The Little City of Hope: A Christmas Story

by F. Marion Crawford

An inspiring novel about a struggling inventor and his family in turn-of-the-century New England.

A man sits in his modest, rundown house in Connecticut, missing his wife, who is working overseas as a governess to make money for the family. But he does have the companionship of his son, who supports him in his dreams of success as an inventor.

As Christmas draws near, their spirits are low—until the two begin working together on a model of a city, built with simple scraps, that leads them to a new place of hope . . .

This tale, first published in 1907, has become a cherished classic—and makes for a wonderful holiday read about life’s truest gifts.

Genres: Christmas, Fiction, Holiday, Short Stories, Ebooks, Historical Fiction, Classics

79 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1907

About the author

Francis Marion Crawford (1854-1909) was an American writer noted for his many novels. He was born at Bagni di Lucca, Italy. In 1879 he went to India, where he studied Sanskrit and edited the Allahabad Indian Herald. Returning to America he continued to study Sanskrit at Harvard University for a year, contributed to various periodicals, and in 1882 produced his first novel, Mr Isaacs. This book had an immediate success, and its author's promise was confirmed by the publication of Doctor Claudius: A True Story (1883). After a brief residence in New York and Boston, in 1883 he returned to Italy, where he made his permanent home. He also published the historical works, Ave Roma Immortalis (1898), Rulers of the South (1900) renamed Sicily, Calabria and Malta in 1904, and Gleanings from Venetian History (1905). The Saracinesca series is perhaps known to be his best work, with the third in the series, Don Orsino, set against the background of a real estate bubble, told with effective concision. A fourth book in the series, Corleone, was the first major treatment of the Mafia in literature.

Reviews

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded to 4 stars

This novelette, first published in 1907, takes us on a rocky December journey with inventor John Henry Overholt and his 13-year-old son Newton. The Overholts, including wife/mother Helen
Overholt, once lived a comfortable life but are now struggling for survival. In fact, Helen reluctantly had to leave her own family to seek work as a governess for another mother's children. John Henry has put all his eggs in one basket and that basket appears to be empty. Son Newton is a joy and stands by his father. He does his best to do what he can to help John Henry, including sacrificing those things he loves best. What the world would be like if all young teenagers were like Newton! While John Henry works tirelessly at trying to save his latest invention from the scrap pile, young Newton is busy constructing a model of "The Little City of Hope", a project John Henry starts to find interest in as well.

I loved the characters of this little family and their utter faith and hope in each other. I highly recommend this poignant tale be read in front of a fire with a cat on the lap and a cup of hot cocoa in hand.

[booklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet family Christmas story about a father and his 13 year old boy, Newton. The family has fallen upon hard times because the father is also an inventor who has put all their savings into his motor engine which is perfect ... except it needs one special part, an expensive one which needs to be custom made. The mother has had to take a job as a governess and now lives apart from her husband and son. Even so, father and son, down to the end of their savings keep hope alive by building a Little City of Hope, a model of the college town where they were so happy before things started to become difficult. This model built from scraps of newspaper and cardboard, homemade paste and other junk becomes the repository of their hopes for Christmas and beyond until tragedy strikes and things go from bad to impossible.

How they are resolved and Christmas is saved is what this delightful story is about. A new favorite!

[Virginia Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Hope is very cheap. There's always plenty of it about."

Normally, I don't include quotes in my reviews, but this seemed fitting. I went into this story without much expectation. To be honest, I'd never even heard of this book before shelving it. After closing it for the last time, I was left smiling and, for lack of a better word, hopeful. This is a story of sacrifice, family, determination, struggle, and miracles. A father and son overcoming obstacles and holding onto the hope for a better future. Very admirable characters.

My dislikes are few. I had to stop and restart about 30% of the way through after putting this aside for too long due to so many other books taking priority.

Giving this a 4.5 rating. Truly a Christmas classic and one that I recommend over The Gift of the Magi

[Elisabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really sweet, well-written short story (around novelette length) about a struggling inventor trying to make ends meet in the weeks leading up till Christmas and avoid bankruptcy before he can finish his prize invention, with the help of his plucky thirteen-year-old son. I really enjoyed this one!

[Carolyn Vandine West · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good story about an inventor that lost his hope. He used to have a job at the university that was a modest living for his family. But when he had an idea for an invention, he quit the job to work on it full-time. The story begins most of the way through the process when he has repeated requests for additional funding from investors. He feels he is so close to a breakthrough. His wife has gone overseas to help with finances working as a governess. So it is just him and his 13 year old son.
The story has a beautiful message and a HEA. But I felt like last part just drug on too much. Could have been consolidated into at least 1/2. Still I recommend this novella for the Christmas season.

[Jamie Tyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is something so relatable about this story. The failure, loss of hope and then it regained by the end. A perfect little book to read and finish by Christmas.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cozy short Christmas story. It was a heartwarming tale of a father and son and their relationship during a difficult time. It was an easy read, but at times the story seems to get lost in the details.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hope

A true Christmas story that makes your heart happy! A story
of poverty, hardship, sacrifice , goodwill and most importantly hope!

[Sallie Dunn · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️

The last of my “short reads” for 2024. The Little City of Hope is a novella of 90 odd pages first published in 1907. A sweet Christmas story about an inventor and his son. He has a wife too, but she has left to be a governess to a wealthy family for a short period of time. The inventor left his good teaching job at the college to follow his dream, inventing some new fangled
“Air-Motor”. Mrs. Inventor is helping out financially.

Of course it’s December, it’s cold and snowy and things are not going well. The 13 year old son sells his watch and ice skates to help out. He builds “the little city of hope” in his dad’s workroom. And miracles do happen. After all, it’s Christmas!

Goodreads 2024 Challenge - Book #115 of 120

[Patricia L .Jex · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really interesting little story. Not at all what I expected, and I was skeptical of some of the details at first, but I ended up really glad to have read it. Faith and. hope do overcome the challenges we face if we hold on to them long enough.

[Rob Smith, Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starting this book, the ending seems certain...then the troubles are defined and get worse and the expected ending seems impossible. The author gets to the ending, but the reading does put the reader on the edge anxious to see how on earth that will happen.

Characters are a bit looser written than I'd like. The young teen is barely described despite extensive observations of his abilities otherwise. Never got a clear understanding of him. Similar with the mostly missing wife. Stronger character descriptions would've helped.

The writing is very good. A number of points of philophical introspection that makes the reading well worth the time. Acknowledging that 'Hope' can be more enemy than help. That doctor's state 'Not to worry' to one "to be hanged the next morning" are truths many ignore. Especially today.

Still...

Bottom line: I recommend this book. 7 out of ten points.

A drawback is repetitive narrative that could have been edited out.

[Madelon · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE LITTLE CITY OF HOPE is a somewhat typical, and heartwarming, tale of love and sacrifice culminating on Christmas Day. This rather intriguing story of a mathematician turned inventor and his son facing a truly woebegone Christmas day. Father and son bond when all hope is lost bolstering each other's activities. Father is long-working on an incredible motor, and son has been creating a replica of the college town in which they both lived. Mother fed her husband's dream by going off to work as a governess for a rich family.

As I was reading, I fully expected this to be a story like O. Henry's "The Gift of the Magi," and it does come quite close without a similar ending.

Although this could be a work of speculative fiction, it is a wonderful holiday story that makes for a fine read.

[Dean McIntyre · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE LITTLE CITY OF HOPE: A CHRISTMAS STORY by F. Marion Crawford -- I've added several Christmas stories to my year-end reading, this being one. First published in 1864, it's a short read but most enjoyable. A father is a frustrated inventor, former college teacher, seeking the one breakthrough to take the family out of poverty. The 11-year-old son struggles with him, sacrificing himself to support his father's efforts. Wife and mother has gone to Europe as a nanny with a rich family to earn money. The family struggles through difficult conditions, each supporting the effort in his or her own way, to a final Christmas conclusion. Like Dickens' A CHRISTMAS CAROL, gather the kids and read it together. It's a gem.

[James Frederick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This reminded me a bit of something from Hallmark Channel. It was sweet and tender and you had good people who were dealing with trouble, leading up to what promised to be a very bleak Christmas indeed. With the tiniest speck of hope left, (and the wisdom and frugality of a great wife/mother), Christmas was saved and the family fortunes restored.

This story was originally written in 1864. You would never know it. It holds up extremely well, all things considered. Clean, wholesome family fare. It really WOULD make for a very good Hallmark Christmas special.

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful entertaining listening 🎶☺

Another will written family relationships adventure thriller short story by F. Marion Crawford about an inventor and his family as they struggle to survive during a difficult time. Then hope happens the invention works two days before Christmas. I would recommend this novella to anyone looking for a quick read. Enjoy the adventure of reading 👓 or listening 🎶 to Alexa as I do because of eye issues and damage from nerve damage caused by shingles. 🏡🔰👒☺ 2022

[Brendon Fehre · Rating 2 out of 5]

While the actual story is good it takes a long time to get there. You have to read a lot of garbage to get to the story. It goes off talking about lunatics, dreams etc., and waffles on and reads life a first draft without any thought (continually going off in endless tangents instead of sticking to the real story).

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tremendous short story!

Absolutely delightful holiday story! Loved the plot and how authentic the characters came across. A huge plus is the fact that it was set during Christmas time.

[Andy Febrico Bintoro · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little kindness project

Its a good short story to fill your morning, a heart warming story for this holiday season. A story about a little project to fill your world with kindness.

[Tania Rook · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect Christmas story, with all the ingredients and no frills. This is a properly sweet story about having a craft project at Christmas time, spending your time doing what matters, and how good will won't buy you a coat but the warmth of good fellowship can mitigate the cold.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charming little story.

[Susan M Manning · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful!

What a sweet story. Beautifully descriptive, and full of emotion, one is carried along on this hopeful dream. Passion, hope, persistence, and love. ;~)

[Nicola Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely, old fashioned Christmas novella. I really enjoyed the descriptions, and it was interesting to look back at Christmas customs from the past.

[Pam McCallister · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

[Daniela Sorgente · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful little book, full of Christmas spirit. Every one of us should have a Little City of Hope, where hope can live and thrive.

[Rosemarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

heartening

A sweet old-fashioned tale of hope and perseverance, of family and expectations, and of working together for dreams to come true.

[Neeta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reads like a classic

Very old in style and message. A lovely Christmas read. John Henry and his son prepare themselves for the worst Christmas ever but it is hard to ruin Christmas.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Little City of Hope

This is a very good story.
It’s a story of love of family
A story of a family ’s love for each other,
helping each other, when the times are tough
believing in Hope

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart Lifting

The Little City of Hope kept me turning pages in one sitting. It is indeed a lovely Christmas story that lifts your sense of the meaning of family to new heights.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Building bricks without straw.

A very well written book about a mathematician/inventor and his thirteen year old son living in an old run down cottage in Connecticut.

[judy m · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably more like a 3.5. A story that tells you to never give up even when things are not going well. It’s about love, family, struggles and most importantly of hope.