A Visit From St. Nicholas: or The Night Before Christmas

This story has become a timeless classic of Christmas literature. However, many of the words and phrases used in the original text of the story have become archaic to the point that the words are repeated, and even quoted, but the words are not understood. This version takes the original text and provides definitions and insights to help readers understand some of the more antiquated parts of the story. The book uses historic illustrations from the celebrated artist Thomas Nast (1840-1902) including some of the famous engraving that formed our modern image of Santa Claus. The appendix includes a historical recipe for sugar plums as well as some brief words on the authorship controversy surrounding the story. Foreword"Today many find some of the words and concepts herein contained rather antiquated, but to change and adjust such a time-honoured work would be to muddle it. We should instead endeavour to help our young readers to understand “A Visit from St. Nicholas” in its entirety, with all the minutiae of the time that had such a profound effect on the holiday we celebrate today. Therefore, it has my distinct pleasure to annotate the story for all of you; to define and expound upon many of the particularly archaic elements, and provide some humble insight into the world at the time our cherished story was first written. - R-"