American Christmas Stories

Praise

“Willis, a writer of science fiction, has chosen 59 stories spanning 150 years and representing a range of styles and genres, from ghost stories to westerns, to show the spirit and evolution of the holiday.” —New York Times, New & Noteworthy

“Does not expire 12/26: My problem with Christmas-themed Christmas presents is they look tired within 24 hours. “American Christmas Stories” ($30) explodes that idea thoroughly. Compiled by Library of America, it’s got memoir, sci-fi, crime — an expansive take on how Christmas can come across. More important, it’s got variety — Ray Bradbury, Sandra Cisneros, Ben Hecht, Gene Wolfe, Nathan Englander, W.E.B. Du Bois, and other authors not associated with holiday classics.”
— Chicago Tribune, Best Gift Books to Give 2021

“For more examples of how miraculously flexible the holiday genre can be, check out “American Christmas Stories” from the Library of America (review). This handsome new anthology contains stories by Louisa May Alcott, Langston Hughes, Amy Tan and dozens more. Science fiction writer Connie Willis, who edited the collection, explains the circuitous development of the Christmas spirit in America and concedes that by the early 20th century most of our Christmas stories “were truly awful.” This anthology offers redemption.” — Ron Charles, Washington Post

“It is a trove of treasures, many long-forgotten, and an elegant addition to the Library of America’s series of authoritative American texts. Over time, I imagine many readers will incorporate some of these stories into their yearly Christmas traditions. Who knows? Some may even do what I did this year, and dip into it during Chanukah.” — Jeff Jacoby, Boston Globe