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The Snow Goose and The Small Miracle
'Did you run across that queer sort of legend about a wild goose? It was all up and down the beaches. You know how those things spring up. Some of the men I brought back were talking about it. It was supposed to have appeared at intervals the last days between Dunkirk and La Panne. If you saw it, you were eventually saved. That sort of thing.''Hmm, a wild goose. I saw a tame one. Dashed strange experience. Tragic in a way, too. And lucky for us. Tell you about it ...'The Snow Goose is a beautiful tale of a hunchbacked artist, a girl, a wounded bird and a courageous act at Dunkirk. Also included in this volume is The Small Miracle, a contemporary fable inspired by St Francis of Assisi. Both tales are endearing classics of the storyteller's art.
80 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1951
40 people are currently reading
332 people want to read
About the author
Paul Gallico
190 books317 followersPaul William Gallico was born in New York City, on 26th July, 1897. His father was an Italian, and his mother came from Austria; they emigrated to New York in 1895.
He went to school in the public schools of New York, and in 1916 went to Columbia University. He graduated in 1921 with a Bachelor of Science degree, having lost a year and a half due to World War I. He then worked for the National Board of Motion Picture Review, and after six months took a job as the motion picture critic for the New York Daily News. He was removed from this job as his "reviews were too Smart Alecky" (according to Confessions of a Story Teller), and took refuge in the sports department.
During his stint there, he was sent to cover the training camp of Jack Dempsey, and decided to ask Dempsey if he could spar with him, to get an idea of what it was like to be hit by the world heavyweight champion. The results were spectacular; Gallico was knocked out within two minutes. But he had his story, and from there his sports-writing career never looked back.
He became Sports Editor of the Daily News in 1923, and was given a daily sports column. He also invented and organised the Golden Gloves amateur boxing competition. During this part of his life, he was one of the most well-known sporting writers in America, and a minor celebrity. But he had always wanted to be a fiction writer, and was writing short stories and sports articles for magazines like Vanity Fair and the Saturday Evening Post. In 1936, he sold a short story to the movies for $5000, which gave him a stake. So he retired from sports writing, and went to live in Europe, to devote himself to writing. His first major book was Farewell to Sport, which as the title indicates, was his farewell to sports writing.
Though his name was well-known in the United States, he was an unknown in the rest of the world. In 1941, the Snow Goose changed all that, and he became, if not a best-selling author by today's standards, a writer who was always in demand. Apart from a short spell as a war correspondent between 1943 and 1946, he was a full-time freelance writer for the rest of his life. He has lived all over the place, including England, Mexico, Lichtenstein and Monaco, and he lived in Antibes for the last years of his life.
He was a first-class fencer, and a keen deep-sea fisherman. He was married four times, and had several children.
He died in Antibes on 15th July, 1976, just short of his 79th birthday.
He went to school in the public schools of New York, and in 1916 went to Columbia University. He graduated in 1921 with a Bachelor of Science degree, having lost a year and a half due to World War I. He then worked for the National Board of Motion Picture Review, and after six months took a job as the motion picture critic for the New York Daily News. He was removed from this job as his "reviews were too Smart Alecky" (according to Confessions of a Story Teller), and took refuge in the sports department.
During his stint there, he was sent to cover the training camp of Jack Dempsey, and decided to ask Dempsey if he could spar with him, to get an idea of what it was like to be hit by the world heavyweight champion. The results were spectacular; Gallico was knocked out within two minutes. But he had his story, and from there his sports-writing career never looked back.
He became Sports Editor of the Daily News in 1923, and was given a daily sports column. He also invented and organised the Golden Gloves amateur boxing competition. During this part of his life, he was one of the most well-known sporting writers in America, and a minor celebrity. But he had always wanted to be a fiction writer, and was writing short stories and sports articles for magazines like Vanity Fair and the Saturday Evening Post. In 1936, he sold a short story to the movies for $5000, which gave him a stake. So he retired from sports writing, and went to live in Europe, to devote himself to writing. His first major book was Farewell to Sport, which as the title indicates, was his farewell to sports writing.
Though his name was well-known in the United States, he was an unknown in the rest of the world. In 1941, the Snow Goose changed all that, and he became, if not a best-selling author by today's standards, a writer who was always in demand. Apart from a short spell as a war correspondent between 1943 and 1946, he was a full-time freelance writer for the rest of his life. He has lived all over the place, including England, Mexico, Lichtenstein and Monaco, and he lived in Antibes for the last years of his life.
He was a first-class fencer, and a keen deep-sea fisherman. He was married four times, and had several children.
He died in Antibes on 15th July, 1976, just short of his 79th birthday.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
August 24, 2025
I had never heard of the American author Paul Gallico (1897-1967), but book websites do what they're supposed to, so this ended up in my recommendations. The Snow Goose (1941) is a very endearing novella about a hunchbacked man living a lonely life in an old lighthouse on the Essex coast, UK. There's a snow goose involved, of course, and a young girl, but the plot revolves around the spectacular relief of British troops on the beaches of Dunkirk, France, in June 1940. The narrative is very classical, with a restrained yet dramatic tone. Gallico verges on melodrama, but in my opinion, manages to avoid that pitfall. Beautiful.
The other, shorter novella, The Small Miracle (1951), is equally endearing, but because a young boy and his donkey are the main characters, it's considerably more sentimental. Nice, though.
The other, shorter novella, The Small Miracle (1951), is equally endearing, but because a young boy and his donkey are the main characters, it's considerably more sentimental. Nice, though.
January 27, 2025
Two very short but great stories. Never read Gallico before. What have I been missing all these years? This book was given to my daughter to read years ago by my father. The Snow Goose was a simple story of 2 lonely people united by a bird. With the Dunkirk evacuation thrown in. I had tears in my eyes reading.
The Small Miracle is a fable about a young boy from Assisi and his sick donkey who wants access to the church crypt to pray to St Francis. Another beautiful story.
I feel better for having read this book. Thanks Dad.
The Small Miracle is a fable about a young boy from Assisi and his sick donkey who wants access to the church crypt to pray to St Francis. Another beautiful story.
I feel better for having read this book. Thanks Dad.
April 25, 2012
I read this first when I was a teenager. When I met my husband many years later I firmly believe this book had a role in me falling in love with him. So I will always be grateful for that. These days when superficial perfection is so much in the forefront of the modern media - this book should be compulsory reading for everyone. It is wise, beautifully written and Frith's emotions are so well observed it was a wonder to me as a teen that it could have been written by a man as I recognised so much of myself and my fears and hopes.
The Small Miracle is not so marvellous but is a nice filler to make a long enough book. The Snow Goose is the meat and the Small Miracle the dessert.
The Small Miracle is not so marvellous but is a nice filler to make a long enough book. The Snow Goose is the meat and the Small Miracle the dessert.
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January 11, 2024The Snow Goose was just heartbreakingly beautiful. The Small Miracle was beautifully breathtakingly. Together they make up a duo of short novellas or long short stories which balance each other out. They are perfectly complemented by pencil sketches.
I had no idea Paul Gallico had written so many books I had heard of: The Poseidon Adventure, Mrs Harris Goes to Paris and Mrs Harris Goes to New York and Thomasina.
I had no idea Paul Gallico had written so many books I had heard of: The Poseidon Adventure, Mrs Harris Goes to Paris and Mrs Harris Goes to New York and Thomasina.
January 30, 2021
A children's story for adults.
August 23, 2018
I've had this book since ages, I think I found it in my Yiayia's house in Cyprus, probably left by some cousin, but never had the opportunity to read it. I am now so glad that I have because Paul Gallico was truly a gifted storyteller and everyone, young or old, should read his beautifully crafted stories about faith and friendship.
June 5, 2013
Paul Gallico is one of my favorite writers and these two short stories are his best known. The Snow Goose is about Dunkirk and fulfilling life's purpose and growing up and appreciating life. The Small Miracle is about faith and perseverance and innocence. They are both short and sweet and left me wistful.
July 29, 2012
This is a little gem. The most known I guess is The snow goose, but to be honest, I was much more enchanted by The small miracle. It's about a small orphan boy in Assisi whose compagnon and friend is a donkey, together they earn their keep. When the donkey turns ill, the boy wants to take the animal into the crypt of Saint Francis of Assisi to pray for the donkey to recover, the only remedy he truly trusts... After initial refusals by the church responsibles, he travels to Rome to try and speak to the pope and seek permission..... It is a beautiful little moving story, a true small miracle. Extra for me, whenever I visit Assisi, I am enchanted by the Basilica and the story of Francis of Assisi. It draws me in and makes me calm and peaceful... So this small story is in my heart now.
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January 5, 2021This story is so beautiful. I first came across it as a small
Child. My parents had a long playing audio recording which they listened to often. I have loved re reading it. The snow Goose story manages to be gentle and hopeful and yet at the same time not minimising the horror or tragedy of the Dunkirk situation.
Child. My parents had a long playing audio recording which they listened to often. I have loved re reading it. The snow Goose story manages to be gentle and hopeful and yet at the same time not minimising the horror or tragedy of the Dunkirk situation.
June 28, 2016
Some of the most beautiful themes and writing I've ever read in children's literature. Breathtaking, haunting, bittersweet, glowing, hopeful.
February 11, 2024
did I really read this just to listen to an album inspired by it? yes. yes I did.
February 8, 2023
The Snow Goose and the Small Miracle are two short stories in one novella of 80 pages. This little book was beautifully written by Paul Gallico.
The Snow Goose is a powerful parable of friendship told in the early years of WWII between Philip Rhayader, a disabled man and artist, and a young local girl, Fritha and how they help a Snow Goose injured by a gun shot. Philip ultimately takes his small sailboat across the English Channel to assist in the Dunkirk evacuation, where he is lost at sea. It was published in 1940 as a short story in The Saturday Evening Post, an American magazine. He then expanded it to create a short novella which was published in 1941. In 1971 the British Broadcasting Company (BBC) create a short film featuring Richard Harris and Jenny Agutter, which won a a Golden Globe for Best Movie Made for TV.
The Small Miracle is set in Assisi, the home of St Francis and is the story of Pepino, a poor orphan, and his donkey Violetta. When Violetta falls ill, and the vet cannot do anything for her, Pepino tries to get permission to take her into the crypt of St. Francis. But when that permission is denied, then he realises that he has to go to higher authority...
The Snow Goose is a powerful parable of friendship told in the early years of WWII between Philip Rhayader, a disabled man and artist, and a young local girl, Fritha and how they help a Snow Goose injured by a gun shot. Philip ultimately takes his small sailboat across the English Channel to assist in the Dunkirk evacuation, where he is lost at sea. It was published in 1940 as a short story in The Saturday Evening Post, an American magazine. He then expanded it to create a short novella which was published in 1941. In 1971 the British Broadcasting Company (BBC) create a short film featuring Richard Harris and Jenny Agutter, which won a a Golden Globe for Best Movie Made for TV.
The Small Miracle is set in Assisi, the home of St Francis and is the story of Pepino, a poor orphan, and his donkey Violetta. When Violetta falls ill, and the vet cannot do anything for her, Pepino tries to get permission to take her into the crypt of St. Francis. But when that permission is denied, then he realises that he has to go to higher authority...
January 5, 2023
Two mesmerizing fairytales...
The Snow Goose is a story of nature, affection, love and bravery. A story of wonderful beings set in a nearly magical place that will forever be in your heart, once you travel there mentally. It is not to wonder why Camel were inspired to put it into music in their same-titled album in 1975. It is one of those pieces of art that motivate you to tranform it into a new piece of art.
The Small Miracle is a pure moving story that puts us behind the eyes of a 10-year-old boy. It is a reminder that we need very little to be happy and that we should never give in to any obstacle on our way to help our loved ones. Sometimes persistence, faith and unconditional love are enough to create small miracles...
The Snow Goose is a story of nature, affection, love and bravery. A story of wonderful beings set in a nearly magical place that will forever be in your heart, once you travel there mentally. It is not to wonder why Camel were inspired to put it into music in their same-titled album in 1975. It is one of those pieces of art that motivate you to tranform it into a new piece of art.
The Small Miracle is a pure moving story that puts us behind the eyes of a 10-year-old boy. It is a reminder that we need very little to be happy and that we should never give in to any obstacle on our way to help our loved ones. Sometimes persistence, faith and unconditional love are enough to create small miracles...
February 1, 2020
Both of these stories leave me in tears again and again. The Smal Miracle is about the faith of a young boy and the love he has for his pet Violetta the donkey. The story never tells you whether Voletta was healed but if you have faith you have to believe that she was.
The Snow Goose is different in that Frith knows Philip will never return when the Snow Goose leaves and never returns. The story teaches us that one should never judge a person by their looks - Frith was afraid of Philip in the beginning because of his outward appearance and yet over time she discovers that he is a gentle, kind and loving soul.
The Snow Goose is different in that Frith knows Philip will never return when the Snow Goose leaves and never returns. The story teaches us that one should never judge a person by their looks - Frith was afraid of Philip in the beginning because of his outward appearance and yet over time she discovers that he is a gentle, kind and loving soul.
September 26, 2021
This short book contains two heart warming stories which can only leave you feeling positive about humanity when you have put it down. The title tale is about a lonely man who after his ww1 experience is scarred and isolates himself in an Essex coastal retreat where he cares for wildlife and birds. When a young girl turns up shyly holding an injured snow goose a relationship builds between man, child ,and bird. The climax involves the Dunkirk evacuation and a huge box of tissues is needed. A beautiful tales illustrated by lovely line drawings.
The second story is about a small boy, his donkey, and faith in St Francis, again a lovely heart warming tale for these cynical times.
The second story is about a small boy, his donkey, and faith in St Francis, again a lovely heart warming tale for these cynical times.
March 2, 2022
Paul Gallico uses only 46 pages to tell a beautiful fictional story about how a goose with a shattered leg brought together a young girl and lonely misshapen man, then led to saving the lives of heroic soldiers at Dunkirk. The story is so haunting that I was delighted to discover it on a corner of my bookshelf and immediately read again. The second story, only 30 pages, is also beautifully written. I was captivated by the young boy's love for his ailing donkey and his miraculous journey to make him well again. If you love great writing, this is a book for you.
November 25, 2018
Short but beautiful story of a bond between a recluse and a curious girl, via the care of birds. The writing is a descriptive masterpiece much like the paintings I imagine the lead character, Rhayder, to have created.
It's written from vary perspectives that all revolve around the amazing snow goose.
The Small Miracle is another short but sweet novel set in warmer climes and with a different animal in the picture. This time a sick donkey loses her 'Mona Lisa smile' and it's young owner seeks to rid the donkey of her evil.
It's a story of commitment, good will, determination and beauty.
It's written from vary perspectives that all revolve around the amazing snow goose.
The Small Miracle is another short but sweet novel set in warmer climes and with a different animal in the picture. This time a sick donkey loses her 'Mona Lisa smile' and it's young owner seeks to rid the donkey of her evil.
It's a story of commitment, good will, determination and beauty.
January 22, 2018
Lovely story. I'd never heard heard of it and was referred to it in conversation about Dunkirk.
Took me an age to settle into the slow and gentle language, but once I did I was very happy to be there.
Took me an age to settle into the slow and gentle language, but once I did I was very happy to be there.
November 3, 2022
A rich story worth reading or hearing over and over again. I appreciated its metaphors slowly over days as I kept thinking about the story. The Snow Goose---The Holy Spirit---will never leave you---a teacher---a reminder---the return trips. Just beautiful, sensitive and timeless.
July 9, 2007
One of my all time favourites, read when I was in college, re-read subsequently and probably shall do again.
December 25, 2016
what lovely stories, I'd not heard of them but I'm so pleased I have read them. I was most touched by the snow goose, although I found it difficult to read at points I really enjoyed it.
March 22, 2023
Such heartbreaking profound stories but really short and condensed so easy to read
December 9, 2024
I’m absolutely in love with this book!! It’s been a long time since a read has felt as much like a warm hug — magical, beautiful and heart-wrenching at the same time.
Both of the stories in this book (The Snow Goose and The Little Miracle) have a certain fairy tale quality to them. The storytelling is deceptively simple and plain but yet truly elegant.
The snow goose is about an older painter, forced into seclusion and loneliness due to his physical deformities and people’s reactions to him. But when a young girl brings him an injured snow goose that had lost its way from Canada, a fragile friendship between them begins to flourish. The birdkeeper is one of these admirable and wonderful characters whose bravery and moral purity can only leave you truly moved.
The Little Miracle tells the story of a young orphaned boy in Umbria whose donkey — his best friend and only companion — falls very ill. The story follows him on an incredible and miraculous adventure seeking help of increasingly powerful men all of whom are magically touched by this young boy’s life and love for his animal.
Both of the stories in this book (The Snow Goose and The Little Miracle) have a certain fairy tale quality to them. The storytelling is deceptively simple and plain but yet truly elegant.
The snow goose is about an older painter, forced into seclusion and loneliness due to his physical deformities and people’s reactions to him. But when a young girl brings him an injured snow goose that had lost its way from Canada, a fragile friendship between them begins to flourish. The birdkeeper is one of these admirable and wonderful characters whose bravery and moral purity can only leave you truly moved.
The Little Miracle tells the story of a young orphaned boy in Umbria whose donkey — his best friend and only companion — falls very ill. The story follows him on an incredible and miraculous adventure seeking help of increasingly powerful men all of whom are magically touched by this young boy’s life and love for his animal.
August 17, 2011
The Small Miracle is an utterly beguiling short story in this collection of two written by Paul Gallico.
It tells the tale of a small orphan boy called Pepino who lives in the town of Assisi and his quest to save his only love and companion, his Donkey, Violetta, from dying. Gallico's imagery is wonderful; magically creating the sounds and smells and vistas of Italy. His approach to depicting Pepino's charmingly naive, yet resolute manner of making the system work for him, is wonderfuly empowering for children (or anyone, actually, 'the system' may overlook as less than important)with the mantra of 'never take no for an answer'.
Themes addressed in the story and which might be discussed are courage and ambition, love and family, faith and hope, with the added interest of an overseas setting and some unfamiliar language.
All in all, a captivating and uplifting read.
It tells the tale of a small orphan boy called Pepino who lives in the town of Assisi and his quest to save his only love and companion, his Donkey, Violetta, from dying. Gallico's imagery is wonderful; magically creating the sounds and smells and vistas of Italy. His approach to depicting Pepino's charmingly naive, yet resolute manner of making the system work for him, is wonderfuly empowering for children (or anyone, actually, 'the system' may overlook as less than important)with the mantra of 'never take no for an answer'.
Themes addressed in the story and which might be discussed are courage and ambition, love and family, faith and hope, with the added interest of an overseas setting and some unfamiliar language.
All in all, a captivating and uplifting read.
November 15, 2018
I was trying to remember the treasure that St. Francis valued which a greedy prelate wanted to use for his own ends in enticing pilgrims to Assisi. I saw that “The Small Miracle” in which this part of the story appears and that it was twinned with the “Snow Goose” which I also enjoyed reading. It was wonderful to go back to my childhood and reread these excellent short stories. Both are whimsical, sad and moving with hopeful endings. Mr Gallico has a very deft touch and can conjure up in a few lines an experience, an atmosphere and fantastic characters which we follow through their lives.
December 26, 2021
Apparently today I was in the mood for short stories and this just hit the spot. Both of these stories were touching and made my heart feel full. I think of the two I preferred the more famous, The Snow Goose just because it was so small and simple and kind of made me want to cry. The Small Miracle was also wonderful, but in a very different way. The character of Pepino is so different from Phillip or Frith that it's hard to compare the two, but I did love his determination and Violetta was so compelling as a character.
April 21, 2013
This is one of two books that can bring me to tears, the other, also By Paul Gallico, is Jennie.
The Snow Goose is written with an economy of words that tells you all you need to know about the three characters; Fritha, Philip and the Lost Princess. It tells of love and loss of trust and faith.
Everybody should read this book.
The Snow Goose is written with an economy of words that tells you all you need to know about the three characters; Fritha, Philip and the Lost Princess. It tells of love and loss of trust and faith.
Everybody should read this book.
January 24, 2018
The Snow Goose is an enduring, poignant story of a hunchback artist and a country girl during the evacuation of Dunkirk in the Second World War. I've re-read it several times, and always find it deeply moving.
The Small Miracle, in the same vein, is the tale of one little boy’s pilgrimage of faith that has touched hearts the world over
The Small Miracle, in the same vein, is the tale of one little boy’s pilgrimage of faith that has touched hearts the world over
January 21, 2021
A wonderful book, the usual adjectives don't seem appropriate here, maybe "deep", somehow "blue", "melancholy" in an absolutely non-playful way, full of unagitated love, courage and strength, condensed, so if you're looking for something short that will stay with you for a long time this could be it.
December 20, 2021
This little vintage paperback may look out of date with a young Jenny Agutter on the cover, but the stories in it are timeless gems. Gallico is effortless to read and his stories are full of likeable, interesting characters. Both these stories are uplifting, yet heart wrenching and beautiful in thier portrait of humanity.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews