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The Complete Short Stories of Anthony Trollope #1
Natale a Thompson Hall
«Non preciserò l’anno esatto per evitare che i più curiosi indaghino sulle circostanze di questa storia, venendo così a conoscenza di dettagli che non desidero siano divulgati». Ecco come Anthony Trollope, uno dei grandi vittoriani assieme a Dickens e Thackeray, introduce i lettori nel suo piacevole, riposante conversare. L’immagine che offre è quella di un arguto signore che riferisce intricati fatti altrui come se non fosse lui ad inventarseli, ma ne venisse informato solo grazie a precisi rapporti, anche un po’ pettegoli. E la nascosta perfidia, che insinua dentro la tolleranza verso i difetti di tutti, è forse più percepibile a noi posteri che non ai suoi contemporanei.
In questi racconti la lente dell’analisi sociale si concentra di più sulle classi dei piccoli possidenti. Specialmente sulle donne, che erano le sue grandi lettrici. La signora Brown (Thompson da nubile) è entrata per errore nella stanza di un estraneo mentre dorme, applicandogli in viso un unguento destinato al marito: da qui un catastrofico sviluppo di complicazioni. Il giovane Maurice ha detto, per leggerezza, che il Natale è una noia e questo, la pia Isabel, che lo ama alla follia, non potrebbe accettarlo. Elizabeth è convinta che una brava ragazza non può essere felice, per questo rifiuta il suo adorato Godfrey. E altri quadretti, tutti ambientati nel Natale, che rappresentano senza ammetterlo com’era inutilmente arzigogolato essere donna e per bene in età vittoriana.
In questi racconti la lente dell’analisi sociale si concentra di più sulle classi dei piccoli possidenti. Specialmente sulle donne, che erano le sue grandi lettrici. La signora Brown (Thompson da nubile) è entrata per errore nella stanza di un estraneo mentre dorme, applicandogli in viso un unguento destinato al marito: da qui un catastrofico sviluppo di complicazioni. Il giovane Maurice ha detto, per leggerezza, che il Natale è una noia e questo, la pia Isabel, che lo ama alla follia, non potrebbe accettarlo. Elizabeth è convinta che una brava ragazza non può essere felice, per questo rifiuta il suo adorato Godfrey. E altri quadretti, tutti ambientati nel Natale, che rappresentano senza ammetterlo com’era inutilmente arzigogolato essere donna e per bene in età vittoriana.
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1882
87 people are currently reading
1522 people want to read
About the author
Anthony Trollope
2,284 books1,757 followersAnthony Trollope became one of the most successful, prolific and respected English novelists of the Victorian era. Some of Trollope's best-loved works, known as the Chronicles of Barsetshire, revolve around the imaginary county of Barsetshire; he also wrote penetrating novels on political, social, and gender issues and conflicts of his day.
Trollope has always been a popular novelist. Noted fans have included Sir Alec Guinness (who never travelled without a Trollope novel), former British Prime Ministers Harold Macmillan and Sir John Major, economist John Kenneth Galbraith, American novelists Sue Grafton and Dominick Dunne and soap opera writer Harding Lemay. Trollope's literary reputation dipped somewhat during the last years of his life, but he regained the esteem of critics by the mid-twentieth century.
See also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_...
Trollope has always been a popular novelist. Noted fans have included Sir Alec Guinness (who never travelled without a Trollope novel), former British Prime Ministers Harold Macmillan and Sir John Major, economist John Kenneth Galbraith, American novelists Sue Grafton and Dominick Dunne and soap opera writer Harding Lemay. Trollope's literary reputation dipped somewhat during the last years of his life, but he regained the esteem of critics by the mid-twentieth century.
See also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 239 reviews
December 30, 2018
For those who never read Anthony Trollope and want a taste of his writing I recommend these 5 short stories, though they are centered around Christmas, you can get a good sample of his style of storytelling! If you have been following me you know I am a fan of his works and saved this Christmas collection for last. Are any of these stories part of any of his series? No, these stories are short stories by themselves. Now onto the stories....
1) Christmas at Thompson Hall- 1876; I knew humor is part of his storytelling but this story has it throughout and a quite delightful read! Mr. Brown and Mrs. Brown are heading home to her family at Thompson Hall for Christmas Eve and meeting her sister, Jane's fiance but they must travel from France to London. A zany mishap at the hotel in Paris keeps them from arriving in time! I loved this one and would love to tell more details but then it would lessen the fun and humor for you!💜
2) Christmas Day at Kirkby Cottage- 1870; Maurice Archer declares to Isabel Lownd, that Christmas is a bore, while staying with her father's home who is a parson! Loved this one 💟 and this example reminds me why sometimes Trollope reminds me of Jane Austin.
3)The Mistletoe Bough- 1861; Two lovers decided against love/marriage and pride stands in the way. Loved this too!💖
4)The Two Generals- 1863; I found this one extremely interesting for several reasons. It was written during the American Civil War and it portrays two brothers in different sides of the war with a young girl also in the mix. This was a very thoughtful look from a foreigner to that tragic war that killed so many.
Loved this story!💖
5) Not If I Know It- 1882. This was good but nothing like the others and the shortest of the five. Brother in laws are at odds during Christmastime! 🎄
After having a taste of his short stories looking forward to enjoying more and thankfully my Delphi collection of his works has many more plus these are located there too! 🎄💟🎄💟🎄🎄🎄
This ends my Christmas reading until next year!!🎄
1) Christmas at Thompson Hall- 1876; I knew humor is part of his storytelling but this story has it throughout and a quite delightful read! Mr. Brown and Mrs. Brown are heading home to her family at Thompson Hall for Christmas Eve and meeting her sister, Jane's fiance but they must travel from France to London. A zany mishap at the hotel in Paris keeps them from arriving in time! I loved this one and would love to tell more details but then it would lessen the fun and humor for you!💜
2) Christmas Day at Kirkby Cottage- 1870; Maurice Archer declares to Isabel Lownd, that Christmas is a bore, while staying with her father's home who is a parson! Loved this one 💟 and this example reminds me why sometimes Trollope reminds me of Jane Austin.
3)The Mistletoe Bough- 1861; Two lovers decided against love/marriage and pride stands in the way. Loved this too!💖
4)The Two Generals- 1863; I found this one extremely interesting for several reasons. It was written during the American Civil War and it portrays two brothers in different sides of the war with a young girl also in the mix. This was a very thoughtful look from a foreigner to that tragic war that killed so many.
Loved this story!💖
5) Not If I Know It- 1882. This was good but nothing like the others and the shortest of the five. Brother in laws are at odds during Christmastime! 🎄
After having a taste of his short stories looking forward to enjoying more and thankfully my Delphi collection of his works has many more plus these are located there too! 🎄💟🎄💟🎄🎄🎄
This ends my Christmas reading until next year!!🎄
December 23, 2017
I love Anthony Trollope very much and this is a lovely collection of Christmas stories, very festive, very enjoyable and very funny! My favourite was probably the title story.
December 8, 2024
Five of Anthony Trollope's short stories are included in this Christmas collection. Four of the stories have British characters. Trollope visited America during the American Civil War. "The Two Generals" was loosely inspired by his meeting in Washington DC with John J Crittenden who had two sons fighting for opposing armies during the Civil War.
The title story, "Christmas at Thompson Hall," is a wonderful farcical tale about a wife who wants to travel from France to England to her family home for Christmas. Her husband is a hypochondriac and comes up with objections. The determined wife makes some questionable decisions in her efforts to soothe her self-centered husband. It's a well-written comedy of errors, and my favorite in the collection.
The road to love is not smooth in "Christmas Day at Kirby Cottage." It's an entertaining story, but a bit unusual that someone would stay so upset about an offhand remark about Christmas. It does show the traditions of decorating the church, and providing charitable donations of beef and pudding to poor families.
"The Mistletoe Bough" features a young couple who had been briefly engaged, but parted after a disagreement. Godfrey still wants to marry Elizabeth, but she has reservations about losing her own character if she gives herself to a man. There are hints that she is nervous about her awakening as a woman, symbolized by the mistletoe.
"The Two Generals" is named for two brothers from Kentucky who fought for opposing sides in the American Civil War. As a Civil War story, it had a different feel to it than stories written by Americans, and didn't address the horrors of slavery. The older brother had inherited a Southern plantation where slaves provided the labor. The younger brother was a West Point Military Academy graduate, and believed in a strong Union. It did have several scenes set on Christmas Eve, and eventually showed compassion and charity within the family.
"Not If I Know It" is thought to be the last story written by Trollope. It's a tale about forgiveness and reconciliation between two brothers-in-law. It also has a message of peace in the Christmas sermon at the church.
The title story, "Christmas at Thompson Hall," is a wonderful farcical tale about a wife who wants to travel from France to England to her family home for Christmas. Her husband is a hypochondriac and comes up with objections. The determined wife makes some questionable decisions in her efforts to soothe her self-centered husband. It's a well-written comedy of errors, and my favorite in the collection.
The road to love is not smooth in "Christmas Day at Kirby Cottage." It's an entertaining story, but a bit unusual that someone would stay so upset about an offhand remark about Christmas. It does show the traditions of decorating the church, and providing charitable donations of beef and pudding to poor families.
"The Mistletoe Bough" features a young couple who had been briefly engaged, but parted after a disagreement. Godfrey still wants to marry Elizabeth, but she has reservations about losing her own character if she gives herself to a man. There are hints that she is nervous about her awakening as a woman, symbolized by the mistletoe.
"The Two Generals" is named for two brothers from Kentucky who fought for opposing sides in the American Civil War. As a Civil War story, it had a different feel to it than stories written by Americans, and didn't address the horrors of slavery. The older brother had inherited a Southern plantation where slaves provided the labor. The younger brother was a West Point Military Academy graduate, and believed in a strong Union. It did have several scenes set on Christmas Eve, and eventually showed compassion and charity within the family.
"Not If I Know It" is thought to be the last story written by Trollope. It's a tale about forgiveness and reconciliation between two brothers-in-law. It also has a message of peace in the Christmas sermon at the church.
December 10, 2024
A lovely collection of stories, set at Christmastime and full of characters in search of peace on earth and good will toward men.
Christmas at Thompson Hall - Mrs. Brown and her husband are traveling to Thompson Hall for Christmas when he insists, because he feels ill, on an overnight stop. What starts as Mrs. Brown’s intent to make him a mustard plaster turns into a comedy of errors that left me laughing aloud.
Christmas Day at Kirkby Cottage - a bit of intentional misunderstanding and painting oneself into a corner that it is hard to get out of. This one required putting yourself back into Victorian times, since the difficulties that arise would never happen today. As is appropriate for Christmas, “all’s well that ends well.”
The Mistletoe Bough - I truly enjoyed this sweet tale of lovers, once engaged and now parted, who need the slightest push to find themselves under the mistletoe again.
Not if I Know It - This story is about regret and forgiveness. A quarrel that could rankle and become important is healed by a devoted wife/sister and an appropriate Christmas message from the local parson.
The Two Generals - An atypical Trollope story, this one is set in the United States. It is the story of two brothers during the American Civil War, both in love with the same girl and fighting on opposite sides of the conflict. I particularly love this period in novels and stories, and I thought Trollope did an excellent job of dealing with the setting and events. It is, of course, a love story and not a history.
Christmas at Thompson Hall - Mrs. Brown and her husband are traveling to Thompson Hall for Christmas when he insists, because he feels ill, on an overnight stop. What starts as Mrs. Brown’s intent to make him a mustard plaster turns into a comedy of errors that left me laughing aloud.
Christmas Day at Kirkby Cottage - a bit of intentional misunderstanding and painting oneself into a corner that it is hard to get out of. This one required putting yourself back into Victorian times, since the difficulties that arise would never happen today. As is appropriate for Christmas, “all’s well that ends well.”
The Mistletoe Bough - I truly enjoyed this sweet tale of lovers, once engaged and now parted, who need the slightest push to find themselves under the mistletoe again.
Not if I Know It - This story is about regret and forgiveness. A quarrel that could rankle and become important is healed by a devoted wife/sister and an appropriate Christmas message from the local parson.
The Two Generals - An atypical Trollope story, this one is set in the United States. It is the story of two brothers during the American Civil War, both in love with the same girl and fighting on opposite sides of the conflict. I particularly love this period in novels and stories, and I thought Trollope did an excellent job of dealing with the setting and events. It is, of course, a love story and not a history.
January 4, 2024
The first story was my favourite, but it was a lovely collection of short Christmas stories.
December 24, 2017
Mrs. Brown just wants to get to Thompson Hall for Christmas. Why must men keep trying to stop her? First Mr. Brown and then Mr. Jones.
Cute little stories.
Cute little stories.
December 19, 2022
I enjoyed this collection of stories, which frequently made me smile and laugh, and occasionally made me think. They are easy to read and seasonal, focusing on family interactions at Christmas. Here is how I would rank the stories, from my favorite to least favorite, along with a quick summary of each and a few illustrative quotes:
The Two Generals (Five Stars)
Set during the Civil War, two brothers fight on opposite sides, with Christmas being a moment of reflection year after year. Along the way, Anthony Trollope takes aim at “that stain of slavery.” He includes some Civil War details, such as mentions of General Lee and Stonewall Jackson. There is also a memorable love interest included in the fray.
“And he had another grief which at this Christmas of 1860 had already become terrible to him, and which afterwards bowed him with sorrow to the ground.”
“I’ll be here again next Christmas-eve, if I’m alive.”
“If I found her seamed all over with small-pox, with her limbs broken, blind, disfigured by any misfortune which could have visited her, I would take her as my wife all the same.”
Christmas at Thompson Hall (Four Stars)
On a trip to see her family at Christmas, one woman hilariously causes a series of unfortunate events, distrusting her husband’s claims of sickness, engaging in mischief, and suffering embarrassing consequences.
“But she, though she was in many respects a brave woman, did not dare to tell the man that she was prowling about the hotel in order that she might make a midnight raid upon the mustard pot.”
“Let him have the cataplasm; if not as a remedy, then as a punishment.”
“Living or dying he must be made to start for Thompson Hall at half-past five on the next morning.”
The Mistletoe Bough (Four Stars)
The history of a romantic relationship complicates Christmas decorating decisions (should mistletoe be hung?) as well as holiday interactions.
Mother: “We always had it at Christmas when we were young.” Daughter: “But, mamma, the world is so changed.”
“Kissing, I fear, is less innocent now than it used to be when our grandmothers were alive, and we have become more fastidious in our amusements.”
“But it is better—ten time better—that those who love should part, even though they still should love, than that two should be jointed together who are incapable of making each other happy.”
“I do not think that a woman should be the ivy, to take the direction of every branch of the tree to which she clings.”
“That task of making up one’s mind for life must always at last be done in some special moment of that life.”
Christmas Day at Kirkby Cottage (Three Stars)
A young lady who loves Christmas has a falling out with a young man who had husband potential, until she asked him to help decorate the local church and he insulted the holiday.
“No; a man who thought Christmas to be a bore should never be more to her than a mere acquaintance.”
Not If I know It (Two Stars)
There is a falling out among two brothers-in-law during the holiday season because of a request made by one to the other and the ensuing response.
“You need not have refused him so crossly, just on Christmas Eve.”
The Two Generals (Five Stars)
Set during the Civil War, two brothers fight on opposite sides, with Christmas being a moment of reflection year after year. Along the way, Anthony Trollope takes aim at “that stain of slavery.” He includes some Civil War details, such as mentions of General Lee and Stonewall Jackson. There is also a memorable love interest included in the fray.
“And he had another grief which at this Christmas of 1860 had already become terrible to him, and which afterwards bowed him with sorrow to the ground.”
“I’ll be here again next Christmas-eve, if I’m alive.”
“If I found her seamed all over with small-pox, with her limbs broken, blind, disfigured by any misfortune which could have visited her, I would take her as my wife all the same.”
Christmas at Thompson Hall (Four Stars)
On a trip to see her family at Christmas, one woman hilariously causes a series of unfortunate events, distrusting her husband’s claims of sickness, engaging in mischief, and suffering embarrassing consequences.
“But she, though she was in many respects a brave woman, did not dare to tell the man that she was prowling about the hotel in order that she might make a midnight raid upon the mustard pot.”
“Let him have the cataplasm; if not as a remedy, then as a punishment.”
“Living or dying he must be made to start for Thompson Hall at half-past five on the next morning.”
The Mistletoe Bough (Four Stars)
The history of a romantic relationship complicates Christmas decorating decisions (should mistletoe be hung?) as well as holiday interactions.
Mother: “We always had it at Christmas when we were young.” Daughter: “But, mamma, the world is so changed.”
“Kissing, I fear, is less innocent now than it used to be when our grandmothers were alive, and we have become more fastidious in our amusements.”
“But it is better—ten time better—that those who love should part, even though they still should love, than that two should be jointed together who are incapable of making each other happy.”
“I do not think that a woman should be the ivy, to take the direction of every branch of the tree to which she clings.”
“That task of making up one’s mind for life must always at last be done in some special moment of that life.”
Christmas Day at Kirkby Cottage (Three Stars)
A young lady who loves Christmas has a falling out with a young man who had husband potential, until she asked him to help decorate the local church and he insulted the holiday.
“No; a man who thought Christmas to be a bore should never be more to her than a mere acquaintance.”
Not If I know It (Two Stars)
There is a falling out among two brothers-in-law during the holiday season because of a request made by one to the other and the ensuing response.
“You need not have refused him so crossly, just on Christmas Eve.”
December 8, 2021
Есть все-таки некоторый предел моей любви к викторианской литературе, и предел этот – коммерческие сезонные рассказы Троллопа, полные бессюжетного сахарина и юных барышень, которые страсть как хотят замуж, но еще хотят, чтобы их поуговаривали. Пожалуй, только заглавный рассказ, в котором героиня в парижской гостинице путает спящего мужа с чужим мужиком и кладет ему под бороду горчичник, хорош в какой-то своей здоровой абсурдности, все же остальное – это немного из серии «как удачно вы тут все наконец-то переженились».
January 3, 2016
I do like a Christmassy read – at this time of year – but with the weirdly warm and horribly wet weather in the UK, I needed some help in feeling at all Christmassy. Christmas at Thompson Hall & other Christmas stories looked like just the thing.
These Penguin Christmas Classics are gorgeous – and I found myself seriously tempted by them last year. This year I gave in, treating myself to this collection of five stories by Anthony Trollope. There are four more books in this lovely little series, and I think there’s a high probability of my buying the rest of them in time for next Christmas.
The collection put together just last year, but written in the late nineteenth century – comprises stories which humorously depict the English middle or upper classes of the nineteenth century. Told with Trollope’s familiar wit, they proved perfectly suited to my seasonal reading as they are traditionally Christmassy without being unpleasantly sentimental.
Full review - https://heavenali.wordpress.com/2015/...
December 11, 2021
Local book club Christmas selection. Fun, light Trollope stories in a very pretty volume.
January 7, 2020
Cinque graziosi raccontini ad ambientazione natalizia e a tema amore/equivoci. Il primo "Natale a Thompson Hall" è senz'altro il più originale, gli altri si assomigliano un po' tutti.
Se escludiamo quello che è ambientato durante la guerra di Secessione americana, devo dire che mi è venuta voglia di vivere nel mondo di Trollope, dove i più grandi e insormontabili problemi sono delle autentiche inezie.
Ad ogni modo si leggono con piacere.
Se escludiamo quello che è ambientato durante la guerra di Secessione americana, devo dire che mi è venuta voglia di vivere nel mondo di Trollope, dove i più grandi e insormontabili problemi sono delle autentiche inezie.
Ad ogni modo si leggono con piacere.
December 7, 2017
Overall rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Synopsis: If it were possible to out-Griswald the Griswalds when it comes to Christmas drama, Anthony Trollope has managed to do it.
Christmas at Thompson Hall- 4/5
I demand that this story be turned into a silly BBC Christmas special. I have never laughed so hard at a short story in quite a while. This story was by far the best of the bunch because of both its hilarity and sheer wit. A married couple is arriving from France to spend Christmas with the wife’s family. The husband is eager to do anything and everything in his power to avoid going, so he exaggerates the cold he is having and asks his wife a very simple favor; could she possibly go down to the dining room and get some mustard to put on his neck? What happens next is a hilarious ode to holiday family drama served with dry wit, humor, and cheer.
Christmas at Kirkby Cottage-2/5
It’s a hair-pulling answer though, because you’d have to give the women the benefit of the doubt. In the sense that once she finds out that her intended sweetheart doesn’t think too highly of the holiday, she calls off the engagement. Now, I know that a lot of things are dealbreakers in relationships; whether you want to have children, religious beliefs, allergies, intolerance of the in-laws. But I have yet to read about a relationship being totally called off because the other party doesn’t think too highly of a holiday. Now he wasn’t being mean about it; it’s just not his cup of tea. What made the story so annoying and unenjoyable for me was the fact that the woman in the story simply took what was a minor disagreement way too far.
The Mistletoe Bough- 3/5
A young girl makes a huge deal about not having mistletoe in her family home. Why? Because if it’s hanging there and the man she still has feelings for is still there, she’s be forced to kill him, wouldn’t she? And even though she jolly well likes him, her stubborn little ass self won’t admit to it. Literally everybody around her is yelling at her to just tell the poor dude that she does like him, but she’s rather commitmantphohic, but nope. She’s not about that life. While she wasn’t as bad as the protagonist in the former story, she wasn’t much better. There’s a difference between being entirely insufferable and having just a few quirks. Trollope manages to never draw a fine line between the two, swinging from one end to the other.
The Two Generals-2.5/5
Two brothers who have feelings for the same woman are fighting on the opposite sides of the Civil War, with lukewarm results. Now, if you’re expecting the story to end the way you think it’s going to end, you’ll be sorely disappointed. I was more disappointed in the lack of general message of the story (and hardly any mention of Christmas, despite this being in a Christmas anthology). I found it to be rather boring, but I will have to give the author credit for writing so well about the Civil War from an Englishman’s perspective.
Not If I Know It-2/5
Two-brothers-in-law have a quarrelsome disagreement on the holidays (of course), and proceed to act like man-babies for the rest of the story until their wives calm them down and make then see sensibly. My least favorite story of the book, and if you read it as well, you’ll probably see why. As much as I like to read about family drama, I don’t like to read about it when you take all the drama out of it.
***************************
A mish-mash of poorly executed Christmas stories with insurable main characters and boring storylines. Aside from recommending the very first story in this collection, I’d ‘Bah,Humbug’ this Christmas Classic in favor of Louisa May Alcott’s.
Synopsis: If it were possible to out-Griswald the Griswalds when it comes to Christmas drama, Anthony Trollope has managed to do it.
Christmas at Thompson Hall- 4/5
”She allowed herself to think of these coming comforts- of those comforts so sweet, if only they would come! She would be sitting in Christmas joy among all her uncles and cousins. Oh what a change from the Pandemonium; Christmas bliss of the home of the Thompsons!”And you thought you were eager to avoid the in-laws at Christmas.
I demand that this story be turned into a silly BBC Christmas special. I have never laughed so hard at a short story in quite a while. This story was by far the best of the bunch because of both its hilarity and sheer wit. A married couple is arriving from France to spend Christmas with the wife’s family. The husband is eager to do anything and everything in his power to avoid going, so he exaggerates the cold he is having and asks his wife a very simple favor; could she possibly go down to the dining room and get some mustard to put on his neck? What happens next is a hilarious ode to holiday family drama served with dry wit, humor, and cheer.
Christmas at Kirkby Cottage-2/5
”Christmas a bore? No; a man who thought Christmas to be a bore should never be more to her than a mere acquaintance.”If you ever wondered what would happen if one person in a relationship hates Christmas but the other is a die-hard Christmas enthusiast… you’ll have your answer.
It’s a hair-pulling answer though, because you’d have to give the women the benefit of the doubt. In the sense that once she finds out that her intended sweetheart doesn’t think too highly of the holiday, she calls off the engagement. Now, I know that a lot of things are dealbreakers in relationships; whether you want to have children, religious beliefs, allergies, intolerance of the in-laws. But I have yet to read about a relationship being totally called off because the other party doesn’t think too highly of a holiday. Now he wasn’t being mean about it; it’s just not his cup of tea. What made the story so annoying and unenjoyable for me was the fact that the woman in the story simply took what was a minor disagreement way too far.
The Mistletoe Bough- 3/5
”’Girls who are so intent upon knowing their own hearts generally end by knowing nobody’s hearts but their own.’”Tell him the TRUTH!!!!!!!!!
A young girl makes a huge deal about not having mistletoe in her family home. Why? Because if it’s hanging there and the man she still has feelings for is still there, she’s be forced to kill him, wouldn’t she? And even though she jolly well likes him, her stubborn little ass self won’t admit to it. Literally everybody around her is yelling at her to just tell the poor dude that she does like him, but she’s rather commitmantphohic, but nope. She’s not about that life. While she wasn’t as bad as the protagonist in the former story, she wasn’t much better. There’s a difference between being entirely insufferable and having just a few quirks. Trollope manages to never draw a fine line between the two, swinging from one end to the other.
The Two Generals-2.5/5
”’Of what use is a house divided against itself? The boys would kill each other if they met.’Somebody page Patrick Swayze and James Read, cause they did it better.
It is very sad.’
‘Sad! It is as though the Devil were let loose upon the earth- and so he is; so he is.’”
Two brothers who have feelings for the same woman are fighting on the opposite sides of the Civil War, with lukewarm results. Now, if you’re expecting the story to end the way you think it’s going to end, you’ll be sorely disappointed. I was more disappointed in the lack of general message of the story (and hardly any mention of Christmas, despite this being in a Christmas anthology). I found it to be rather boring, but I will have to give the author credit for writing so well about the Civil War from an Englishman’s perspective.
Not If I Know It-2/5
”’Men are curs because the other men think them so; women are angles sometimes, just because some loving husband like you tells them that they are.’”So far, we’ve had feuding spouses, feuding sweethearts, and feuding brothers. So why the hell stop there? Let’s have feuding brothers-in-laws instead. Trollope sure does love to trump the in-laws in his stories.
Two-brothers-in-law have a quarrelsome disagreement on the holidays (of course), and proceed to act like man-babies for the rest of the story until their wives calm them down and make then see sensibly. My least favorite story of the book, and if you read it as well, you’ll probably see why. As much as I like to read about family drama, I don’t like to read about it when you take all the drama out of it.
***************************
A mish-mash of poorly executed Christmas stories with insurable main characters and boring storylines. Aside from recommending the very first story in this collection, I’d ‘Bah,Humbug’ this Christmas Classic in favor of Louisa May Alcott’s.
December 16, 2019
Esiste forse migliore lettura di Natale di un libro inglese? Trollope è senza dubbio da riscoprire per chi ama i classici inglesi del periodo vittoriano e questo è il titolo perfetto se si vuole un Trollope breve (sappiate che è più unico che raro!) e scorrevole. Una serie di racconti tra tacchini, manzi sbagliati, vischio e cakes mastodontiche lontano dal consueto stile del ciclo Palliser o dalle sue cronache del Barset.
3.5
3.5
December 24, 2025
Un volumetto di racconti di Anthony Trollope [1815-1882] per giunta di argomento natalizio non poteva passare, in questo periodo dell’anno, sotto i miei occhi senza attirarmi e impormi di leggerlo subito: oggi a lettura terminata devo convenire che il Trollope dei lunghi e appassionanti romanzi è molto al di sopra di questi racconti che pur facendosi apprezzare, non sono indimenticabili e mi sono sembrati un po’ scolastici.
Cinque racconti natalizi dunque di discreta fattura e raccontati alla maniera riconoscibile da chiunque abbia letto qualche opera dello scrittore inglese, tranne il bellissimo “Natale a Kirby Cottage” unico inestimabile gioiello della raccolta.
Cinque racconti natalizi dunque di discreta fattura e raccontati alla maniera riconoscibile da chiunque abbia letto qualche opera dello scrittore inglese, tranne il bellissimo “Natale a Kirby Cottage” unico inestimabile gioiello della raccolta.
December 12, 2019
The titular story is still my favorite, but it was fun to see how Trollope explored the complexities of relationships with the Christmas holiday as backdrop.
December 23, 2019
5 stelle al primo racconto (che dà il titolo alla raccolta) ironico e a suo modo sorprendente. Poi la giusta noia del manierismo tipico della società vittoriana pervade la lettura dei racconti successivi.
Trollope rimane in ogni caso un protagonista assoluto della narrativa ottocentesca : grande e preciso ritrattista della società del suo tempo.
Trollope rimane in ogni caso un protagonista assoluto della narrativa ottocentesca : grande e preciso ritrattista della società del suo tempo.
December 25, 2024
I almost feel like this is a great (and deceptive) marketing ploy here by advertising these stories as Christmas tales when in reality, they do not really feel very festive or Christmas(sy). I mean, sure, the word Christmas is thrown around here in the stories a time or two, and they take place sometimes near the holiday, but that’s about it. It’s merely window dressing.
This aside, I felt like the first story, “Christmas at Thompson Hall” was the star of the show, the headlining band playing with a bunch of amateur rock groups. Clearly this is the story that carries the weight of this whole collection. The other stories maybe had some enlightening or poignant moments, but these moments were seldom, and all were very flawed and lackluster at points.
“Christmas at Thompson Hall” will definitely get you thinking about mustard plaster. (I know you probably think about it all the time, but now it will be even more so). It involves a certain Charles and Mary Brown having quite a predicament when Mary has a very awkward moment. Her husband is quite the hypochondriac, and he needs to get something, anything, to feel better, and quick! So, Mary is off to find some mustard plaster to help his throat, and when she finally finds it, she accidentally gets herself into quite a mess.
What ensues is a comedy of errors, and she makes plenty of them let me tell you. The funniest bits in the tale consist of Mary trying to get out of trouble and remedy the situation, only to have each solution blow up in her face and make things worse. I couldn’t wait to see how things panned out for the Browns. Just the right touch of comedy in this one.
Regarding the others in the collection, they all seem to have a commonality in that they deal with familial strife and drama with a lot of quarreling and regrets. “Christmas Day at Kirkby Cottage” and “The Mistletoe Bough” are fairly similar in that they both deal with a couple having to iron out some difficulties, but it feels like they both have way too much drama over trifles and that the conflict is contrived and forced. The fourth story “Not if I Know It” is so short that I couldn’t even figure out what it was about before it was over. So, I think that one was the least of the entire bunch. “The Two Generals” , a Civil War story, started off promising in how it was set up with the conflict with the two brothers, but fizzled out and became sort of a mess by the end.
I hate to be a bit of a Scrooge this Christmas Eve, but would give the entire collection as a whole about two and a half stars, which I will round up to three for the lead story.
This was my first exposure to Trollope, and I have heard that his longer works are vastly different, so I’m interested in checking them out.
This aside, I felt like the first story, “Christmas at Thompson Hall” was the star of the show, the headlining band playing with a bunch of amateur rock groups. Clearly this is the story that carries the weight of this whole collection. The other stories maybe had some enlightening or poignant moments, but these moments were seldom, and all were very flawed and lackluster at points.
“Christmas at Thompson Hall” will definitely get you thinking about mustard plaster. (I know you probably think about it all the time, but now it will be even more so). It involves a certain Charles and Mary Brown having quite a predicament when Mary has a very awkward moment. Her husband is quite the hypochondriac, and he needs to get something, anything, to feel better, and quick! So, Mary is off to find some mustard plaster to help his throat, and when she finally finds it, she accidentally gets herself into quite a mess.
What ensues is a comedy of errors, and she makes plenty of them let me tell you. The funniest bits in the tale consist of Mary trying to get out of trouble and remedy the situation, only to have each solution blow up in her face and make things worse. I couldn’t wait to see how things panned out for the Browns. Just the right touch of comedy in this one.
Regarding the others in the collection, they all seem to have a commonality in that they deal with familial strife and drama with a lot of quarreling and regrets. “Christmas Day at Kirkby Cottage” and “The Mistletoe Bough” are fairly similar in that they both deal with a couple having to iron out some difficulties, but it feels like they both have way too much drama over trifles and that the conflict is contrived and forced. The fourth story “Not if I Know It” is so short that I couldn’t even figure out what it was about before it was over. So, I think that one was the least of the entire bunch. “The Two Generals” , a Civil War story, started off promising in how it was set up with the conflict with the two brothers, but fizzled out and became sort of a mess by the end.
I hate to be a bit of a Scrooge this Christmas Eve, but would give the entire collection as a whole about two and a half stars, which I will round up to three for the lead story.
This was my first exposure to Trollope, and I have heard that his longer works are vastly different, so I’m interested in checking them out.
January 4, 2025
This is a collection of 5 Christmas short stories of varying length written by the ever-practical Trollope, who wasn’t going to miss out on the financial benefits of the Victorian public’s desire to read Christmas-based stories at Christmas time.
I hadn’t read either a Trollope Christmas story or any Trollope short story before, and I questioned whether he’d be able to pull it off. The low 3.50 rating this collection has on Goodreads contributed to my trepidation.
Now that I’ve finished, I can say that Trollope did better than I anticipated and definitely pulled it off. I thought Trollope did a great job of accomplishing his usually effective characterization within the more limited time period. I rate this collection as a solid 4 stars. The following are my ratings on the individual stories.
Christmas at Thompson Hall (65 pg.) – This is the tale of a married couple, the Browns, as they spend a night in Paris before they return to England to spend their traditional Christmas at Mrs. Brown’s family estate, the titled Thompson Hall. In their Paris hotel, Mrs. Brown commits a mistaken identity faux pas, the consequences of which follow her on the trip back to and at Thompson Hall. At first, I thought the coincidences of the story were a bit far-fetched but gradually came to appreciate more and more the effective light farce of the piece that Trollope was writing. It turned out to be a well-structured, well-charactered Christmas-time comedy-of-manners. I especially appreciated the gradually revelatory characterization of Mrs. Brown. Very enjoyable. 4.7 stars
Christmas Day at Kirkby Cottage (52 pg.)– This is a tale of two lovers Maurice and Isabel having a bit of a spat over Maurice’s statement that “Christmas is a bore.” While slight in theme, Trollope again effectively portrays the dynamics of a couple’s relationship. I especially enjoyed the Christmas decorating scene at the Kirby Cliffe Church. Its sentiments fit my Christmas-time mood. 4 stars
The Mistletoe Bough (38 pg.) – This one is a nice change of pace to a family rather than a couple, though a coupling is involved. It is Christmas at Thwaite Hall, home of the Garrow family, as 19 year old Elizabeth is battling to prevent her two home-from-school brothers from hanging a mistletoe as the Hall readies for its annual set of Christmas time visitors, which include her former secret fiancée Godfrey Holmes and potential romantic interests for the boys. What ensues is once again a fairly light but successful Christmas tale with good characterization, including a pleasant portrait of boy-girl sibling relations. 4 stars
The Two Generals (37 pg.) – An unusual American-based Trollope story of two Kentucky brothers, Frank and Tom, on opposite sides during the Civil War and how their conflict that is enhanced by their love for the same girl, Ada. Both become Generals in their respective sides and soon the brothers face each other during the war that results in the climactic ending. Trollope was successful in portraying the atmosphere of that period. While I thought the characterization suffered a bit from the setting choice, I did appreciate Trollope’s choice to again portray sibling dynamics. It was less Christmassy than the other stories, though. 3.7 stars
Not if I Know It (13 pg.)– Another story taking place at a British Hall, this time it’s the Hallam Hall home of the successful George Wade as he hosts his sister and less-successful brother-in-law Mr. and Mrs. Horton at Christmastime. Conflict arises when Mr. Horton gets his nose out-of-joint when Mr. Wade, while uttering the titled phrase, declines to sign a paper vouching for Horton, for his use in a business opportunity. There are misunderstandings and a Christmas appropriate resolution that is competently and wittily executed in the short period allotted. 3.7 stars
I hadn’t read either a Trollope Christmas story or any Trollope short story before, and I questioned whether he’d be able to pull it off. The low 3.50 rating this collection has on Goodreads contributed to my trepidation.
Now that I’ve finished, I can say that Trollope did better than I anticipated and definitely pulled it off. I thought Trollope did a great job of accomplishing his usually effective characterization within the more limited time period. I rate this collection as a solid 4 stars. The following are my ratings on the individual stories.
Christmas at Thompson Hall (65 pg.) – This is the tale of a married couple, the Browns, as they spend a night in Paris before they return to England to spend their traditional Christmas at Mrs. Brown’s family estate, the titled Thompson Hall. In their Paris hotel, Mrs. Brown commits a mistaken identity faux pas, the consequences of which follow her on the trip back to and at Thompson Hall. At first, I thought the coincidences of the story were a bit far-fetched but gradually came to appreciate more and more the effective light farce of the piece that Trollope was writing. It turned out to be a well-structured, well-charactered Christmas-time comedy-of-manners. I especially appreciated the gradually revelatory characterization of Mrs. Brown. Very enjoyable. 4.7 stars
Christmas Day at Kirkby Cottage (52 pg.)– This is a tale of two lovers Maurice and Isabel having a bit of a spat over Maurice’s statement that “Christmas is a bore.” While slight in theme, Trollope again effectively portrays the dynamics of a couple’s relationship. I especially enjoyed the Christmas decorating scene at the Kirby Cliffe Church. Its sentiments fit my Christmas-time mood. 4 stars
The Mistletoe Bough (38 pg.) – This one is a nice change of pace to a family rather than a couple, though a coupling is involved. It is Christmas at Thwaite Hall, home of the Garrow family, as 19 year old Elizabeth is battling to prevent her two home-from-school brothers from hanging a mistletoe as the Hall readies for its annual set of Christmas time visitors, which include her former secret fiancée Godfrey Holmes and potential romantic interests for the boys. What ensues is once again a fairly light but successful Christmas tale with good characterization, including a pleasant portrait of boy-girl sibling relations. 4 stars
The Two Generals (37 pg.) – An unusual American-based Trollope story of two Kentucky brothers, Frank and Tom, on opposite sides during the Civil War and how their conflict that is enhanced by their love for the same girl, Ada. Both become Generals in their respective sides and soon the brothers face each other during the war that results in the climactic ending. Trollope was successful in portraying the atmosphere of that period. While I thought the characterization suffered a bit from the setting choice, I did appreciate Trollope’s choice to again portray sibling dynamics. It was less Christmassy than the other stories, though. 3.7 stars
Not if I Know It (13 pg.)– Another story taking place at a British Hall, this time it’s the Hallam Hall home of the successful George Wade as he hosts his sister and less-successful brother-in-law Mr. and Mrs. Horton at Christmastime. Conflict arises when Mr. Horton gets his nose out-of-joint when Mr. Wade, while uttering the titled phrase, declines to sign a paper vouching for Horton, for his use in a business opportunity. There are misunderstandings and a Christmas appropriate resolution that is competently and wittily executed in the short period allotted. 3.7 stars
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December 12, 2021
Anthony Trollope has been on my radar ever since I became aware of the sheer number of books he'd written thanks to the many Trollope editions in the Oxford World Classics series and have been hankering for a taste ever since.
Sadly, I didn't enjoy a single story, though there were many times-usually just a sentence here and there-that I could see potential and a humour that is to be found in Austen and Dickens. I am not naturally drawn to Christmas nor short stories and thus feel it is incredibly unkind to judge an author based solely on these particular ones and will reserve further judgement for something more substantial.
Sadly, I didn't enjoy a single story, though there were many times-usually just a sentence here and there-that I could see potential and a humour that is to be found in Austen and Dickens. I am not naturally drawn to Christmas nor short stories and thus feel it is incredibly unkind to judge an author based solely on these particular ones and will reserve further judgement for something more substantial.
December 1, 2019
Loved!!! The Christmas at Thompson Hall was my favorite, but I enjoyed each of the stories. What a lovely Christmas medley! Trollope could write an amazing tome, but he also mastered the short story.
December 9, 2016
My first Trollope -- nice Christmas short stories with a bit of 19th century romance.
December 21, 2022
Un 3 étoiles et demi ajusté à la hausse, parce que même si j'ai nettement moins aimé les quatre autres nouvelles, "Christmas at Thompson Hall" est si drôle, et excellente, et j'ai ri aux larmes, et ça a fait du bien à mon coeur un peu sec des derniers temps.
December 22, 2021
Delightful short stories all with a Christmas theme and with that human relationship thread that Trollope writes so well.
I do struggle with the writing style of Trollope but this was lovely.
Christmas all wrapped up nicely.
I do struggle with the writing style of Trollope but this was lovely.
Christmas all wrapped up nicely.
January 13, 2022
Tra i tanti scrittori vittoriani neanche Anthony Trollope poteva sottrarsi alla moda di scrivere racconti ambientati a Natale, una moda che imperversava nelle riviste letterarie dell'epoca. Come ben sanno i suoi lettori, Trollope fu un prolifico autore di romanzi (ne scrisse in totale 47 e sono per lo più tutti abbastanza corposi) ma anche nei racconti dimostra di saper sviluppare le sue tipiche qualità che ce lo fanno tanto amare, quali la sua attenzione alle dinamiche sociali, i rapporti tra i sessi, il ruolo della donna e la descrizione della società vittoriana nella sua quotidianità, riuscendo così a parlare anche a noi lettori di due secoli dopo.
I cinque racconti presenti in questa raccolta hanno tutti un elemento in comune: sono tutti ambientati a Natale. Il primo, Natale a Thompson Hall è quello che dà il titolo alla raccolta ed è sicuramente il migliore tra i cinque; è il più divertente ed è basato su un equivoco e scambio di persona. La signora Brown è in viaggio con il marito dalla Francia all'Inghilterra per trascorrere il Natale a Thompson Hall con i suoi familiari e per conoscere il fidanzato della sorella minore ma il viaggio verso casa sarà più complicato del previsto. Il giorno prima di imbracarsi per l'isola britannica alloggia per la notte con il consorte in un albergo. Durante la notte la signora è costretta a girare l'albergo per cercare un po' di senape per curare il mal di gola del marito; dopo averne rubata un po' di nascosto, senza saperlo entra nella stanza sbagliata e posa sulla gola di un altro uomo l'impacco di senape. Dopo essersi accorta dell'errore decide di fuggire dalla stanza facendo finta di nulla ma la mattina seguente le cose non andranno come lei aveva sperato.
Un racconto divertente e originale, e i dialoghi tra la coppia sono veramente magnifici.
Il secondo racconto dal titolo Natale a Kirby Cottage, è riuscito a coinvolgermi ed emozionarmi. Racconta la storia d'amore tra Maurice Archer e Isabel Lownd. Il giovane Maurice, che per Natale è ospite del reverendo Lownd che in passato è stato il suo precettore, afferma davanti alla giovane Isabel che “il Natale è una noia”. Questa affermazione porta Isabel, che ha una cotta per lui e adora il Natale, a dubitare dei suoi sentimenti per il giovane ma il Natale alle porte riuscirà a portare un chiarimento tra i due.
Il terzo racconto dal titolo Il ramo di vischio è molto simile al secondo. È anch'esso una storia d'amore e racconta tra la vicenda di due ex fidanzati costretti a trascorrere il Natale sotto lo stesso tetto. Lui è pentito di aver rotto il fidanzamento ma lei non sembra intenzionata a tornare indietro sulla sua decisione.
Il quarto racconto I due generali è l'unico racconto a non essere ambientato nella vecchia Inghilterra ma negli Stati Uniti nel periodo della Guerra di Secessione. Due fratelli si trovano a combattere su fronti opposti e a contendersi la stessa ragazza che però ha già scelto uno dei due.
Il quinto e ultimo racconto è quello più breve tra i cinque. Neanche per sogno racconta una lite tra due cognati riguardo un favore che uno ha negato all'altro senza sapere di cosa si trattasse ma supponendo potesse riguardare una questione economica. Lo spirito natalizio, anche in questo caso, ci mette lo zampino.
Tutti i racconti riescono a trasmetterci l'importanza di questo periodo dell'anno e farci percepire lo spirito del Natale dell'epoca, tra tacchini, pudding, tavole imbandite, semplici decorazioni fatte di vischio o altre piante, candele, camini accesi, piccoli villaggi o grandi dimore immerse nella campagna inglese, la messa la mattina di Natale, la visita e la beneficenza alle famiglie più bisognose.
Questo piccolo libriccino racconta tradizioni natalizie, malintesi, amori, dissapori e perdono; un'opera che si è rivelata una lettura piacevole e perfetta per il periodo pre – natalizio; lo stile è come sempre colloquiale, scorrevole, vivace e ricco di dettagli.
Trollope si dimostra ancora una volta un grande scrittore che con la sua scrittura vivace e brillante, la sua immancabile e solita ironia riesce a coinvolgere, appassionare ed emozionare il lettore nelle vicende che racconta. Anche qui, nonostante non abbia a disposizione la mole dei suoi romanzi più famosi, l'autore inglese riesce a dimostrare ancora una volta la sua bravura nel delineare i personaggi che animano questi racconti. Sono tutti ben descritti nella loro profondità e l'autore ne mette a nudo le loro debolezze e la loro forza in varie situazioni difficili. Come sempre lui è molto bravo (diciamo pure una spanna sopra gli altri scrittori dell'epoca) soprattutto nella descrizione dei personaggi femminili, infatti le donne sono le protagoniste di quasi tutti i racconti. Donne emancipate per l'epoca, esempi di devozione, pazienza e intraprendenza, che decidono autonomamente il loro destino.
Un libro che si legge con piacere, dove alcune situazioni descritte fanno sorridere mentre altre fanno riflettere il lettore su come sia cambiato il Natale nel ventunesimo secolo e su quanto abbiamo perduto nel tempo sul significato profondo del Natale e sul senso di famiglia.
Da quando si era sposata, ormai otto anni prima, la signora Brown non aveva mai trascorso un Natale in Inghilterra. Ne aveva spesso ventilato la possibilità, nel profondo agognava quelle festività fatte di agrifoglio e tortine natalizie. […] Più di una volta lei aveva espresso il desiderio di rivivere il Natale di un tempo nella vecchia casa tra le vecchie facce.
I cinque racconti presenti in questa raccolta hanno tutti un elemento in comune: sono tutti ambientati a Natale. Il primo, Natale a Thompson Hall è quello che dà il titolo alla raccolta ed è sicuramente il migliore tra i cinque; è il più divertente ed è basato su un equivoco e scambio di persona. La signora Brown è in viaggio con il marito dalla Francia all'Inghilterra per trascorrere il Natale a Thompson Hall con i suoi familiari e per conoscere il fidanzato della sorella minore ma il viaggio verso casa sarà più complicato del previsto. Il giorno prima di imbracarsi per l'isola britannica alloggia per la notte con il consorte in un albergo. Durante la notte la signora è costretta a girare l'albergo per cercare un po' di senape per curare il mal di gola del marito; dopo averne rubata un po' di nascosto, senza saperlo entra nella stanza sbagliata e posa sulla gola di un altro uomo l'impacco di senape. Dopo essersi accorta dell'errore decide di fuggire dalla stanza facendo finta di nulla ma la mattina seguente le cose non andranno come lei aveva sperato.
Un racconto divertente e originale, e i dialoghi tra la coppia sono veramente magnifici.
Il secondo racconto dal titolo Natale a Kirby Cottage, è riuscito a coinvolgermi ed emozionarmi. Racconta la storia d'amore tra Maurice Archer e Isabel Lownd. Il giovane Maurice, che per Natale è ospite del reverendo Lownd che in passato è stato il suo precettore, afferma davanti alla giovane Isabel che “il Natale è una noia”. Questa affermazione porta Isabel, che ha una cotta per lui e adora il Natale, a dubitare dei suoi sentimenti per il giovane ma il Natale alle porte riuscirà a portare un chiarimento tra i due.
Il terzo racconto dal titolo Il ramo di vischio è molto simile al secondo. È anch'esso una storia d'amore e racconta tra la vicenda di due ex fidanzati costretti a trascorrere il Natale sotto lo stesso tetto. Lui è pentito di aver rotto il fidanzamento ma lei non sembra intenzionata a tornare indietro sulla sua decisione.
Il quarto racconto I due generali è l'unico racconto a non essere ambientato nella vecchia Inghilterra ma negli Stati Uniti nel periodo della Guerra di Secessione. Due fratelli si trovano a combattere su fronti opposti e a contendersi la stessa ragazza che però ha già scelto uno dei due.
Il quinto e ultimo racconto è quello più breve tra i cinque. Neanche per sogno racconta una lite tra due cognati riguardo un favore che uno ha negato all'altro senza sapere di cosa si trattasse ma supponendo potesse riguardare una questione economica. Lo spirito natalizio, anche in questo caso, ci mette lo zampino.
Tutti i racconti riescono a trasmetterci l'importanza di questo periodo dell'anno e farci percepire lo spirito del Natale dell'epoca, tra tacchini, pudding, tavole imbandite, semplici decorazioni fatte di vischio o altre piante, candele, camini accesi, piccoli villaggi o grandi dimore immerse nella campagna inglese, la messa la mattina di Natale, la visita e la beneficenza alle famiglie più bisognose.
Questo piccolo libriccino racconta tradizioni natalizie, malintesi, amori, dissapori e perdono; un'opera che si è rivelata una lettura piacevole e perfetta per il periodo pre – natalizio; lo stile è come sempre colloquiale, scorrevole, vivace e ricco di dettagli.
Trollope si dimostra ancora una volta un grande scrittore che con la sua scrittura vivace e brillante, la sua immancabile e solita ironia riesce a coinvolgere, appassionare ed emozionare il lettore nelle vicende che racconta. Anche qui, nonostante non abbia a disposizione la mole dei suoi romanzi più famosi, l'autore inglese riesce a dimostrare ancora una volta la sua bravura nel delineare i personaggi che animano questi racconti. Sono tutti ben descritti nella loro profondità e l'autore ne mette a nudo le loro debolezze e la loro forza in varie situazioni difficili. Come sempre lui è molto bravo (diciamo pure una spanna sopra gli altri scrittori dell'epoca) soprattutto nella descrizione dei personaggi femminili, infatti le donne sono le protagoniste di quasi tutti i racconti. Donne emancipate per l'epoca, esempi di devozione, pazienza e intraprendenza, che decidono autonomamente il loro destino.
Un libro che si legge con piacere, dove alcune situazioni descritte fanno sorridere mentre altre fanno riflettere il lettore su come sia cambiato il Natale nel ventunesimo secolo e su quanto abbiamo perduto nel tempo sul significato profondo del Natale e sul senso di famiglia.
Da quando si era sposata, ormai otto anni prima, la signora Brown non aveva mai trascorso un Natale in Inghilterra. Ne aveva spesso ventilato la possibilità, nel profondo agognava quelle festività fatte di agrifoglio e tortine natalizie. […] Più di una volta lei aveva espresso il desiderio di rivivere il Natale di un tempo nella vecchia casa tra le vecchie facce.
December 16, 2025
I read the majority of this last year and finished up the last two stories this year. I love a little Christmas collection of stories. This is a really cute little edition of stories that aren't overly Christmas, but more about family relationships, including one set in Kentucky during the Civil War.
December 27, 2024
3.5
This was my first book by Trollope. Five short stories focusing on Christmas. How fitting to finish it on Christmas Eve. Some stories I enjoyed more than others, but I didn’t dislike any of them. Pleasant reading experience.
This was my first book by Trollope. Five short stories focusing on Christmas. How fitting to finish it on Christmas Eve. Some stories I enjoyed more than others, but I didn’t dislike any of them. Pleasant reading experience.
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January 26, 2025Trollope's stories are the very essence of (English) warmth, humor, and charm; what better than wedding these qualities to the Christmas season (and reading them during the Christmas season)? I didn't read all in this collection; but I have the others to look forward to next year!
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December 20, 2022Commedia degli equivoci di epoca vittoriana, ambientata nel periodo natalizio e con protagonista una agiata famiglia inglese. Doverosa premessa: a me non interessa niente del sistema aristocratico d'oltremanica, anzi, mi infastidisce molto leggere di ricchezze e privilegi ereditati senza merito; trovo il manierismo vittoriano abbastanza respingente; il mio approccio al Natale non è esattamente entusiastico.
Quindi perché ho scelto questo breve racconto? Stavo cercando un audiolibro leggero e questo sembrava fare al caso mio: le recensioni garantivano 50 minuti (la durata esatta del tragitto in auto previsto, peraltro) di british humour e ironia sottile, la mia tipologia di comicità preferita, quindi speravo che le risate assicurate superassero i miei pregiudizi sul genere. Ora, mi piacerebbe proprio capire quale sia la parte divertente: non ho trovato nessun elemento neanche vagamente simpatico in questo testo, che non mi ha fatto cambiare nemmeno opinione sul resto.
Considerando che il mio parere in merito è molto legato al mio gusto personale, e che mi sono avvicinata al testo solo per la sua (non pervenuta) anima umoristica, non lo valuterò con le stelline.
Quindi perché ho scelto questo breve racconto? Stavo cercando un audiolibro leggero e questo sembrava fare al caso mio: le recensioni garantivano 50 minuti (la durata esatta del tragitto in auto previsto, peraltro) di british humour e ironia sottile, la mia tipologia di comicità preferita, quindi speravo che le risate assicurate superassero i miei pregiudizi sul genere. Ora, mi piacerebbe proprio capire quale sia la parte divertente: non ho trovato nessun elemento neanche vagamente simpatico in questo testo, che non mi ha fatto cambiare nemmeno opinione sul resto.
Considerando che il mio parere in merito è molto legato al mio gusto personale, e che mi sono avvicinata al testo solo per la sua (non pervenuta) anima umoristica, non lo valuterò con le stelline.
August 11, 2022
Leggiadre (o insopportabili) novelle a sfondo natalizio nel più puro stile vittoriano, il voto è in realtà 3.5 per il piacere di averlo letto in un caldo Agosto.
December 9, 2021
Enjoyable enough but with the exception of the title story, probably pretty forgettable.
Christmas at Thompson Hall was just downright funny and enjoyable.
Christmas Day at Kirkby Cottage and The Mistletoe Bough were essentially the same story. Girl turns down proposal of marriage, is then terribly unhappy, swears he will never ask her again and even if he does she will turn him down again, he does ask again and she says yes and all is perfect and wonderful.
The Two Generals is pure melodrama set in Kentucky during the Civil War.
Not If I Know It was the shortest and essentially had no plot or point.
Christmas at Thompson Hall was just downright funny and enjoyable.
Christmas Day at Kirkby Cottage and The Mistletoe Bough were essentially the same story. Girl turns down proposal of marriage, is then terribly unhappy, swears he will never ask her again and even if he does she will turn him down again, he does ask again and she says yes and all is perfect and wonderful.
The Two Generals is pure melodrama set in Kentucky during the Civil War.
Not If I Know It was the shortest and essentially had no plot or point.
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