Christmas | Lecturia

Charles Dickens: The Poor Relation’s Story

“The Poor Relation’s Story” is a short story by Charles Dickens, published on December 25, 1852, in the magazine Household Words. During a family gathering, Michael—a humble, discreet man—is compelled to begin the round of Christmas tales. In a reflective tone, he opens his narration by setting out the image his family has of him: a failed relative, solitary and penniless, condemned to a drab and routine existence, whose chief enemy is himself. Yet he maintains that behind this appearance, accepted by all, there lies a story very different from the one others believe they know.

Arthur Conan Doyle: The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle

“The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle” is a short story by Arthur Conan Doyle, published in January 1892 in The Strand Magazine. Two days after Christmas, Dr. Watson finds Sherlock Holmes examining an old hat and a lost goose recovered after a street altercation. What initially seems a trivial incident takes an unexpected turn when a valuable jewel, stolen days earlier, is discovered inside the bird. From this surprising find, Holmes embarks on a meticulous investigation to trace the goose’s journey and determine how an object of such value came to be hidden in so improbable a place.

Gordon R. Dickson: The Christmas Present

“The Christmas Present” is a short story by Gordon R. Dickson, published in January 1958 in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. Allan Dumay, a six-year-old human child living with his family on the planet Cidor, befriends Harvey, a Cidorian being who dwells in the marsh near his home. On Christmas Eve, Allan and his mother try to explain to Harvey the meaning of this holiday imported from Earth. While mother and son wrap presents, the boy decides to make a special gesture toward his alien friend.

Brian Aldiss: The New Father Christmas

“The New Father Christmas” is a short story by Brian Aldiss published in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction in January 1958. Set in the year 2388, it tells the story of Roberta and Robin, an elderly couple who live on the upper floors of a gigantic factory. When Roberta discovers that it is Christmas, she decides to share the news with three homeless people hiding in the basement of the factory, which continues to operate tirelessly. However, by inviting them up to her home, she sets off a chain of events that will forever change the fate of the inhabitants of this oppressive mechanized world.

Patricia Highsmith: A Clock Ticks at Christmas

“A Clock Ticks at Christmas,” a short story by Patricia Highsmith published in Mermaids on the Golf Course (1985), introduces us to Michèle and Charles, a wealthy Parisian couple whose life is turned upside down after Michèle’s chance encounter with a poor boy on Christmas Eve. Moved by the spirit of generosity of the Christmas season, Michèle invites the boy into her home and offers him help. However, the visit exposes fundamental tensions and differences in the couple, revealing their different perspectives on charity, trust, and the value of human relationships.

Algernon Blackwood: The Kit-Bag

Synopsis: “The Kit-Bag” is a short story by Algernon Blackwood, published in December 1908 in Pall Mall Magazine. Johnson has spent ten days in court observing the trial of a brutal murderer named John Turk, whose image haunts him. Eager to leave for the Alps and put this disturbing experience behind him, he is packing his bags when he hears furtive footsteps on the stairs, as if someone were lurking in the shadows. As his unease grows, the atmosphere becomes increasingly oppressive, and the night, which promised to be peaceful, turns into a terrifying experience.