Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Mariner Books (2004), Edition: Revised, 128 pages
Description
A collection of illustrated letters from Father Christmas recapping the activities of the preceding year at the North Pole. The letters were written by the author to his children.
User reviews
LibraryThing member Treeseed
This is a really lovely little book with Professor Tolkien's characteristically magical water color and ink illustrations and his sweet-natured, witty commentaries about life at the North Pole. Meet Father Christmas on his home turf and get to know his friend Great Polar Bear. Through a series of
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letters that Father Christmas sent to the Tolkien children we are treated to an insider's look at all the magical preparations for Christmas as well as a glimpse of what life is like for Father Christmas during the rest of the year. This book is a fun, hands on treat for the imagination with its realistic envelopes and letters that you can actually remove and read for yourself. These enchanting letters were, of course, delivered by Elf Messenger. Show Less
LibraryThing member DirtPriest
This is a really neat collection of letters written by JRRT to his young children as Santa Claus, or Father Christmas if you are English. They feature the misadventures of the North Polar Bear and a few of his friends, and the problems that they cause Santa, such as crushing all the Christmas
Also, the LT reviews are worth reading for this book.
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chocolates, or climbing up the North Pole to retrieve Santa's hood and having it break off and fall through Santa's dining room roof. Later, they start having problems with invading goblins and the letters take on a more menacing tone, like going from the Hobbit to LOTR. Each of the letters was accompanied by a full color drawing of the adventures described, and the only thing lacking in this collection is completeness. All of the text is there, but I would like to see each in its entirety, because they all still exist and why not include them all? Come on...Also, the LT reviews are worth reading for this book.
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LibraryThing member souloftherose
When Tolkien's eldest son was 3, he began to write letters from Father Christmas to his children each year. These letters along with their beautiful illustrated are reproduced in this book and although only 48 pages it was a delight to read. I managed to find an old 1976 edition in our local
The letters themselves tell the story of what Father Christmas has got up to over the last year whilst trying to get all the presents out, whether that be fighting off goblins or just dealing with the general incompetence of the poor old North Polar Bear.
Definitely one I can see myself picking up as a future Christmas read.
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charity bookshop which added to the charm.The letters themselves tell the story of what Father Christmas has got up to over the last year whilst trying to get all the presents out, whether that be fighting off goblins or just dealing with the general incompetence of the poor old North Polar Bear.
Definitely one I can see myself picking up as a future Christmas read.
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LibraryThing member bell7
Starting in 1920, the Tolkien children received letters from Father Christmas, complete with pictures and funny stories about the North Polar Bear and others in Father Christmas' household. This book collects the letters from 1925 to 1938 and the "final letter" (no date given, but it's sometime
This is a really cute collection I enjoyed paging through. I could have read it in one sitting, but I spread it out a bit over two days. The illustrations and stories of Father Christmas and the hapless Polar Bear are often funny. While I probably wouldn't read it from beginning to end for myself, it would make a fun family read-aloud around Christmastime.
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during World War 2). Most of them are transcribed, but there are images of two of the letters showing Father Christmas' shaky handwriting, and much of the artwork is also reproduced.This is a really cute collection I enjoyed paging through. I could have read it in one sitting, but I spread it out a bit over two days. The illustrations and stories of Father Christmas and the hapless Polar Bear are often funny. While I probably wouldn't read it from beginning to end for myself, it would make a fun family read-aloud around Christmastime.
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LibraryThing member Wombat
J.R.R. Tolkien, better known as the author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, used to write and illustrate letters to his children from "Father Christmas." This book contains a selection of those letters, each reproduced on a separate sheet of paper and enclosed in an envelope. The letters
I've been reading the letters with my daughter. She enjoys the novelty of the book of letters, and she thinks the stories are cute and funny. Being a bit more jaded, I think it's nicely done, but probably never would have been published if it wasn't by Tolkien.
If you like this concept of a book of facsimile letters each enclosed in its own envelope, you might also want to look at "The Jolly Postman Or Other Peoples Letters" and "Griffin & Sabine - An Extraordinary Correspondence."
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describe various misadventures of Father Christmas, his assistant, North Polar Bear, problems with Goblins, etc. I've been reading the letters with my daughter. She enjoys the novelty of the book of letters, and she thinks the stories are cute and funny. Being a bit more jaded, I think it's nicely done, but probably never would have been published if it wasn't by Tolkien.
If you like this concept of a book of facsimile letters each enclosed in its own envelope, you might also want to look at "The Jolly Postman Or Other Peoples Letters" and "Griffin & Sabine - An Extraordinary Correspondence."
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LibraryThing member StormRaven
Before The Lord of the Rings, before The Hobbit, when Middle-Earth itself was nothing more than an embryonic idea that manifested as a handful of unpublished poems, Tolkien was writing for an eager audience. Like many children, Tolkien's offspring wrote letters to Father Christmas every year, but
The letters themselves span the period between 1920, when Tolkien's oldest son John was three, and 1943, when his youngest child Priscilla was fourteen. In between, Tolkien crafted a masterfully creative series of characters and adventures to delight and entertain his children, starting with simple missives showing Father Christmas and his house next to the North Pole, but quickly escalating to silly tales involving the Great Polar Bear of the North doing well-meaning but rather foolish things and Father Christmas cleaning up the resulting mess. The letters respond to what would seem to be typical concerns expressed by children in their letters to Father Christmas: Letting them know what gifts had been brought for them, answering questions as to Father Christmas' home and appearance, and so on. But Tolkien was not content to write only about such mundane matters, and went on to craft increasingly elaborate stories involving an increasingly large cast of characters. And although the Tolkien children probably mostly looked forward to the model trains, books, and other toys, it is these stories that were the real treasures in their stockings.
The first letter is quite short, more or less just telling John that Father Christmas is on his way to deliver gifts to Oxford and includes a picture of both him and his house at the North Pole. But the letters quickly became more elaborate - within five years the annual letter included a story involving the Great Polar Bear climbing (and breaking) the North Pole to retrieve Father Christmas' hat, and in the process wrecking "Christmas House", prompting the construction of a new dwelling for Father Christmas perched upon a conveniently nearby cliff resulting in the name "Cliff House". And from this beginning the stories and accompanying cast of characters grew every year. Father Christmas soon had a gardener - the Snow Man. The Great Polar Bear soon had a name, Karhu, and mischievous nephews underfoot - Paksu and Valkotukka. Eventually Father Christmas had red gnomes helping him package gifts and fend off goblins, and enlisted an elvish secretary named Ilbereth to help him manage his household. Eventually even penguins briefly join the menagerie, having swum from the South Pole to see if there is anything they could do to help out.
[More forthcoming]
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unlike the experience of many other children, Tolkien's offspring received letters back. Beautifully written and illustrated letters that tell tales of whimsy, adventure, and love. Most of these letters and all of the paintings and drawings that accompanied them are collected in this volume, meaning that Tolkien's labor of love and affection can be read and enjoyed by everyone else.The letters themselves span the period between 1920, when Tolkien's oldest son John was three, and 1943, when his youngest child Priscilla was fourteen. In between, Tolkien crafted a masterfully creative series of characters and adventures to delight and entertain his children, starting with simple missives showing Father Christmas and his house next to the North Pole, but quickly escalating to silly tales involving the Great Polar Bear of the North doing well-meaning but rather foolish things and Father Christmas cleaning up the resulting mess. The letters respond to what would seem to be typical concerns expressed by children in their letters to Father Christmas: Letting them know what gifts had been brought for them, answering questions as to Father Christmas' home and appearance, and so on. But Tolkien was not content to write only about such mundane matters, and went on to craft increasingly elaborate stories involving an increasingly large cast of characters. And although the Tolkien children probably mostly looked forward to the model trains, books, and other toys, it is these stories that were the real treasures in their stockings.
The first letter is quite short, more or less just telling John that Father Christmas is on his way to deliver gifts to Oxford and includes a picture of both him and his house at the North Pole. But the letters quickly became more elaborate - within five years the annual letter included a story involving the Great Polar Bear climbing (and breaking) the North Pole to retrieve Father Christmas' hat, and in the process wrecking "Christmas House", prompting the construction of a new dwelling for Father Christmas perched upon a conveniently nearby cliff resulting in the name "Cliff House". And from this beginning the stories and accompanying cast of characters grew every year. Father Christmas soon had a gardener - the Snow Man. The Great Polar Bear soon had a name, Karhu, and mischievous nephews underfoot - Paksu and Valkotukka. Eventually Father Christmas had red gnomes helping him package gifts and fend off goblins, and enlisted an elvish secretary named Ilbereth to help him manage his household. Eventually even penguins briefly join the menagerie, having swum from the South Pole to see if there is anything they could do to help out.
[More forthcoming]
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LibraryThing member eyja
This was a wonderful demonstration of how creative a man Tolkien was, and how great a father. I loved reading these letters, and now I'm very tempted to do something similar with any children I may have.
LibraryThing member jenspirko
This charming collection is especially delightful for those of us who are fans of J.R.R. Tolkien's better known work, but I am sure it will entertain anyone. Accompanied by Tolkien's own drawings, these letters tell of the shenanigans of Father Christmas (whom Americans call Santa Claus) and his
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friends, including a polar bear and elves. The wry humor is refreshing, especially with the leavening of slapstick. A charming book, in the best sense of the word. Show Less
LibraryThing member ClicksClan
Rereading this book this year made me feel like of sad as I might not ever have a child to do the whole Father Christmas letters thing with.
Also sad to see the children growing up until even Priscilla stops writing to Father Christmas. The last two letters are heartbreaking as Tolkien prepares to
Still love the illustrations - would love to draw like that, might have a go at copying some into my Christmas doodle book.
Would like a little more context to some letters, like what the children sent in their letters to Father Christmas.
Also sad to see the children growing up until even Priscilla stops writing to Father Christmas. The last two letters are heartbreaking as Tolkien prepares to
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give up something he's been doing for around twenty years.Still love the illustrations - would love to draw like that, might have a go at copying some into my Christmas doodle book.
Would like a little more context to some letters, like what the children sent in their letters to Father Christmas.
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LibraryThing member sconne7
This book is written in the form of numerous letters. I liked it because it is different because there are not many books written in letters. It is a collection of letters from Father Christmas that explain the various jobs and duties of the North Pole. This book explores who lives in the North
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Pole and what their jobs are. This is an excellent read to introduce into the classroom around Christmas. Show Less
LibraryThing member AbigailAdams26
Beginning in 1920, when his oldest son, John, was three years old, and continuing through 1942, by which time Michael, Christopher and Priscilla had joined the Tolkien family, J.R.R. Tolkien - author of such fantasy classics as The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings - wrote and illustrated a yearly
What lucky children those Tolkiens were! Imagine receiving such entertaining little stories every year, complete with darling illustrations, and creative little details, like the hand-crafted "arctic" stamps and postage marks. What great care Tolkien obviously took with these letters, and what a delightful result! From the well-meaning but bumbling North Polar Bear, whose accidents were always endangering Father Christmas' scheduled gift delivery, to the long-suffering Father Christmas himself, patient and amused (mostly) at the foibles of his companion and assistant, everything about these stories appealed to me. Like so many other readers, I was struck by themes here - particularly as it relates to the ever-present threat of Goblins - that reminded me of Tolkien's greater works of epic fantasy. Definitely one that children with a fondness for Santa tales will want to read (I think I may dig out my copy of L. Frank Baum's The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus, and contrast and compare), as will Tolkien fans interested in the evolution of his storytelling.
**The edition I read, sadly, left off with the 1939 letter, although I understand that later reprints contain all of them, including those from 1920-24 and 1940-42.
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missive from Father Christmas, mailed to his children through the post, or magically smuggled into their house, sometime Christmas Eve night. Beginning with the 1925 letter, this collection - edited by Tolkien's daughter-in-law Baillie - reproduces the text of those letters, and the artwork that accompanied them. There is also a selection, notably including the first letter, from 1920, of facsimile reproductions of "Father Christmas's" own hand-written sheets.**What lucky children those Tolkiens were! Imagine receiving such entertaining little stories every year, complete with darling illustrations, and creative little details, like the hand-crafted "arctic" stamps and postage marks. What great care Tolkien obviously took with these letters, and what a delightful result! From the well-meaning but bumbling North Polar Bear, whose accidents were always endangering Father Christmas' scheduled gift delivery, to the long-suffering Father Christmas himself, patient and amused (mostly) at the foibles of his companion and assistant, everything about these stories appealed to me. Like so many other readers, I was struck by themes here - particularly as it relates to the ever-present threat of Goblins - that reminded me of Tolkien's greater works of epic fantasy. Definitely one that children with a fondness for Santa tales will want to read (I think I may dig out my copy of L. Frank Baum's The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus, and contrast and compare), as will Tolkien fans interested in the evolution of his storytelling.
**The edition I read, sadly, left off with the 1939 letter, although I understand that later reprints contain all of them, including those from 1920-24 and 1940-42.
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LibraryThing member stevejwales
A collection of beautifully illustrated letters to the children in the Tolkien family about the adventures of Father Christmas with the Polar Bear at the North Pole each Christmas. Enchanting tales with wonderful characters - the Polar Bear's scrapes are always entertaining. It's also particularly
This book is available in a Kindle edition which reproduces all the full colour illustrations and handwritten letters. As such, I expect it would be a bit of a disappointment on the current generation black-and-white Kindles, but it looks beautiful in the Kindle apps for computers/tablets (I fear smart phones would require too much zooming and scrolling around to be practical). Just FYI, readers of ebooks!
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poignant during the war when Father Christmas has little to deliver (stolen by opportunistic goblins) and has difficulty finding all the evacuees and children made homeless by bombings. Lovely little book for Christmas.This book is available in a Kindle edition which reproduces all the full colour illustrations and handwritten letters. As such, I expect it would be a bit of a disappointment on the current generation black-and-white Kindles, but it looks beautiful in the Kindle apps for computers/tablets (I fear smart phones would require too much zooming and scrolling around to be practical). Just FYI, readers of ebooks!
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LibraryThing member bness2
This is a great little Christmas read for anyone who is a Tolkien fan. I especially love the artwork. Makes me wish I was one of the Tolkien kids.
LibraryThing member Michael.Rimmer
Reading this as an adult, what comes across most strongly is Tolkien's love and affection for his children (which is, of course, what one would expect of all parents for their children, but which sadly is not always so) and his delight in writing and drawing these little Christmas stories each
Due to the very young age of his eldest son when the first letter was written in 1920, these early missives are very short, but in 1925 we get a longer message which introduces us to the North Polar Bear, who will feature every year thereafter, and a beautiful little painting of the NPB wrecking the North Pole itself, smashing Father Christmas's house, and a picture of the new house that he builds to replace it.
The Letters were never intended for publication and it's a testament to Tolkien's remarkable skill at storytelling that simply collecting them together makes such a delightful book. The Letters do continue themes from one year to the next and the characters are likeable, funny and have their own personalities.
The last couple of letters, addressed just to his youngest child, Priscilla, by this time, are quite poignant. It seems that she has been too busy to write to Father Christmas, but he has a good idea, anyway, of what she would like in her stocking (books, of course). In 1943, Father Christmas supposes that Priscilla will be hanging up her stocking just once more, and there was to me a feeling that, perhaps, she would not have missed Father Christmas's letters had they stopped a little earlier. Sometimes it's hard for parents to accept that their children have grown up. Nevertheless, Father Christmas assures Priscilla that he will never forget her, nor her brothers, and that when they have children of their own he may write again.
A magical story to read with younger children, although I suspect that they might be wanting some letter from Father Christmas themselves afterwards, so be warned!
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year.Due to the very young age of his eldest son when the first letter was written in 1920, these early missives are very short, but in 1925 we get a longer message which introduces us to the North Polar Bear, who will feature every year thereafter, and a beautiful little painting of the NPB wrecking the North Pole itself, smashing Father Christmas's house, and a picture of the new house that he builds to replace it.
The Letters were never intended for publication and it's a testament to Tolkien's remarkable skill at storytelling that simply collecting them together makes such a delightful book. The Letters do continue themes from one year to the next and the characters are likeable, funny and have their own personalities.
The last couple of letters, addressed just to his youngest child, Priscilla, by this time, are quite poignant. It seems that she has been too busy to write to Father Christmas, but he has a good idea, anyway, of what she would like in her stocking (books, of course). In 1943, Father Christmas supposes that Priscilla will be hanging up her stocking just once more, and there was to me a feeling that, perhaps, she would not have missed Father Christmas's letters had they stopped a little earlier. Sometimes it's hard for parents to accept that their children have grown up. Nevertheless, Father Christmas assures Priscilla that he will never forget her, nor her brothers, and that when they have children of their own he may write again.
A magical story to read with younger children, although I suspect that they might be wanting some letter from Father Christmas themselves afterwards, so be warned!
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LibraryThing member ronnyd1
Was given this by my mother when 1st published, and I still read it nearly every year. I love it for it's imagination, for it's indication of a father's love for his children, of it's small snippets of history creeping into it's pages.
LibraryThing member catsalive
Every December an envelope bearing a stamp from the North Pole would arrive for J.R.R. Tolkien's children. Inside it would be a letter in a strange spidery handwriting (Father Christmas) and a coloured drawing or some sketches. They told wonderful tales of life at the North Pole.
This is a really
This is a really
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lovely book. What an imaginative man, and what fun for his children. Show Less
LibraryThing member rturba
Genre: poetry, historical fiction (collection of letters) Review: It is difficult to define the genre of this book, I am not even sure I would use it in a classroom. It is a collection of letters supposedly written from Santa Clause. They are interesting as fictional writing and they are
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believable. The letters are believable simply because they see like a proof that Santa Clause is real. Show Less
LibraryThing member tgraettinger
Very enjoyable. Interesting to read another side of Tolkein, a more playful, funny side. Recommended!
LibraryThing member crabbyabbe
How did I miss this book as a holiday read? Heartfelt and heart-wrenching, Tolkien writes letters to his children as Father Christmas. His stories and illustrations are glorious and gloriously fun. The antics of Polar Bear are ingeniously drawn and told. If a lover of the TOY STORY movies, you will
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experience the wonderment and inevitable sadness as the children grow up. This will now be an annual read. Show Less
LibraryThing member Bagpuss
I defy anyone not to be charmed by this lovely, beautifully illustrated book - written by Tolkien in the form of letters from Father Christmas (and friends) to his children as they were growing up. Utterly charming!
LibraryThing member BoundTogetherForGood
I didn't love this. The overall story was too inconsistent for me, though it was a completely adorable concept and must have been treasured by his children and family.
LibraryThing member wanderlustlover
Winter 2020 (December);
Part of the round of this years' new seasonable classics.
I was so deeply delighted by this book.
I was sold the second I realized it was Tolkein writing to his ow children as Father Christmas every year as they were growing up. I was so deeply attached so quickly to the
I'm so glad these were kept and that they were published. My heart was warmed all over by them.
Part of the round of this years' new seasonable classics.
I was so deeply delighted by this book.
I was sold the second I realized it was Tolkein writing to his ow children as Father Christmas every year as they were growing up. I was so deeply attached so quickly to the
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kind, compassionate, understanding voice of Father Christmas (as well as Polar Bear and our elf, both later on). I was poignant moved at each point where the letter's references which children were getting to old to write him, or to get stockings, and the one where his daughter had come into the world. I'm so glad these were kept and that they were published. My heart was warmed all over by them.
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LibraryThing member David_Brown
This collection of letters that Tolkien wrote to his children as Father Christmas is endearing. I smiled throughout, caught up in the adventures of Father Christmas as he battled the goblins and the misadventures of the Northern Polar Bear. My mental perception of Father Christmas (or Santa Clause)
I do not know as much of Tolkien as I do the other Inklings, and had no idea that he was such an artist. I laughed throughout at his illustrations of Father Christmas' adventures.
I bought this as an ebook, but will certainly be purchasing a paperback copy. The illustrations alone make this worthwhile. This is a must-read for any Tolkien fan...a precious collection for the holidays.
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is now forever altered in the most positive way. There is a spiritual dimension to the fact that I was reading these letters as his children did, undoubtedly so precious to them, and gaining biographical glimpses into Tolkien's life in doing so. The war begins to creep into his later letters, and, as the reader watches as the names of the children drop off of the letters as they grow, beginning with one and ending with one, the final closing signature of "your old friend, Father Christmas" is unspeakably poignant. I do not know as much of Tolkien as I do the other Inklings, and had no idea that he was such an artist. I laughed throughout at his illustrations of Father Christmas' adventures.
I bought this as an ebook, but will certainly be purchasing a paperback copy. The illustrations alone make this worthwhile. This is a must-read for any Tolkien fan...a precious collection for the holidays.
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LibraryThing member Charlotte1162
Stunning, leaves a warm festive feeling inside - I hope to always love Christmas and make it as exciting as Tolkien did for my own children 🎄
LibraryThing member MrsLee
Everything about this volume is lovely. The captures of the letters and drawings, the printed version of the body of the letters (for those who find reading Father Christmas' shaky handwriting difficult) and the endpages filled with images of the letters themselves. That is just the production of
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the book. That a man took the time and effort to write such letters to his children over the years is charming. That his daughter-in-law saw the charm in them and wanted to share it with the world is lovely. I will treasure this and enjoy reading it in the years to come during the month of December. There are just about enough letters to read one a day before Christmas. Beautiful. Show Less
Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
9.7 inches
ISBN
0618512659 / 9780618512652
UPC
046442512657
Other editions
The Father Christmas Letters by J. R. R. Tolkien (Paperback)