What a treat to have this collection of short stories available for the first time in English. Although the title suggests Christmas, some of the stories are closely linked to that theme and some are more for Winter, it’s a beautiful mix but with an underlying melancholy woven through, more of a gothic theme. The themes of the stories will seem dated (hopefully!) to many readers and very clearly show a sign of the times that Selma was writing in (early 1900s). Some of the traditions that we continue with today, or borrow from other cultures and countries, are also explored – such as the giving of books on Christmas Eve. Light the candles, warm a drink and settle down with this book to be transported back to a very different time.
About the Book
‘But what shall I do on Christmas night if nobody has given me a book?’
A little girl receives a gift to treasure; the creatures of the forest gather to celebrate the New Year; an evil noblewoman schemes against her beautiful niece; a cantankerous gravedigger dines with an unexpected companion on Christmas Eve…
In this enchanting selection of winter stories, now available in English for the first time, the beloved writer Selma Lagerlöf weaves together magic and miracles, Swedish folklore and timeless fables, darkness and light, heartfelt joy and festive wonder.
About The Author
Selma Lagerlöf (1858-1940) was a teacher in a girls’ secondary school before she became a full-time writer. She is known around the world for her classic children’s book The Wonderful Adventure of Nils Holgersson and she was the first female writer to win the Nobel Prize in 1909.
[Photo from the Novel Foundation Archive]
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