The Santa's Great Treasure Chest: 450+ Christmas Novels, Tales, Carols & Legends

Norwegian writer, Nobel Prize winner in 1903.

Swedish writer of fiction, Nobel Prize winner in 1909.

Charles Dickens, was the most popular English novelist of the Victorian era, and one of the most popular of all time. He created some of literature's most iconic characters, with the theme of social reform running throughout his work. The continuing popularity of his novels and short stories is such that they have never gone out of print. ([Source][1].) [1]:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Dickens

Mark Twain, born Samuel Langhorne Clemens, was a prolific American author and humorist. Twain is best known for his novels Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884), which has been called "the Great American Novel", and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876). He is extensively quoted. Twain was a friend to presidents, artists, industrialists, and European royalty. ([Source][1].) [1]:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Twain

Harriet Elisabeth Beecher Stowe (14 June 1811 – 1 July 1896) was an American author and abolitionist.

Martin Luther was a central figure in the Protestant Reformation, whose theological writings reshaped Christian thought. His works, including the influential Ninety-five Theses, are foundational to Protestantism and remain widely studied.

Robert Louis Stevenson (born Robert Lewis Balfour Stevenson; 13 November 1850 – 3 December 1894) was a Scottish novelist, essayist, poet and travel writer. He is best known for works such as Treasure Island, Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Kidnapped and A Child's Garden of Verses.

William Shakespeare (baptised 26 April 1564 – died 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and "the Bard of Avon." His surviving works comprise 38–39 plays (depending on classification), 154 sonnets, and several other poems, and have been translated into every major living language and performed more often than those of any other playw...

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was an American poet and educator. His original works include the poems "Paul Revere's Ride", "The Song of Hiawatha", and "Evangeline". He was the first American to completely translate Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy and was one of the fireside poets from New England.

Frederick Schiller Faust was born in Seattle. He was orphaned at an early age and raised in central California. He worked as a cowhand in the San Joaquin Valley, then went on to attend the University of California at Berkeley. He did not finish university, but did begin to write while there. After leaving university, he traveled, spent a year in the Canadian army, and then moved to New York City in 1916. He began writing for pulp magazines. In 1934 he started placing his fiction in slick magazin...

William Wordsworth was a major English Romantic poet who, with Samuel Taylor Coleridge, helped to launch the Romantic Age in English literature with the 1798 joint publication Lyrical Ballads. ([Source][1].) [1]:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Wordsworth

Carolyn Wells was a writer whose work often brought a smile. She's best known for her contributions to humor, like the collection A Subtreasury of American Humor. Her writing offered readers a good dose of lighthearted fun.

Louisa May Alcott was born in Germantown, Pennsylvania on November 29, 1832. She and her three sisters, Anna, Elizabeth, and May, were educated by their father, philosopher and teacher Bronson Alcott, and raised on the practical Christianity of their mother, Abigail May. Louisa spent her childhood in Boston and in Concord, Massachusetts, where her days were enlightened by visits to Ralph Waldo Emerson’s library, excursions into nature with Henry David Thoreau, and theatricals in the barn at...

Henry Van Dyke is the author of the beloved collection, More Favorite Stories of Christmas Past. His work often explores themes of nature and faith, making him a wonderful find for anyone who enjoys classic holiday tales.

Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle KStJ, DL (22 May 1859 – 7 July 1930) was a Scottish writer and physician, most noted for creating the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes and writing stories about him which are generally considered milestones in the field of crime fiction. He is also known for writing the fictional adventures of a second character he invented, Professor Challenger, and for popularising the mystery of the Mary Celeste. He was a prolific writer whose other works include fantasy an...

Frances Hodgson Burnett was best known as an English playwright and author. Frances Eliza Hodgson was born on November 24, 1849, at Cheetham Hill, Manchester, England, to Eliza Boond and Edwin Hodgson. She was the middle child of five, with two older brothers and two younger sisters. Frances grew up in a comfortable home. Mr. Hodgson sold brass goods to upper class households, and the family had a maid, a nurse-maid, and a horse and carriage. However, in the early 1850's when Frances was onl...

Andrew Lang is the author of Bleak House, a classic of English literature. He's known for his insightful portrayals of Victorian society and his exploration of complex human relationships.

Alphonse Daudet was a nineteenth-century French author who wrote extensively about life in southern France. He is best known for the short story collection Les lettres de mon moulin and the semi-autobiographical novel

Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet, was a prolific Scottish historical novelist and poet, popular throughout Europe during his time. Scott has been said to be particularly associated with Toryism, though several passages in Tales of a Grandfather display a liberal, progressive and Unionist outlook on Scotland's history. Scott was the first English-language author to have a truly international career in his lifetime, with many contemporary readers in Europe, Australia, and North America. His novels...

Booth Tarkington was a keen observer of American life, and his collection A Subtreasury of American Humor showcases his sharp wit. This selection offers a delightful glimpse into the funny side of the nation's stories and characters.

Benito Pérez Galdós is a major figure in Spanish literature known for his realistic novels. He wrote books such as Marianela and Trafalgar. His work provides a detailed look at the social and political life of nineteenth-century Spain.

A British novelist and short story writer during the Victorian era. Her novels offer a detailed portrait of the lives of many strata of society, including the very poor, and as such are of interest to social historians as well as lovers of literature. ([Source][1]) [1]: https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Elizabeth_Gaskell

William Morris was an English textile designer, artist, writer, socialist and Marxist associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and the English Arts and Crafts Movement. - [More on Wikipedia][1] [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Morris

Anthony Trollope, a master storyteller, brings us Favorite Love Stories. He's known for his keen observations of Victorian society and his engaging narratives that explore the complexities of human relationships. This collection showcases his talent for crafting memorable tales of romance.

Rudyard Kipling was a British author and poet. Born in Bombay, in British India, he is best known for his works of fiction "[The Jungle Book][1]" (1894). He is regarded as a major "innovator in the art of the short story"; his children's books are enduring classics of children's literature. ([Source][2]) [1]: /works/OL15400121W/ [2]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudyard_Kipling

Helen Beatrix Potter (28 July 1866 – 22 December 1943) was an English writer, illustrator, natural scientist, and conservationist. She is best known for her children's books featuring animals, such as The Tale of Peter Rabbit, which was her first published work in 1902. Her books, including 23 Tales, have sold more than 250 million copies. Potter was also a pioneer of merchandising—in 1903, Peter Rabbit was the first fictional character to be made into a patented stuffed toy, making him the olde...

Robert Herrick is the author of The Poetry of Cats, a collection that explores the feline world through verse. He has a knack for capturing the essence of his subjects in his writing.

Emily Dickinson was an American poet. Born in Amherst, Massachusetts, to a successful family with strong community ties, she lived a mostly introverted and reclusive life. After she studied at the Amherst Academy for seven years in her youth, she spent a short time at Mount Holyoke Female Seminary before returning to her family's house in Amherst. Thought of as an eccentric by the locals, she became known for her penchant for white clothing and her reluctance to greet guests or, later in life, e...

Bret Harte is the author behind Prentice Hall Literature--Timeless Voices, Timeless Themes--The American Experience. His work focuses on American literature, offering readers a look into classic themes and voices.

Hamilton Wright Mabie was a respected essayist and editor. He's best known for compiling The Oxford Book of American Essays, a collection that showcases the best of American literary thought.

Ellis Parker Butler was a writer whose stories often explored the lighter side of life. He's particularly remembered for his collection, Favorite Love Stories, which showcases his knack for charming tales.

American author, essayist, biographer and historian of the early 19th century. He was best known for his short stories "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip Van Winkle", both of which appear in his book "The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent" (Wikipedia).

James Russell Lowell is the author behind Prentice Hall Literature--Timeless Voices, Timeless Themes--The American Experience. His work focuses on American literature and themes.

Willa Siebert Cather was an American author who grew up in Nebraska. She is best known for her depictions of frontier life on the Great Plains in novels such as O Pioneers!, My Ántonia, and The Song of the Lark. Source and more information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willa_Cather

Nathaniel Hawthorne was an American novelist and short story writer. Nathaniel Hawthorne was a 19th century American novelist and short story writer. He is seen as a key figure in the development of American literature for his tales of the nation's colonial history. Shortly after graduating from Bowdoin College, Hathorne changed his name to Hawthorne. Hawthorne anonymously published his first work, a novel titled Fanshawe, in 1828. In 1837, he published Twice-Told Tales and became engaged...

James Whitcomb Riley is the author behind Prentice Hall Literature--Bronze, a collection that showcases his skill in bringing classic literature to life. His work often explores themes of American life and culture.

Thomas Nelson Page was a writer whose stories often captured the spirit of the American South. You might know him from his contributions to collections like The Scribner Treasury.

O. Henry's short stories are well known for their wit, wordplay, warm characterization and clever twist endings. ([Source][1].) [1]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O._Henry

Saki was the pen name of Hector Hugh Munro, also known as H. H. Munro, a British writer whose witty, mischievous and sometimes macabre stories satirize Edwardian society and culture.

An English novelist of the 19th century. He was famous for his satirical works, particularly Vanity Fair, a panoramic portrait of English society.

Mary Stewart Cutting is the author behind the popular collection, Favorite Love Stories. She's known for her charming tales that explore the heart of romance.

Sarah Orne Jewett's work is featured in Prentice Hall Literature -- Platinum. She's a writer whose stories often explore life in rural New England.

Samuel McChord Crothers was a writer whose keen observations found a home in essays. He's perhaps best known for editing The Oxford Book of American Essays, a collection that showcases a range of thoughtful American voices.

Edgar Wallace was a British writer who wrote crime novels, thrillers, and adventure stories. He is the author of Penelope of the Polyantha and helped create the original story for King Kong. His work is characterized by fast-paced plots and a focus on detective mysteries.

Booker Taliaferro Washington (April 5, 1856 – November 14, 1915) was an American educator, author, and orator. Between 1890 and 1915, Washington was the primary leader in the African-American community and of the contemporary Black elite.

Vernon Lee was the pseudonym of the British writer Violet Paget (14 October 1856 – 13 February 1935). She is remembered today primarily for her supernatural fiction and her work on aesthetics. An early follower of Walter Pater, she wrote over a dozen volumes of essays on art, music, and travel.

Jonson was an English playwright, poet and literary critic in the 17th century.

Lyman Frank Baum was a US author, poet, playwright, actor, and independent filmmaker best known today as the creator - along with illustrator WW Denslow - of one of the most popular books in US children's literature, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. - [Wikipedia][1] [1]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L._Frank_Baum

Sir ; British writer, journalist, lyricist, playwright, rector (*9 May 1860 - †19 June 1937)

Eleanor Hodgman Porter is the author behind the enduring classic, Pollyanna, a story that champions finding joy. Her writing is also featured in the Yakut Klasik Romanlar Serisi.

Annie F. Johnston is celebrated for her charming "Little Colonel" series, featuring titles like The Little Colonel's Chum and The Little Colonel's Hero. She also penned Two Little Knights of Kentucky and Mary Ware's Promised Land, continuing her stories of young characters in Kentucky.

Jacob A. Riis is a writer with a special interest in feline stories. His collection, Great Cat Tales, gathers various narratives about cats. Riis focuses on animal-centric narratives.

Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann was a German Romantic author of fantasy and Gothic horror, a jurist, composer, music critic and artist. His stories form the basis of Jacques Offenbach's opera The Tales of Hoffmann, in which Hoffmann appears (heavily fictionalized) as the hero. He is also the author of the novella The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, on which Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's ballet The Nutcracker is based. The ballet Coppélia is based on two other stories that Hoffmann wrote, while Schuma...

Robert E. Howard is the mind behind the dark and thrilling tales of Solomon Kane. His work often explores themes of adventure and the supernatural. You'll find his stories in collections like The Savage Tales of Solomon Kane.

Hans Christian Andersen was born in Odense, Denmark, to a father who claimed to be related to nobility. After school, he worked as a weaver's apprentice and as a tailor's assistant. At 14, he moved to Copenhagen to be an actor, and was accepted into the Royal Danish Theatre. His career ended when his voice changed, and he decided to become a writer. He published his first story, The Ghost at Palnatoke's Grave, in 1822. An acquaintance paid all expenses to send him to grammar school in Slagelse....

Irish poet, dramatist, and one of the foremost figures of 20th century literature. In 1923, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for what the Nobel Committee described as "inspired poetry, which in a highly artistic form gives expression to the spirit of a whole nation."

Lucy Maud Montgomery CBE, (called "Maud" by family and friends) and publicly known as L.M. Montgomery was a Canadian author, best known for a series of novels beginning with Anne of Green Gables, published in 1908. Once published, Anne of Green Gables was an immediate success. The central character, Anne, an orphaned girl who was adopted by a a sister and brother duo of Marilla and Matthew, made Montgomery famous in her lifetime and gave her an international following. The first novel was...

Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (Russian: Антон Павлович Чехов) was a Russian playwright and short-story writer who is considered to be one of the greatest writers of all time. His career as a playwright produced four classics, and his best short stories are held in high esteem by writers and critics. Along with Henrik Ibsen and August Strindberg, Chekhov is often referred to as one of the three seminal figures in the birth of early modernism in the theatre. Chekhov was a physician by profession. "Medic...

A prolific English writer of the Victorian era, she led a very complex life (Wikipedia).

Лев Николаевич Толстой (9 сентября 1828 – 20 ноября 1910) – русский писатель. Он считается одним из величайших и самых влиятельных авторов всех времён. Среди наиболее известных произведений Толстого – романы «Война и мир» (1869) и «Анна Каренина» (1878), которые часто называют вершинами реалистической прозы и двумя величайшими книгами всех времён. ---------- Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy (Russian: Лев Николаевич Толстой, 9 September 1828 – 20 November 1910), usually referred to in English a...

Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky (1821–1881) was a Russian novelist, short-story writer, essayist and philosopher, widely regarded as one of the greatest novelists in Russian and world literature. Born in Moscow, his life was transformed by four years of imprisonment and exile in Siberia after his involvement with the Petrashevsky Circle, an experience that shaped the psychological depth of his later fiction. His major novels — including Crime and Punishment (1866), The Idiot (1869), Demons...

Mary Eleanor Wilkins Freeman was a prominent 19th-century American author of novels and short stories (Wikipedia).

Alfred Tennyson, 1st Baron Tennyson, FRS, much better known as "Alfred, Lord Tennyson," was Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom during much of Queen Victoria's reign and remains one of the most popular poets in the English language. Tennyson excelled at penning short lyrics, "In the valley of Cauteretz", "Break, Break, Break", "The Charge of the Light Brigade", "Tears, Idle Tears" and "Crossing the Bar". Much of his verse was based on classical mythological themes, such as Ulysses, although In...

George MacDonald was a Scottish author best known for his fantasy novels like Lilith. He wrote in the 19th century, creating imaginative stories that often explored spiritual themes.

Mary Austin is the pseudonym for a physician who, in order to publicize a suppressed discovery in cancer research, had to sacrifice first her academic career, then a career as a board-certified pediatrician, and then her personal safety. She would do it again. Archway Publishing https://www.archwaypublishing.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/806852-The-Last-Rose-of-Summer

Guy de Maupassant, né le 5 août 1850 au château de Miromesnil près de Tourville-sur-Arques (France) et mort le 6 juillet 1893 dans le 16e arrondissement de Paris, est un écrivain et journaliste littéraire français. Lié à Gustave Flaubert et à Émile Zola, Maupassant a marqué la littérature française par ses six romans, dont Une vie en 1883, Bel-Ami en 1885, Pierre et Jean en 1887-1888, et surtout par ses nouvelles (parfois intitulées contes) comme Boule de Suif en 1880, les *Contes de la...

The Brothers Grimm (die Brüder Grimm or die Gebrüder Grimm), Jacob (1785–1863) and Wilhelm Grimm (1786–1859), were German academics, philologists, cultural researchers, lexicographers and authors who together specialized in collecting and publishing folklore during the 19th century. They were among the best-known storytellers of folk tales, and popularized stories such as "Cinderella" ("Aschenputtel"), "The Frog Prince" ("Der Froschkönig"), "The Goose-Girl" ("Die Gänsemagd"), "Hansel and Gretel"...

Clement Clarke Moore is credited and is most widely known as the author of the Christmas poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas", first published anonymously in 1823. It later became widely known as "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" and has been published in numerous illustrated versions in various languages. Scholars debate the identity of the author, calling on textual and handwriting analysis as well as other historical sources.

Elia Wilkinson Peattie was a writer who explored the darker side of human experience. Her collection, Bodies of the Dead and Other Great American Ghost Stories, showcases her talent for chilling tales. If you enjoy classic ghost stories, you'll want to check out her work.

Edward Everett Hale is the author behind Prentice Hall Literature--Silver. He's a writer whose work is often found in educational literature.

Dinah Maria Mulock enjoyed a highly successful and diverse writing career and is perhaps best known today for her novel John Halifax, Gentleman (1857). A prolific author of fiction, essays and poetry, Mulock contributed many items, including supernatural material, to the popular magazines of the mid-Victorian period. Her short stories were subsequently collected in a variety of works. Following her marriage in 1864, her work was attributed to 'Mrs Craik'. -- from *Shadows in the Attic: A G...

Enoch Arnold Bennett was an English novelist, playwright, and journalist, whose novels and plays generally reflected middle-class life in north Staffordshire. He was born in Hanley, Staffordshire (which is now Stoke-on-Trent), the son of a solicitor. He was educated in Newcastle-under-Lyme. After school, he worked for his father, and in his spare time he was a journalist. At age twenty-one, he moved to London to work as a solicitor's clerk. In 1889 he won a writing competition in Tit-Bits maga...