The Night Before Christmas brought forth some of our earliest Christmas traditions as passed down through folk tales.

The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus created the origin story for the presiding spirit of Christmas as we know it. The holiday tales of Louisa May Alcott shaped the ideal of an American Christmas. The Yuletide yarns of Anthony Trollope popularized throughout the British Empire and around the world the trappings of Christmas in London. A Christmas Carol revived in Victorian England such Christmas hallmarks as the Christmas tree, holiday cards, and caroling. The six volumes in the series are not only our most beloved Christmas tales, they also have given us much of what we love about the holiday itself. Penguin Christmas Classics honor the power of literature to keep on giving through the ages. Give the gift of literature this Christmas.

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. Hoffmann’s irresistible tale of magic and childhood adventure continues to captivate readers of all ages. The inspiration for the classic ballet, E. 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. 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.

One of six beloved Christmas classics in collectible hardcover editions

Nutcracker by E.T.A. Hoffmann