Call number
922.22 NIC
Status
Available
Call number
Other editions
Pages
116
Description
For anyone who has ever been asked, 'Who is Saint Nicholas?'... For anyone who ever wondered if he is just a commercial invention... For anyone who ever thought there is no such person... It may be surprising to know the true Saint Nicholas. Listeners will never again think of Santa Claus in quite the same way. An instant classic by one of America's most respected thinkers, The True Saint Nicholas is a book to be shared with family and friends every year to evoke the true spirit of Christmas.
Local notes
COPY 1 OF 2
Publication
Howard Books (2009), Edition: First Edition, 116 pages
ISBN
1416567461 / 9781416567462
Collections
User reviews
LibraryThing member taterzngravy
The True Saint Nicholas: Why He Matters to Christmas is a short book, but an enjoyable read. It is not a scholarly book on Saint Nicholas, but it is an informative book of the man and his time that will help the reader understand the traditions of history.
William J. Bennett tries to get us to see
I would have preferred an attempt to nail down more facts and to identify more sources. One does wonder how true of a portrait of this man this book really is. But like any author, Bennett makes his choices and then follows them to the conclusion. He does provide a list of other books to read.
The True Saint Nicholas is a good book to be read during the Christmas season to remind us all of the history that has brought us to this point.
William J. Bennett tries to get us to see
Show More
Nicholas' life not through wringing out identifiable facts, for there are few, but through the life at the time. If other Christians studied books, such as the Didache, then so did Saint Nicholas. If other believers memorized certain chapters from Psalms then so did he. In so doing, Bennett fleshes out the Church Father who later became known as Santa Claus.I would have preferred an attempt to nail down more facts and to identify more sources. One does wonder how true of a portrait of this man this book really is. But like any author, Bennett makes his choices and then follows them to the conclusion. He does provide a list of other books to read.
The True Saint Nicholas is a good book to be read during the Christmas season to remind us all of the history that has brought us to this point.
Show Less
LibraryThing member larrydellis
A simple and easy to read historical book about the original St. Nicholas. There are many legends and myths that surround the Bishop of Myra in the later third and early fourth century. Bennett sets the tone accurately within history from that period. We have no known writings by this bishop, but
Show More
his impact was significant in his time. Show Less
LibraryThing member Maydacat
This well researched and well written book gives a succinct yet thorough view of the man who came to be known as Saint Nicholas. We learn of his birth and background, his life, and his death. The author discusses what qualities of generosity and helpfulness Nicholas possessed. The book also details
Show More
the regard people had for Nicholas long after his death. Also included are the legends and myths that surround him, and the ways in which various countries and cultures adapted these legends. The author also explains how America’s Santa Claus was derived from these legends and popularized by poems, art, and advertising. It is amazing how much history and detail is contained in these few pages; it’s a fascinating account. Highly recommended for any history buff or Christmas aficionado. Show Less