This charming anthology of nine Swedish stories brings all the magic of a long ago Christmas. Perfectly capturing the early twentieth century each self contained short story is a delight to read. Some recreate so beautifully like, in A Book for Christmas, the joyful anticipation of receiving a book to read on Christmas Eve, whilst Redbreast shares a poignant Christian message of how the Robin finally got his redbreast. Not all the stories are particularly festive but they all gel together so beautifully that it didn’t detract from the overall effect.

At just ninety-six pages long, this is a little book with a big heart and I can think of nothing better than to settle down on a wintery afternoon to read this lovely book of short stories. Each of the stories have a message which I think is in keeping with the fact that the author was once a teacher as I can well imagine her reading these little stories to a class enraptured by the magic of her storytelling.

Complete with magic, folklore and fables this is a special book to treasure.

A delightful collection of short stories. This is a lovely little book, perfect for a cosy December evening. I thoroughly enjoyed reading them.

A collection of stories set at, and around, Christmas by Swedish writer Selma Lagerlöf who was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize for Literature. These date back to the early 20th century, a mix of childhood recollections as in “A Book for Christmas,” fairy tales and parable-like pieces. Lagerlöf was a teacher for many years and her work here often has an educational feel, sometimes moving into morality tale territory – I see why she was nicknamed “the snow queen.” But I lapped up her story about a childhood Christmas Eve desperately hoping for a present of a book, I also enjoyed “The Rat Trap” in which a cynical wanderer is changed by an unexpected act of kindness. “The Legend of Saint Lucia” which promotes the idea that virtue will be rewarded was an interesting foray into Swedish mythology, and I loved the more macabre aspects of “The Skull.” Some of the stories were just a little too religious for me particularly “Redbreast” and “In Nazareth” which are probably more likely to appeal to a Christian reader – I think inspired by stories Lagerlöf heard from her grandmother. But I’d definitely like to sample more of Lagerlöf’s writing in future. Translated by Sarah Death, Peter Graves, and Linda Schenck.

I have been reading this stories over the last two weeks or so. A pleasant collection although not exactly what I had anticipated , less festive on the whole. These stories were first written almost 100 years ago and while elements seem dated, others are as pertinent today as they were in the 1930s. I think the cover and title will bring a wider audience to what actually is quite a niche market for this type of book but I am glad I read it and there was a quiet charm to this collection. Not one I would recommend reading in one sitting but perfect for dipping in and out of over Winter.

3.5- 4 stars.

Beautiful! These fill your heart with joy and the uniqueness of the authors tales just add a special sparkle to them! I shall re read these again. Lovely

What a beautiful book of stories centred around Christmas that would make a lovely gift to read on Christmas Eve either on your own or to your children. This has the feel of old school fairytales and fables which I love and has made me feel all warm and christmasy. A lovely read and a lovely gift.

Book Review: A Book for Christmas by Selma Lagerlöf

One of my favorite holiday reads, A Book for Christmas by Selma Lagerlöf brings all the cozy Christmas vibes. Set in snowy Scandinavia, it’s a collection of short stories that feel like stepping back in time to a world where goodness and kindness always win (especially in the story about Lucia—that one’s always been close to my heart). Lagerlöf captures that feeling perfectly, with tales that are just as much about wintery spirit as they are about timeless values.

Her writing style is something I’ve loved since I was young, with Nils Holgersson being a childhood favorite (even if it’s insanely long!). Here, she packs that same magic into short stories—so much depth in just a few pages. The translation really shines, too, making it easy to get lost in the snowy landscapes and cozy scenes.

This is one of those books you can simply enjoy for the holiday atmosphere or dive a little deeper to reflect on the themes if you want. But the main message for me? Kindness always wins.

There are some beautifully written stories in this book, originally dating from the early 20th century and translated from Swedish, but the title is a little misleading. A Book for Christmas is the title of the first story and it is, in fact, the only story in the book really relating to the festivities – perhaps it’s just me but I’d imagined the whole thing would be related to Christmas in Sweden and was a little surprised to find it wasn’t.

The stories, as I say, are well written but very much from a moral and religious viewpoint. The writing gives them the feel of fairy tales, which I enjoyed, and they all add up to give a real sense of life and faith in rural Sweden in the late 19th and early 20th century. I did enjoy it and the stories were short enough to dip in and out of but the name and cover chosen may prove disappointing to some readers. In addition, the first story tells of the author receiving a book she could not understand as a child as it was in French but nevertheless enjoyed through the illustrations and it seems a slightly wasted opportunity not to put some lovely illustrations in this volume, which would have fitted very well with the style of the stories. 3.5 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

I found this an interesting peek into traditional fairytales, rather than something I think children may enjoy in the current era - the stories felt very old fashioned and dated precisely because they are old fashioned and dated!

However it was a sweet look onto the types of stories that children would have been told many years ago.

This is a collection of stories, originally published between 1904 and 1933, written by a well-known Swedish author. It's the first time these stories have been translated into English. Having grown up in the US, I was familiar with certain kinds of Christmas stories. As I got older, I became interested in the seasonal stories of other cultures, but hadn't read any from Sweden, so I didn't hesitate when I saw this book. It did not disappoint! I particularly enjoyed the first story, which was based on a memory from when the author was 10. Her excitement about the fact that on Christmas Eve she would be able to burn the candle and read as long as she wanted was so charming and relatable. I think this story explains the book title. Not all of the stories are set at Christmastime, but it does say a book FOR Christmas, not a book of Christmas. I admit that I started the book expecting it to be full of Swedish Christmas stories, but after reading the first story, I interpreted the title differently so my expectations changed. In spite of the fact that not all the stories involved Christmas, I quite enjoyed this book. I liked reading about what Christmas was like in Sweden over a century ago. The folktale style stories were interesting, if sometimes somewhat disturbing, as folktales often are. In short, the book gave me a window into a time and place I had no knowledge of before and I really like that. I'm very glad I had an opportunity to read this book.

Translated for the first time into English, this selection of stories by Selma Lagerlóf was first published in the 1930s.

It is a curious selection of tales- some closely linked to the Christmas period and story and others more in the form of folktales.

There is a sense of period and old fashioned attitudes within them - powerful men controlling castles and homes and evil aunts.

Some of the stories have a festive charm - if you are intrigued by international stories that have a wintery feel the this could be for you- but there is a brooding sense of melancholia within them that could be linked to an old fashioned gothic style

A short compendium that would appeal to anyone intrigued by vintage Scandinavian tales

Beautiful take of Christmas stories in many different types of genres. Perfect when you feel like dipping in and out of a book and aren’t up for a long story but perfect to start getting into the holiday spirit.

For me, this was sadly lacking in the magical, mystical vibes I was hoping for
A few of the stories I enjoyed, but a few were a bit bland for my tastes.