Christmas/Wintry Short Stories?

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pete9012S
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Christmas/Wintry Short Stories?

Post by pete9012S »

Can anyone recommend any good Christmas/Wintry short stories?

They don't have to be short,but I am going to try and read all that's suggested and I don't want to be here till the spring!

Nigel's 'The Signalman' is a good one I think I will re read.

http://www.eastoftheweb.com/short-stori ... Line.shtml" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


This time of the year always reminds me of 'The Little Match Girl' which I think was the very first story that made me cry when I was in the infants... :cry:

http://www.englishcaddy.org/short%20sto ... 20girl.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

What else would be fitting at this time??
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Re: Christmas/Wintry Short Stories?

Post by Courtenay »

pete9012S wrote: This time of the year always reminds me of 'The Little Match Girl' which I think was the very first story that made me cry when I was in the infants... :cry:
Awwwww :wink:

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is the obvious one - he wrote several other Christmassy short stories as well, though they haven't gained the same fame. There are several film versions too, of course.

The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey is a picture book, but beautifully illustrated, and with a heartwarming (if rather sentimental) story.

Not sure I can think of any others that I know well enough to recommend... The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe features lots of snow and a cameo appearance from Father Christmas, but isn't really a short story!

Oh yes, of course - not to forget...

Image

:mrgreen:
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Re: Christmas/Wintry Short Stories?

Post by Kate Mary »

One of my favourite Christmas short stories is Village Christmas by Miss Read. It is the literary equivalent of tea and hot crumpets on a winters evening. A lovely tale of seasonal goodwill. Even better but longer (a short novel) is The Christmas Mouse by the same author. A story of a real old fashioned Christmas.
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Re: Christmas/Wintry Short Stories?

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

The Tailor of Gloucester by Beatrix Potter is a lovely read, with gorgeous illustrations.
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Re: Christmas/Wintry Short Stories?

Post by Rob Houghton »

I was going to recommend Village Christmas by Miss Read...but I see Kate Mary beat me to it - a very good choice! A good Enid Blyton story to read at Christmas is 'A Week Before Christmas' - one of my favourite EB Christmas short stories. It was originally published in 'Enid Blyton's Treasury' in 1947 but I notice it's been republished as recently as this year, in Enid Blyton's Christmas Stories. The original version, with drawings by HM Brock is by far the best though. It's a great heart warming family story. Amazingly, from what I can see on Amazon, the story is reprinted in the 2014 'Christmas Stories' book in it's original form (minus the illustrations!). 8)
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'

(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)



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Re: Christmas/Wintry Short Stories?

Post by walter raleigh »

It's not a short story, but John Masefield's "Box Of Delights" is a wonderful book to read at this time of year and it isn't that long. Of course you could always check out Poppy's blog for ideas. She's going to be recommending a Christmas tale every day through December I believe.
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Re: Christmas/Wintry Short Stories?

Post by Farwa »

Well, in Enid Blyton's short stories, I would recommend "A Christmas Wish", "Christmas in a Toyshop", and "The Christmas Party"- they are all featured in Enid's book, "The Enchanted Shoes and other stories" and are great to read - I especially like the first two.
If you've read them already, well, I say they are worth a reread!
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Re: Christmas/Wintry Short Stories?

Post by walter raleigh »

I know this is in 'Other Authors' but as Farwa points out there are lots of Enid Blyton short stories that have a Christmas theme. This new book contains a good few, plus it seems to reprint "The Christmas Book", which I will definitely be re-reading as we get closer to the big day.
Image

Plus there's also this which looks interesting...

Image
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Re: Christmas/Wintry Short Stories?

Post by Moonraker »

Not a short story, but Hercule Poirot's Christmas is a must.
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Re: Christmas/Wintry Short Stories?

Post by pete9012S »

walter raleigh wrote:I know this is in 'Other Authors' but as Farwa points out there are lots of Enid Blyton short stories that have a Christmas theme. This new book contains a good few, plus it seems to reprint "The Christmas Book", which I will definitely be re-reading as we get closer to the big day.
Image

Plus there's also this which looks interesting...

Image
Thanks Walter. I didn't know about this book and have just bought it from amazon. :D
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Re: Christmas/Wintry Short Stories?

Post by Rob Houghton »

That's the book I mentioned which has 'A Week Before Christmas' in it. :-)
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'

(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)



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Re: Christmas/Wintry Short Stories?

Post by Rob Houghton »

walter raleigh wrote: Plus there's also this which looks interesting...

Image
That surely has to qualify for one of the worst ever depictions of the Famous Five!! :shock:
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'

(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)



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Re: Christmas/Wintry Short Stories?

Post by Poppy »

I bought a lovely treasury of Christmas stories and extracts, last year, called: Round the Christmas Fire which included the works of many famous authors including Charles Dickens, P.G.Wodehouse, E.Nesbit, and M.R.James, etc. It was a lovely festive book, which I'd highly recommend. :D
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Re: Christmas/Wintry Short Stories?

Post by burlingtonbertram »

If you like school stories try the Greyfriars Holiday Annuals (Howard Baker) featuring re-prints of vintage Greyfriars, Bill Bunter, Tom Merry (& other) stories from WW1 to the mid 20th century. I've got the ones from 1978 to 1981 - lots of text, a Christmas story as the main feature, other stories, plus various other bits and pieces. Several hours of good reading in each. I'd thoroughly recommend them and there are several currently on E-Bay for just under eight quid. A very 'Christmassy' feel as the annuals have suitably festive covers.
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Re: Christmas/Wintry Short Stories?

Post by John Pickup »

Not a short story but a great Christmas winter read is Strangers At Snowfell by Malcolm Saville.
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