Customer Reviews

The Greatest Christmas Stories of All Time: Timeless Classics That Celebrate the Season

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I bought this book in December of 2006. It was an "impulse buy" at a local retailer and I guess I forgot about it, because I was looking at the books in my small library recently, and came across this book. I began reading the stories, and was thrilled that I had bought this wonderful little treasure.

Within this book are classics that we all know and love, and there are some stories that are new or less known.

Among my favorites:

The Gift of the Magi ~ O. Henry (pg.16)
The Cobbler's Guest ~ Leo Tolstoy (pg. 24)
'Twas the Night before Christmas ~ Clement C. Moore (pg. 105)
The Little Loaf ~ (pg. 190)
Christmas Day in the Morning ~ Pearl S. Buck (pg. 255)

This book is a must have for any library, and especially for anybody looking for added Christmas spirit during the holidays. Actually, these stories would probably be of better use if shared throughout the whole year, instead of waiting until the last month of the year!

I purchased this book to help get me in the holiday mood. It did help with that. It contains 46 stories including these old favorites:
The Gift of the Magi by O.Henry
The Other Wise Man by Henry Van Dyke
Twas the Night before Christmas by Clement C. Moore
Christmas Day in the Morning by Pearl S. Buck
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Christmas at Orchard House by Louisa May Alcott
The Fir Tree as well as the Little Match Girl by Hans Christian Andersen

The rest of the stories were unknown to me. Most of them were short enjoyable reads. My favorite was Stubby Pringle's Christmas. This story about cowboy Stubby Pringle was written in a humorous style that was very enjoyable, yet touching. To see the rest of the stories in this book, click on the Look Inside icon next to the picture of the book above and check out the table of contents.

I admit, that for me the worst story in the whole book was "The Greatest Story Every Told" which is a retelling of Luke 1:1-2:40. I did not care for the way it was written. For example, this retelling of the angel's visit to the shepherds: "There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood....Suddenly, God's angel stood among them and God's glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, "Don't be afraid, I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David's town" It gets worse. There is no beauty, no joy, no wonder in the wording of this story. I am used to the beautiful words of Matthew and Luke as found in the KJV that we read to our children every year. The retelling found in "The Greatest Christmas Stories of All Time" is just horrible. Do yourself a favor and skip this version and go straight to the KJV.

I highly recommend the rest of the stories in this book.

It is a very good book, with lots of Christmas stories to share with the family at all ages.
I will recommend this book.

Great book - beautiful cover and a great collection of Christmas Stories. I have always loved "Stubby Pringle's Christmas" and this book has it!

"The Greatest Christmas Stories of All Time: Timeless Classics That Celebrate the Season" is the perfect heart warmer for a frosty winter night- a collection to be read aloud or savored quietly by the fire. It includes iconic favorites like O'Henry's "The Gift of the Magi," Hans Christian Anderson's "The Fir Tree," and Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," stories, that like a fresh snowfall, awaken our senses with gratitude.

There are 44 additional selections that will surprise and inspire readers of all persuasions. Louisa May Alcott is represented with four selections, including "Christmas at Orchard House" from "Little Women." Tolstoy's "The Cobbler's Guest" is a little treasure; and in stories by Thomas Hardy, Pearl Buck and a host of others, the magic and miracles of Christmas touch our hearts once again.

The books came in wonderful condition...I ordered them for Christmas presents and they look Brand new.