A Christmas reading list

The story of the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge and his transformation into a kinder man celebrates the spirit of charity and the potential for transformation in every man, however evil – two themes central to Christmas. 'A Christmas Carol' also set the template for how Christmas is celebrated even today – families gathering to eat, drink, make merry and exchange gifts.

A testimony to the enduring popularity of Dickens's novel, this is a novel about how the novel was written. Dickens is in debt and dire straits. His publishers tell him he must write a book or they'll to call in his debts. And so Dickens writes 'A Christmas Carol'; prowling the streets of London at night for inspiration, he bumps into Eleanor Lovejoy, a young woman, who becomes his muse.

A heart-warming real story about how, in 1914, soldiers in trenches along battlefields in Germany and France, stopped fighting for a day on Christmas. Overlooking the corpses and slush all around, and the biting cold, they sang carols, wished and raised toasts to each other, exchanged gifts and even played soccer with empty tin cans or sandbags.

"Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents" begins this coming-of-age classic, about the four March sisters who've become poor lately but haven't lost their spirit or generosity. Christmas, which forms the backdrop of the first chapters, emphasizes the warmth of the March family, their pleasure in small things, and in helping those poorer than oneself.

In this dark allegory, Hogfather is Santa, who gives children presents on Hogswatchnight. But the 'Auditors of Reality', a bunch of bureaucratic killjoys, want him dead and get ' Mr  Teatime' to do the deed.  Mr  Teatime hires thieves to steal Tooth Fairy's collection of teeth, which will stop children from believing in Hogfather. However, Death, disguised as Hogfather; Susan, his grand-daughter, and Billious, the 'Oh God of Hangovers' come together to rescue him.  

This book is based on a TV show. Christmas is nearing and Charlie Brown is depressed at the  commercialisation  of the festival. His friends suggest he direct a Christmas play, which requires a Christmas tree. But instead of the big shiny one his friends suggest, Charlie gets a tiny one, a real sapling. His friends laugh at him and Charlie is hurt. Will the bad feeling between friends spoil the festive spirit?  

A boy wakes up one night to find a train waiting for him. It's the Polar Express and takes him to the North Pole where he meets Santa who gives him a gift – the bell from one of his reindeer's harness. However, on the way back he  looses  the bell. Will he get it back? – read this children's classic to find out.  

A social and cultural history of the white-bearded hunk in red. Where did he come from, how did he become what he is today? – these are some of the questions it answers through meticulous research. The best part of the book are the bits of interesting trivia – did you know that Santa Clause was a brand ambassador for  Coca Cola  in the 1930s and 1940s? Or what he got for badly-behaved children – birch rods soaked in vinegar.