Giveaway: Penguin Christmas Classics

Summary: First published on December 19, 1843, A Christmas Carol was an instant classic: Londoners thronged to hear Dickens read it in person and bought out the first printing in days. Its reception was so ecstatic that it is credited with helping to revive interest among the Victorians in Christmas traditions, including caroling and holiday cards, as well as inciting an unexpected wave of charitable giving from Britain’s Industrial Age robber barons. Originally conceived as a pamphlet against exploitative capitalism before taking its current form, it has inspired dozens of theatrical and movie adaptions, and its characters, from Scrooge to Tiny Tim, are forever inscribed in our hearts and minds. -- Christmas Classics

Summary: Christmas at Thompson Hall brings together the best of the Christmas stories of Anthony Trollope, one of the most successful, prolific, and respected English novelists of the nineteenth century. Characterized by insightful, psychologically rich, and sometimes wryly humorous depictions of the middle class and gentry of Victorian England—and inspired occasionally by missives in the “lost letter” box of the provincial post office that Trollope ran—these tales helped to enshrine the traditions of the decorated Christmas tree, the holiday turkey, and the giving of store-bought gifts. Today, they open a window onto a time when carolers filled the streets and each house’s door displayed a wreath of evergreen boughs, a time at once distant and yet startlingly familiar.-- Christmas Classics

Summary: A Merry Christmas collects the treasured holiday tales of Louisa May Alcott, from the dearly familiar Yuletide benevolence of Marmee and her “little women” to the timeless “What Love Can Do,” wherein the residents of a boarding house come together to make a lovely Christmas for two poor girls. Wildly popular at the time of their publication—readers deluged Alcott with letters demanding sequels—and drawing on Alcott’s family and experiences in the abolitionist and women’s suffrage movements, these stories have the authentic texture and detail of Christmas in nineteenth-century America, while their emphasis on generosity and charity make them timeless embodiments of the Christmas spirit. -- Christmas Classics

Summary: Written in 1831 by the father of Russian literature, this uproarious tale tells of the blacksmith Vakula’s battle with the devil, who has stolen the moon and hidden it in his pocket, allowing him to wreak havoc on the village of Dikanka. Both the devil and Vakula are in love with Oksana, the most beautiful girl in Dikanka. Vakula is determined to win her over; the devil, equally determined, unleashes a snowstorm to thwart Vakula’s efforts. Zany and mischievous, and drawing inspiration from the folk tales of Gogol’s far-flung village in Ukraine, The Night Before Christmas is the basis for many movie and opera adaptations, and is still read aloud to children on Christmas Eve in Ukraine and Russia. -- Christmas Classics

Summary:Written in 1816 by one of the leaders of German Romanticism for his children, nephews, and nieces, The Nutcracker captures better than any other story a child’s wonder at Christmas. The gift of a handsomely decorated nutcracker from a mysterious uncle sets the stage for a Christmas Eve like no other for the little girl Marie. That night, Marie’s extraordinary present comes to life, defends her from the taunting Mouse King, and whisks her off to the Kingdom of Dolls. The inspiration for the classic ballet, E. T. A. Hoffmann’s irresistible tale of magic and childhood adventure continues to captivate readers of all ages. Today, many of the most enchanting symbols of Christmas, from nutcrackers to sugar plums to mistletoe, are still imbued with the power of this story. -- Christmas Classics

It beginning to look a lot like Christmas here at Booking Mama! I am definitely in the Christmas mood! My shopping and decorating are done, and I've been busy making sequin ornaments all weekend. I'm also in the mood to start reading some Christmas stories. Fortunately, Penguin has released five amazing books this fall as part of their Christmas Classics series that are perfect for this time of year!

The Penguin Christmas Classics series features a combination of the world’s most cherished Christmas stories including A CHRISTMAS CAROL by Charles Dickens, CHRISTMAS AT THOMPSON HALL: AND OTHER CHRISTMAS STORIES by Anthony Trollope, A MERRY CHRISTMAS: AND OTHER CHRISTMAS STORIES by Louisa May Alcott, THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS by Nikolai Gogol, and THE NUTCRACKER by E.T.A. Hoffmann. These stories are truly classics, and I'm excited (and a little embarrassed) to say that I haven't read most of them.

These books aren't only some of the greatest Christmas stories ever written, but they are also beautiful! These books have foil-stamped jackets, decorative endpapers, and nameplates for personalization; and each book features a different scene of a cardinal in a tree. They come in a small trim size that makes them perfect for stocking stuffer gifts too.

And now I want to share my Christmas spirit with all of you! Thanks to the wonderful folks at Penguin, I have a terrific giveaway for a set of Penguin Christmas Classics. To enter, just fill out the form below before December 9th at 11:59 p.m. EST. I will randomly select and notify the winner the following day. This contest is open to those of you with U.S. address only. Good luck!