After eleven pages of historical arcana, Winterson gives the reader a solid wink and urges the sleigh faster. Veterans of the Christmas wars will be familiar with most of the history, and will fall in love with it promptly anyway. There is an unexpected suddenness to Winterson’s writing here that may cause a reader, especially one of deficient Christmas spirit, to reach for their seatbelt. I admit, even in my stodgiest of my many hearts, I’m a sucker for history and was taken with the high-speed historical roundup and the bright touches of Winterson’s own deep love for the season.

Winterson’s collection begins with a whirling recitation of Christmas history with her tell-tale confidence leading the way. I had to revive the atrophied organ in my chest dedicated to processing whimsy and mercurial wonderment to understand Winterson’s collection. Winterson, this had better be good,” I said to a startled-looking, plastic reindeer half-buried in desiccated poinsettia leaves. Adjusting my monocle, I smirked into the darkness of my cellar. I prefer to leave Christmas down there, so imagine my surprise when asked to review Jeanette Winterson’s CHRISTMAS DAYS: 12 STORIES AND 12 FEASTS FOR 12 DAYS. Polaroids of the angry uncle, the racist grandfather, the Born Again aunt with the long nails and the red eyes from staring too long at the bottom of a bourbon bottle, all carefully catalogued and labeled for my inevitable, once-a-year grudge viewing. There are picture albums stacked perilously high near the furnace, filled with photos of Christmases past. Red cabbage, gravlax, turkey biryani, sherry trifle, Mrs Winterson's mince pies and more.My heart is a coal cellar, piled high with flattened, inflatable Santas, shattered Christmas tree ornaments, and red and green drifts of unsent holiday greeting cards. And a merry little Christmas time.Īnd for the icing on the Christmas cake, there are twelve festive recipes from Yuletides past and present. There's a Christmas cracker with a surprising gift inside. There's a cat and a dog and a solid silver frog. There is frost and icicles, mistletoe and sledges. There are ghosts here and jovial spirits. Enjoy the season of peace and goodwill, mystery, and a little bit of magic. Give them to friends, wrap them up for someone you love, read them aloud, read them alone, read them together. Read these stories by the fire, in the snow, travelling home for the holidays. And what better way to do that than with a story? The tradition of the Twelve Days of Christmas is a tradition of celebration, sharing and giving. 'Packed with charm and beautifully illustrated, it's a book that will solve your gift dilemmas and let you escape the less salubrious aspects of Christmas for a literary wonderland' StylistĮverybody loves a Christmas story. The perfect winter treat: a beautifully illustrated book of Christmas stories and recipes from the Booker prize longlisted author of Frankissstein

Jeanette winterson 12 days of christmas