malvolio and the Sea Captain in TWELFTH NIGHT THE MUSICAL at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Gyles Brandreth is one of Britain’s busiest after-dinner speakers and award ceremony hosts. He has won awards himself, and been nominated for awards, as a public speaker, novelist, children’s writer, broadcaster (Sony), political diarist (Channel Four), journalist (British Press Awards), theatre producer (Olivier), and businessman (British Tourist Authority Come to Britain Trophy).
He is married to writer and publisher Michèle Brown, with whom he co-curated the exhibition of twentieth century children’s authors at the National Portrait Gallery and founded the award-winning Teddy Bear Museum now based at the Polka Theatre in Wimbledon. He is a trustee of the British Forces Foundation, and a former chairman and now vice-president of the National Playing Fields Association.
Gyles Brandreth’s forebears include George R. Sims (the highest-paid journalist of his day, who wrote the ballad Christmas Day in the Workhouse) and Jeremiah Brandreth (the last man in England to be beheaded for treason). His great-great-grandfather, Benjamin Brandreth, promoted ‘Brandreth’s Pills’ (a medicine that cured everything!) and was a pioneer of modern advertising and a New York state senator. Today, Gyles Brandreth has family living in New York, Maryland, South Carolina and California. He has been London correspondent for “Up to the Minute” on CBS News and his books published in the United States include the New York Times best-seller, The Joy of Lex and, most recently, Philip Elizabeth: Portrait of a Royal Marriage.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 6, 2024
A beautifully-produced book, this anthology of Christmas essays and stories is nonetheless, on the whole, boring, uninspiring, and unjoyful. The Introduction encourages readers to just skip a selection if the piece doesn't "appeal," I would have been skipping a lot. And while it is full of selections from well-known authors (e.g., Dickens, Crisp, Trollope, Pepys, Dostoevsky, etc.), they are not these authors' best works. I read them all, and with few exceptions, was glad to be done with reading the book.
December 25, 2018
It was enjoyable to read the Christmas musings of authors whose writing span hundreds of years. It draws attention to how Christmas has changed, as has the world, over that time. The short entry pulled from Queen Victoria’s writings was very interesting, and there is a good bit of humor to be found across the chapters of this collection. A short book, it could be read in a day or two, but I preferred to read a selection or two each day over the past couple of weeks.
December 13, 2024
An esoteric selection of essays and extracts on the subject of Christmas. Some confirm seasonal fatigue is far from a new thing as many were published first over a hundred years ago. In general, the tone is critical, cynical and acerbic, not really a cozy collection!
December 20, 2024
A book of excerpts, essays, short stories, and historical perspectives.
Not all of them hit, but that's why the variety of time periods and opinions is nice.
My favorite is probably the story from Ali Smith.
Not all of them hit, but that's why the variety of time periods and opinions is nice.
My favorite is probably the story from Ali Smith.
November 23, 2019
Nice collection of lots of different types of stories from a range of eras. Some more engaging than others. Only disappointment is the teensy proportion of women writers included.
December 29, 2019
Enjoyable short letters, missives, and astute observations on the Christmas season. Some, Queen Victoria’s journal entry, not as interesting as others, such as H. H. Munro’s guide to gift giving.
December 29, 2025
A lovely book for everyone to dip in to at Christmas. I just leave it laying around for all and sundry to pick up and enjoy a few minutes of Christmas thoughts.
December 28, 2018
Pretty little volume of Christmas stories.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews