Christmas Gems

Christmas in Literature

There are a number of books that have become firm Christmas favourites.  Some have Christmas as the main theme, such as ‘A Christmas Carol’ by Charles Dickens, but there are also many books that include a chapter or two set over Christmas or during the Christmas Holidays.  Below are some of my favourites:

'Emma' by Jane Austen

Anyone who has read this book will never forget Mr Elton's unfortunate proposal on the journey home from the Christmas party at Randells.  Emma Woodhouse fancies herself as a wonderful matchmaker and has decided to pair off the single vicar, Mr Elton, with her friend Harriet Smith.  Mr Elton, being an early 19th century version of the social climber, has set his sights much higher and wishes to pay court to Miss Woodhouse herself.  As Harriet Smith is an orphan of unknown parentage, Mr Elton is grossly offended that Miss Woodhouse should imagine that he would stoop so low.  Miss Woodhouse, in turn, is offended that Mr Elton should presume to address her.  The whole thing comes to a head on the journey back home from the Christmas party at Randells where, due to a mix-up, Emma finds herself alone in the carriage with Mr Elton, who's had a few at the party and decides it's now or never:  read on

'The Pickwick Papers' by Charles Dickens

There is a wonderful description of Christmas at Dingly Dell Farm, where Mr Pickwick and his friends are guests.  From the journey on the coach to the food and after dinner walk we are transported into a Victorian Christmas.  Their host Mr Wardle decides it would be fun to go ice skating and Mr Pickwick immediately puts forward his friend Mr Winkle, who fancies himself as the sportsman of the party - a reputation ill deserved as he is hopeless at just about all sports.  Two trainee surgeons, Mr Benjamin Allen und Mr Bob Sawyer are also of the party.  The unfortunate Mr Winkle will have to don the skates and have a go:  read on

'Diary of Samuel Pepys'

In the late 20th and early 21st Century Christmas has been commercialised to the nth degree and it's difficult to imagine how much further we can take it along that road.  We spend more and more money on presents and entertainment but in return we seem to have lost some of the magic and the atmosphere.  Here are a couple of extracts from the diary of Samuel Pepys, written in the 1660s.  Although Christmas Day was marked as a special day, the celebrations were low key and did centre largely around the Church service and the dinner, which was often taken at home with the immediate family.  read on

'Cider with Rosie' - by Laurie Lee

Laurie Lee's description of his childhood in Gloucestershire is an absolute delight.  Although this was a poor, single parent family, living among other poor people in the village, the chapter about the children going carol singing in the run-up to Christmas is one of the most perfect Christmas stories in literature.  Stripped of all material things we are left with the atmoshpere of Christmas and a faint echo of what the shepherds might have experienced over 2000 ago.  read on