Former secretary of education and New York Times bestselling author William Bennett blends his historical expertise with his gift for storytelling into a heartwarming book about the man who ultimately became known as Santa Claus. Beloved writer and speaker William Bennett brings the legendary Saint Nicholas to life in this fascinating and faith-affirming book that will change the way you think about Santa Claus and the meaning of Christmas. Bennett reflects on Saint Nicholas’s storied life, which has spanned seventeen centuries across Europe, Asia, and Africa, and reveals an inspiring tale of devotion to God and an example of eternal goodness. The True Saint Nicholas: Why He Matters to Christmas focuses on three aspects of Saint Nicholas—historical facts from his life, his legacy in the centuries following his death, and the legendary status that transformed his likeness into the present-day jolly, toy-bearing Santa Claus. The book vividly captures the heart and life of someone who lived long ago—and yet whose life remains an inspiration for everyone to aspire to a higher order of generosity, giving, and devotion to others. An instant classic by one of America’s most respected thinkers, The True Saint Nicholas is a memorable keepsake to be shared with family and friends every year to evoke the true spirit of Christmas.

With the help of animated toys, Joey and Sam the toymaker board a magical ship to help Father Christmas distribute gifts on Christmas Eve. Reprint.

You know him as the rotund merry-maker in the red suit. But set aside the childhood myth. In this portrait, you’ll encounter the true St. Nicholas, a figure revered for his astonishing miracles and a humility that redirected all attention to God’s glory. You’ll be amazed to find St. Nicholas always turning up at just the right time—rescuing sailors from the certain death of a violent sea, saving three young women from a life of prostitution, and guarding an infant from the burns of a boiling bath. A tireless defender of God’s truth and His people, St. Nicholas’s wonderful and mysterious deeds illustrate, time and again, a heart for the weak, the poor, and the endangered—truly “the patron saint of practically everybody” and one of the most fascinating figures in all of Christian history. We learn about life through the lives of others. Their experiences, their trials, their adventures become our schools, our chapels, our playgrounds. Christian Encounters, a series of biographies from Thomas Nelson Publishers, highlights important lives from all ages and areas of the Church through prose as accessible and concise as it is personal and engaging. Some are familiar faces. Others are unexpected guests. Whether the person is D.L. Moody, Sergeant York, Saint Nicholas, John Bunyan, or William F. Buckley, we are now living in the world that they created and understand both it and ourselves better in the light of their lives. Their relationships, struggles, prayers, and desires uniquely illuminate our shared experience.