Winter Fire: Christmas with G.K. Chesterton

by Ryan Whitaker Smith

It may be because I am silly, but I rather think that, relatively to the rest of the year, I enjoy Christmas more than I did when I was a child. My faith demands that such be the case. The more mature I become the more I need to embrace the joys of the incarnation. The more mature I become, the more I need to be but a child.   – G. K. Chesterton Experience the warmth of Christmas through the winsome wit and wisdom of beloved writer G. K. Chesterton. This devotional—perfect for the Christmas season—includes selections of Chesterton’s writings, accompanied with commentary, Scripture readings, and reflections. Be encouraged by Chesterton’s insight, charmed by the Victorian-inspired artwork, and delighted by the traditional English recipes. Make Chesterton’s poetry, short stories, and essays a part of your Christmas tradition! A festive celebration of childlike wonder, the beautifully illustrated Winter Fire is a unique and meaningful gift.  

Genres: Christmas, Christian, Devotional, Nonfiction, Classics, Holiday, Religion

240 pages, Hardcover

Published August 1, 2023

About the author

RYAN WHITAKER SMITH is an author and filmmaker from Nashville, Tennessee. His film projects include the romantic drama Surprised by Oxford, based on the award winning memoir by Carolyn Weber, the Lionsgate documentary The Jesus Music, and a forthcoming adaptation of G. K. Chesterton's comic adventure The Ball and the Cross. He is coauthor, with Dan Wilt, of Sheltering Mercy and Endless Grace, two collections of prayers inspired by the Psalms.

Reviews

[Cindy Rollins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this book, both the Chesterton excerpts and the author’s insights. It was a real encouragement to revel at Christmas!

Of course, I abhorred the questions at the end of each chapter, but I will give the author the benefit of the doubt and blame the publisher.

[Chautona Havig · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first, I was disappointed to discover that much of the G.K. Chesterton stuff (in the advent portion) was just a quote that Whitaker expounded on. However, I did enjoy the readings. And when I got to the end and read whole Chesterton essays, I was really glad Whitaker set this up the way he did. Some of those essays were a bit hard to follow (they feel a bit rambly to me). So having someone take the time to pull out the best nuggets and expound on those... lovely.

[Eliot DeLorme · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas time with Chesterton! Can’t get much better than that. This is my favorite Advent/Christmas book to date. It includes 30 daily readings, essays and poems by Chesterton and classic Christmas games and recipes in the back. My wife and I throughly enjoyed it and the conversation that it fostered.

[London Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful little book. This is now a part of my holiday traditions. It has helped me appreciate the true reason for this season all the more.

Merry Christmas to you all! Please buy and enjoy!

[Daniel Allgäuer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful way to engage with Christmas; Chesterton will cause you to ponder deep insights, while simultaneously rousing the spirit of festivity and childhood. I will definitely be reading this again.

[Celeste · Rating 5 out of 5]

Winter Fire is one of the most impactful and beautifully crafted Advent devotionals I’ve had the pleasure of reading. This book highlights many of Chesterton’s musings about the Christmas season, about the traditions we have and how no amount of “progress” should ever impede our celebration of this miraculous day when Heaven met Earth, when the fingers that fashioned the stars were humbly housed in infant flesh. Smith does a wonderful job fleshing out these snippets of Chesterton’s thoughts and weaving them into lovely devotions. I admire the respect he paid Chesterton’s words; this felt like a book by Chesterton, not merely about him, in spite of the fact that much of the devotional content was penned by Smith.

The first half of the book is a 30 day devotional journey. The back half of the book is a collection of Chesterton’s essays, poems, and short stories revolving around Christmas, as well as some traditional Christmas games and recipes. It’s a really charming selection. And as an object, this is one of the prettiest books in my library. There so many beautiful illustrations of classic Christmas art, some of which are used as watermarks at the end of chapters. I also loved that the paper was a deeper cream than you generally find in books, giving it an antique feel. Moody Publishers always crafts their physical books with so much thought and love!

I will absolutely be rereading this in the future, and will likely be revisiting it every Advent. Every element of it was just wonderful, inside and out!

[Anjanette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bumped to four stars for the layout, and the historical Christmas content in the last half.

[Abigail Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this. I didn’t really take the time to think deeply about the questions at the end of each daily devotional—I think I could have benefitted more if I had done that. This was a nice introduction to more of Chesterton’s writing for me. Perhaps I will try to engage with him some more next year.

[Kate Willis]

I enjoyed the daily readings, especially the thoughts from Chesterton. I'm saving the miscellaneous section for next Christmas.

[Cathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed my mornings with Chesterton’s wisdom and humor about the Christmas season this Advent. The book was a lovely experience with the drop-caps and vintage images. The format of the devotions was a little Chesterton, some explanation, Bible verse, and reflective questions. I’d definitely recommend.

[BrontëKas · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Fortunately, however, being happy is not so important as having a jolly time. Philosophers are happy; saints have a jolly time.”

I loved this one! Winter Fire is a collection of all GK Chesterton’s writings on Christmas. The first half is organized as a devotional and the second half contains Chesterton’s essays and poems about Christmas as well as popular recipes and Christmas traditions of his time. It is a very beautiful book. And incredibly helpful. Chesterton (with the help of Ryan Whitaker Smith) pointed me to Jesus and all the joy and revelry of the festive season. Celebrate big because we have a big God. Winter Fire is an enchanting read and one I will revisit in years to come.

“God turned back eternity and was young,
Ancient of Days, grown little for your mirth.”

[Paige Redwine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This lovely book collects various Chesterton writings in a mix of daily readings, poems, essays, short stories, recipes, and games for Christmas. G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936) was an Englishman who wrote widely and prolifically. This is the first time I've read any of his work. I enjoyed the daily readings and looked forward to them each morning for Advent. The poems and essays were much harder to comprehend. I recommend the physical book over a Kindle version because of the art work.

[Ashley]

This is a very unique Advent read! My entire family enjoyed it, and it left us with things to ponder daily. Chesterton's mind is a wild and delightful ride!

[Phil Cotnoir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent and beautiful book with selections from Chesterton's famous Christmas-themed writings. The author adds many good explanations and expanded reflections based on the quotes.

(I read the whole book in 2023 or 2024 but just the Chesterton quotes in 2025.)

[Jamie Jeffers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book, breaks Chesterton down into manageable chunks that you can truly ponder throughout Advent and Christmas.

[Logan Thune · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a big fan of this book.

[Luisa Knight]

Well, I got through more of the book this year than I did last year. 😂 So next year I’ll still have more new things to read. ❤️

I have really liked what I’ve read thus far! Great thoughts and insights that I mulled over all throughout the month.

[Jeremy Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rich and rewarding companion to Christmastide!

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend gifted this book to us this advent season and it’s hard to even put into words how wonderful and transformative it was for my husband and I! It caused us to slow down, to cherish the wonder and beauty and magic of Christ + His world this Christmas, and really made us see advent and Christmas time in a different light. It changed the way we approached and celebrated this season and we started new to us traditions that were full of meaning and ones we’ll most likely do every Christmas ❤️ this book is such a precious gem!

[Hope]

3.5 stars

I enjoyed these daily advent readings taken from Chesterton's writings on Christmas. (If you are not accustomed to G.K.'s quirky humor, you may be a little confused by some of his declarations.) Many of the daily title were a delight in themselves. One such title was "In Celebration of the Utter Unsuitability of Christmas to the Modern World" and here is a brief paragraph from that section:

"Christmas is gloriously out of step with the times, for it outlasts the times. It champions obscurity over visibility. Humility over hubris. Divine mercy over human effort. Today, let us raise our glasses and our voices and our trees and our stockings in honor of the glorious unsuitability of Christmas. Let us savor the sheer irrationality of it. Shout with joy at the blatant absurdity of it. Like all that is of God, it is blasphemy to the narcissist. An insult to the hedonist. A farce to the self-consumed. Hallelujah.... Christmas is utterly unsuitable to the modern world, which makes it utterly indispensable to the Church."

[Isabelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A guide through advent that made me laugh and cry. Trickled into many conversations and spurred new thoughts on the incarnation (truly crazy that God became man, but not just any man, a little baby). I love the encouragement to revel in Christmas like a child with feasts and games. Christmas is know for magic and with Jesus this awe and wonder should only grow as we age.

Gk chesterton is a magnificent thinker. Can’t wait to read more of him, but thankful for this starter book. Each day starts with a quote from him on Christmas. Then, the author gives context and further thoughts to help understand the often heady Chesterton.

“Outrunning the fall of man is the fall of God”

[Dino Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will revisit this every year!
Christmas is a season to remember the ultimate joy. Let’s hold onto that all year long.

“For God’s sake, may we be jolly.”


“If Christmas is a failure, it is a thriving failure. If it is dead, it is only for a moment. It will rise again, like a phoenix from the ashes— for it has a God who knows the way out of the grave. The sun, for a time, might be obscured by cloud and rain-but it is still in the sky. Whatever the future holds, we can be assured that Christmas will endure.”

[Abby Deer · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most delightful advent books I’ve ever read. Chesterton’s deeply thoughtful and winsome attitudes towards Christmas really helped shape how I experienced the advent season this year! Highly recommend.

[Shea Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anything Chesterton is simply wonderful. I didn't read 100% of this book but I will return to it each year I am sure.

Includes full poems and essays by Gilbert, Advent devotionals based on Chesterton writing and old games and recipes for a traditional Christmas.
Beautifully made book!

[Trace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this Advent devotional!

[Kyle Grindberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just wonderful, I will be using this Advent reading schedule in the future

[Rebekah Alvarez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a delightful companion for my advent season. The book itself is beautifully designed with the gilt-lettered cover and colored, vintage illustrations throughout. Having not read much of Chesterton myself but appreciating how widely quoted he is in my literary circles, I was eager to read more from him.

Each reading begins with a quote from Chesterton followed by commentary from Whitaker, and I must say I enjoyed the commentary as much as the quotes. I like that Whitaker included a section of the full essays from which those quotes were drawn. Some of the scripture verses at the end of each reading were taken out of context (as unfortunately many verses in devotionals are), and the reflection questions felt mostly contrived and unnecessary. That said, a few of the questions did give me pause and caused me to reflect deeply on my family’s traditions, even implementing some changes that turned out to enhance our Christmas experience this year. I look forward to revisiting this book many times in the coming years.

[Will Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

As an Advent devotional, some of Chesterton's included entries were very insightful. As well, sometimes the daily questions and Scripture passages complemented one another nicely. Other times Chesterton's writings, even with Smith's explanations, were quite cryptic and abstract, seemingly untethered to anything tangible. Often times such excerpts from Chesterton, the included Scripture passage, and the reflection questions were not at all connected with each other thematically, giving a very disjointed and incoherent daily reading. But as far as Advent devotionals go, this work cannot be said to be cheesy and fluffy in its content. When Chesterton hits the mark, he really hits the mark.

[Emmy Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic! Loved it.

[Anna Kilpatrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a delightful and powerful read! This book includes 30 days worth of advent reflections based on writings of Chesterton as well as poetry, essays, short stories and even a few recipes by him surrounding the topic of Christmas. A perfect read alongside A Christmas Carol to reflect on the spirit and season of Christmas. He is such a witty, intelligent, and profound writer. The kind you must read over again as you’re sure not to get the full meaning the first time through.

“[Children] have the serious and even solemn sense of the great truth; that Christmas is a time when things happen; things that do not always happen.”

“…Christmas will always deal with a reality exactly as Shakespeare’s poetry deals with an unreality; will give, not to airy nothing, but to the enormous and overwhelming everything, a local habitation and a Name.”

“The object of a New Year is not that we should have a new year. It is that we should have a new soul and a new nose; new feet, a new backbone, new ears, and new eyes.”