Holiday Classics

Much like The Stories Behind The Best-Loved Songs Of Christmas, The Stories Behind The Great Traditions of Christmas and More Stories Behind The Best Loved Songs of Christmas this new Collins Christmas book will fill a void in the book world.

Truman Capote makes whisky-soaked fruitcake in Alabama; Laurie Lee slides across a frozen pond in Gloucestershire; and Shirley Jackson is outwitted by a wily Santa Claus at the bank. Ghosts haunt the Christmases of Muriel Spark and Elizabeth Bowen, while Dostoyevsky, Daphne du Maurier and Italo Calvino take a cynical view of the season and Selma Lagerlof and Angela Carter celebrate its miracles. Ranging from Cork to Lagos to the Wild West, and from Paris to San Paolo to outer space, this is Christmas as imagined by some of the greatest short-story writers of all time.

Do you believe in Santa Claus? You will after you've experienced this magical Christmas classic that pits cynics against Santa-believers. Miracle on 34th Street begins when a last-minute replacement in the annual Thanksgiving Day Parade claims to be the genuine Santa. Is he the real thing or just a charlatan in a red fuzzy coat? In a classic courtroom climax, the department store's Kris Kringle must convince everyone, including a skeptical little girl named Susan Walker, that Santa Claus really does exist.

When James wakes to see snow falling one December morning, he is delighted and rushes outside to make a snowman. With coal eyes, an old green hat and scarf and a tangerine nose, he is perfect and James can hardly bear to go inside and leave him. In the middle of the night, he wakes and creeps out to see his snowman again - and to his amazement, the snowman comes to life.... This special tale of true Christmas magic will bring everyone's favourite childhood festive character to a brand-new audience.

El Regalo de los Reyes Magos es una tierna historia de amor e ironía navideña. En ella, una pareja joven y empobrecida, Della y Jim, desean fervientemente comprar regalos perfectos el uno para el otro. En un giro conmovedor del destino, Della vende su hermosa cabellera para comprar una cadena para el reloj de Jim, mientras él vende su preciado reloj para comprar peinetas para el pelo de Della.

Experience the timeless magic of A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens’ beloved tale of redemption, compassion, and the true spirit of the holiday season. Follow the journey of Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserly and cold-hearted man, as he is visited by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come. Through these spectral encounters, Scrooge discovers the joy of generosity, the warmth of human connection, and the power of transformation.

The holiday season is a vibrant tapestry of joy, laughter, and connection, where every gathering becomes a cherished memory. The spirit of celebration transcends mere festivities; it’s an invitation to embrace warmth, togetherness, and the beauty of shared experiences. As we gather around the table with family and friends, the clinking of glasses and the aroma of delightful beverages fill the air, creating an atmosphere ripe for joy.

This is the original classic story of Bram Stoker's undead monster. It has influenced Western portrayals (including Buffy and Angel) of vampires and vampirism for nearly a century. Even after all this time, Bram Stoker's Dracula remains the undisputed masterpiece of horror writing.

Publicado por primera vez en 1823, Era La Noche Antes de Navidad, escrito por Clement Clarke Moore ha deleitado a los niños y a las familias durante generaciones. Este nostálgico, poema de rima describe elocuentemente a Papá Noel y cómo él entrega regalos a los niños dormidos, mientras que su padre se despierta para escuchar estrépitos en el jardín.

Parents love to read children a bedtime story that describes a faraway land or a fantastic character. What is that parent doing? They’re shifting their child’s focus from the activity of the day into a more relaxed state. They are refocusing their child’s brain. And it works! Because every night all over the world parents use this technique to help their children fall asleep. Even though you are an adult, you can benefit from bedtime stories too.

From Alex T. Smith, bestselling author of the Claude series and How Winston Delivered Christmas, comes a fantastically festive Christmas adventure about a gorgeous grumpy character. Inspired by The Krampus and with a hint of The Grinch, The Grumpus is a heartwarming story that celebrates the...

"Les Contes de Noël" recueille quatre des contes les plus connus d'Andersen : "La Petite Fille aux allumettes", "La Petite Poucette", "Le Vilain Petit Canard", et "L'Intrépide soldat de plomb". Hans Christian Andersen naquît en 1805 à Odense au Danemark. Fils de cordonnier, il partit à quatorze ans pour Copenhague suivant la mort de son père. Et c'est là que la célèbre histoire commence. Au cours de sa vie, Andersen écrivit plus de 150 contes. Il entreprit en tout trente voyages vers l'Allemagne, le Royaume-Uni, l'Italie, l'Espagne et l'Empire Ottoman.

Unable at first to find a publisher for his evocative tale about a man named George Pratt who ponders suicide until he receives an opportunity to see what the world would be like without him, Stern ultimately published the story in a small pamphlet and sent it out as his 1943 Christmas card. One of those 200 cards found its way into the hands of Frank Capra, who shared it with Jimmy Stewart, and the film that resulted became the holiday tradition we cherish today.

Eight-year-old Elsie Dinsmore is enjoying a blissful Christmas holiday season with her family and friends when a crisis arises that threatens life as she knows it. She believes that obeying a request her father has made would violate her conscience, and she must refuse him. He, in turn, believes Elsie is being willful and disobedient, and he fails to see her refusal as a matter of her deep, abiding faith in God.

An illuminating reading of the greatest Christmas classic ever written: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Narrated by Chandler Craig.

Il Canto di Natale è uno dei racconti più celebri di Dickens e uno dei più famosi dedicati a quella che è la ricorrenza dei buoni sentimenti per eccellenza...

Christmas is coming and Marty and his rescued pup, Shiloh, are sure glad about that - for their town is low on love and understanding, and they hope that the joy of the holiday will bring with it the generosity of spirit that's so lacking. It's been a year since Marty Preston rescued Shiloh from Judd Travers and his cruel ways, and since then, Marty and Shiloh have been inseparable. Anywhere Marty goes, the beagle's at his side, and Marty couldn't be happier about that. Even Judd has been working to improve his reputation.

Au soir du nouvel an, une pauvre petite fille, transie de froid sous la neige, essaye de vendre des allumettes... Publié la première fois en 1845, ce conte est une magnifique métaphore de la brièveté de la vie terrestre.

Experience the magic of the holiday season with the timeless classic, "'Twas the Night Before Christmas," brought to life by the warm and engaging narration of Jim Hanemaayer. This beloved poem, originally published in the early 19th century, has become a cherished part of Christmas tradition, delighting children and adults alike with its enchanting depiction of Santa Claus and his magical sleigh.

O. Henry wrote many stories, but this, the story of two "ultimate gifts", is his most famous.