Holiday Classics

Twenty stories were originally published in the Christmas editions of the magazines “Household Words” and “All The Year Round”. Some of the stories have little holiday sentiment and exhibit much of the indignation Dickens felt at the social and economic injustices of his day. Some of the stories were written in collaboration with other authors.

Christmas may come but once a year but human emotions, the driving force of our characters, are with us every day. Yet, somehow these same emotions when they happen at Christmas seem amplified; we seem more tender to their touch, their words. Whether it’s a long-lost returning soldier wondering how best to return to the arms of his family without too great a risk of shock... Or a prodigal son whose taken path has driven pain into his own and others hearts… These stories reveal much about the human condition.

This is a story of a family in crisis, and the only thing that will save them is Mars' plan for rekindling memories of the joy, love, and peace they shared following her grandmother's Christmas tradition.

Will Richard and Clara defeat an army of monster mice? Enjoy this thrilling holiday tale of toys and sweets come to life under the direction of a magician uncle and a fairy in a snowy winter wonderland. Learn the traditional story as a companion to the ballet, or read just for the fun of this enchanting retelling with all the family love, romance and memories of a magical Christmas Eve.

This quintessential Christmas tale shows Dickens at his dazzling and provocative best, leaving Scrooge no doubts about the true spirit of Christmas, nor about the perils of ignoring the insistent ghosts of Christmases Past, Present...and Yet to Come.

On New Year’s Eve, a small, poor girl walks in the darkness and cold trying to sell her matches. Hungry and frozen, she curls up in a nook and lights her matches in search for warmth. Looking into the glow of the matches, she is transported far, far away from the hunger and the cold.

The Fernalds are an elderly couple, alone now that their children are grown and, mostly, married. But one of their sons realizes how lonely they must be and decides to bring his family together for the holidays to surprise his parents. First published in 1908, this short novel was followed by a sequel, On Christmas Day in the Evening, in 1910.

A Rocky Bleier Christmas is a collection of five classic Christmas stories for you and the entire family to enjoy. The collection includes an introduction by NFL legend Rocky Bleier. The delightful Christmas stories are: “A Christmas Dream and How it Came True” written by Louisa May Alcott, “Yes, Virginia There is a Santa Clause” by Francis Church, “Twas the Night Before Christmas” by Clement Clarke Moore, “Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost, and “The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry.

Included are a dozen classic sweet stories about Santa Claus and Christmas to delight young and old alike. You might just learn something about "The Jolly Old Elf" that you didn't know before.

Эрнст Теодор Амадей Гофман (1776 - 1822) - немецкий писатель, композитор и художник романтического направления. Всемирную славу снискал как автор повествований, где мистика сочетается с реальностью. Фантастика Гофмана произрастает из самых обыденных мелочей, из простых вещей.

This collection of short stories by notable Australian author Mary Grant Bruce (1878-1958) reflects on Australian experiences of summertime. Infused with the smells, sounds, and textures of Australian life during the Christmas season, these stories also highlight the strengths and yearnings of their characters.

Jon Tunstall is an apprentice to the wizard Artax, the owner of the wandering magic shop Spells 4 U. In the midst of the bustling Winter Solstice shopping season, Jon's routine is interrupted by the arrival of Esmeralda, a beautiful and powerful wizard. Esme and Artax have a tumultuous history together, but Esme hopes she can convince the elder wizard to help her with an important personal problem. Caught between two temperamental and headstrong wizards, it might be Jon who holds the solution to Esme's difficulties - and to the rift that has grown between them.

Dreimal erhält Ebenezer Scrooge an Heiligabend Besuch von einem Geist - und dreimal wird dem Kaufmann vor Augen geführt, wie sehr Raffgier, Kaltherzigkeit und Einsamkeit sein Leben beherrschen. Doch glücklicherweise wird alles, was Scrooge im Verlauf jener Nacht an der Seite seiner überirdischen Besucher erlebt, ihn zu einem besseren Menschen machen. So entdeckt auch er sein Herz... Charles Dickens' Weihnachtsklassiker erzählt von einer wundersamen Wandlung und gehört fest zur Weihnachtszeit.

Corduroy is excited to celebrate Christmas! To get ready, he decorates his tree, bakes cookies, and wraps presents. When the snow starts falling on Christmas Eve, Corduroy hangs up his stocking and leaves a note for Santa. Merry Christmas, Corduroy!

Here is a charming Christmas tale about a young woman staying with her aunt in rural New England. When Sophie invites her high-society friends to visit her and Aunt Pemy, they quickly - and much to their delight - discover that there's much more to country life than they had ever imagined.

This is a SoundCraft Audiobooks production - enhanced with music and sound effects - of perhaps the most beloved Christmas book of all time, Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. It tells the story of the miserly and miserable Ebenezer Scrooge, who is given one, final chance at redemption on Christmas Eve when he is visited by the ghost of his deceased business partner, Jacob Marley. Scrooge is guided by three Spirits - of Christmas Past, Present and Future - who show the old miser the error of his ways.

El día de su cumpleaños, un niño recibe una caja con veinticinco soldaditos de plomo. Uno de ellos tiene solamente una pierna, pues al fundirlos había sido el último y no había habido suficiente plomo para terminarlo. Cerca del soldadito se encuentra una hermosa bailarina hecha de papel con una cinta azul anudada en el hombro y adornada con una lentejuela. Ella, como él, se detiene sobre una sola pierna, y el soldadito se enamora de ella.

Úrval dásamlegra jólaævintýra eftir hinn ástsæla höfund Hans Christian Andersen sem gaman er að njóta á notalegum vetrarkvöldum. Láttu hrífast með inn í töfraveröld eins rómaðasta ævintýraskálds allra tíma. Enn í dag, næstum því tveimur öldum eftir að þau birtust fyrst á prenti, segja hin sígildu ævintýri H.C. Andersen okkur ótal dæmisögur um hið góða og hið illa, um ástina og sorgina, um þrautseigju í erfiðum aðstæðum. Ævintýrin höfða vel til barna, en veita fullorðnum lesendum einnig margt að hugsa um!

Grab a cup of cocoa and listen to this heartwarming, hilarious tale of a young couple who desperately want to get each other the "perfect" Christmas gift.

The Christmas Banquet mentioned in the title is an annual feast, funded by an old misanthrope, in which the 10 most miserable people who can be found are gathered together for the holiday. Each year the guests chosen are different, but Gervaise Hastings, a man unafflicted by any obvious misfortune, is included year after year.