The Five Best Christmas Stories
By Matthew Gurteen
Christmas is one of the best times of the year. Some of the best stories are also set during the magical time. Whether it is the cold weather, fond memories, or moral message, Christmas attracts many writers. This article discusses the five best Christmas stories to read underneath your tree this year.
1. A Christmas Carol – Charles Dickens
Firstly, any list of Christmas stories cannot ignore Charles Dickens’ infamous novella ‘A Christmas Carol’. Telling the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a bitter old man who hates Christmas, and his encounter with three ghosts that change his mind, ‘A Christmas Carol’ has become a part of many people’s Christmas traditions. Dickens’ story has also been popular since its release in 1943. William Makepeace Thackeray, writing in Fraser’s Magazine, described the book as ‘a national benefit and to every man or woman who reads it’. With a wintry setting and message of the goodness of giving, it is easy to see why ‘A Christmas Carol’ has stood the test of time.
2. The Polar Express – Chris Van Allsburg
Jumping ahead more than a century after the publication of ‘A Christmas Carol’, many people are familiar with Chris Van Allsburg’s ‘The Polar Express’ for the film of the same name starring Tom Hanks. It was a book almost thirty years before it was animated on screen, however. Telling the magical story of a train ride to the north pole on Christmas Eve, ‘The Polar Express’ has become a classic children’s Christmas story.
3. The Father Christmas Letters – J. R. R. Tolkien
From one children’s Christmas story to another, J. R. R. Tolkien’s ‘The Father Christmas Letters’ are often overlooked when discussing the author’s work. The author of ‘Lord of the Rings’ also wrote a collection of letters for his children, though. Published in 1976 after Tolkien’s death, the letters cover several subjects, including where the northern lights come from and the Second World War.
4. How the Grinch Stole Christmas – Dr Seuss
Dr Seuss’s ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ is another classic children’s Christmas story for many, whether as a book or in its many film adaptations. Similar to ‘A Christmas Carol’, ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ tells the story of a stubborn creature who comes to appreciate Christmas in true Seuss rhyming fashion.
5. Hercule Poirot’s Christmas – Agatha Christie
The final story on this list is one for older readers. Every genre fits into Christmas, however, and Agatha Christie’s ‘Hercule Poirot’s Christmas’ proves this point. Telling the story of family murder and theft at Christmas, ‘Hercule Poirot’s Christmas’ is one of Agatha Christie’s best works of detective fiction. The novel was highly reviewed at the time and is an excellent read for anyone looking for a Christmas story this holiday season. It has also been adapted several times for television.
Have you read any of these Christmas stories? Let us know in the comments below, along with your personal favourites and recommendations for other readers.
