** A New York Times New and Noteworthy Book ** Library of America and Connie Willis present 150 years of diverse, ingenious, and uniquely American Christmas stories Christmas took on its modern cast in America, and over the last 150 years the most magical time of the year has inspired scores of astonishingly diverse and ingenious stories. Library of America joins with acclaimed author Connie Willis to present a unparalleled collection of American stories about Christmas, literary gems that showcase how the holiday became one of the signature aspects of our culture. Spanning from the origins of the American tradition of holiday storytelling in the wake of the Civil War to today, this is the biggest and best anthology of American Christmas stories ever assembled. From ghost stories to the genres of crime, science fiction, fantasy, westerns, humor, and horror, stories of Christmas morning, gifts, wise men, nativities, family, commercialism, and dinners from New York to Texas to outer space, this anthology reveals the evolution of Christmas in America--as well as the surprising ways in which it has remained the same.

** A New York Times New and Noteworthy Book ** Library of America and Connie Willis present 150 years of diverse, ingenious, and uniquely American Christmas stories Christmas took on its modern cast in America, and over the last 150 years the most magical time of the year has inspired scores of astonishingly diverse and ingenious stories. Library of America joins with acclaimed author Connie Willis to present a unparalleled collection of American stories about Christmas, literary gems that showcase how the holiday became one of the signature aspects of our culture. Spanning from the origins of the American tradition of holiday storytelling in the wake of the Civil War to today, this is the biggest and best anthology of American Christmas stories ever assembled. From ghost stories to the genres of crime, science fiction, fantasy, westerns, humor, and horror, stories of Christmas morning, gifts, wise men, nativities, family, commercialism, and dinners from New York to Texas to outer space, this anthology reveals the evolution of Christmas in America--as well as the surprising ways in which it has remained the same.

An Esquire “Best Christmas Book to Read During the Holidays” An anthology of 22 Christmas stories written by African American journalists, activists, and writers from the late 19th century to the modern civil rights movement Originally published in African American newspapers, periodicals, and journals between 1880 and 1953, these Christmas stories are part of the black literary tradition that flourished after the Civil War. Edited and assembled by esteemed historian Dr. Bettye Collier-Thomas, this enchanting collection of Christmas tales is back in print for the first time in over a decade. These stories and poems reflect the Christmas experiences of everyday African Americans and explore familial and romantic love, faith, and more serious topics such as racism, violence, poverty, and racial identity. Featuring the best stories and poems from previous editions along with new material: • “The Sermon in the Cradle” by W.E.B. Du Bois • “A Carol of Color” by Mary Jenness • “The Christmas Reunion Down at Martinsville” by Augustus M. Hodges • “The Children’s Christmas” by Alice Moore Dunbar • “Christmas Eve Story” by Fanny Jackson Coppin • “Mollie’s Best Christmas Gift” by Mary E. Lee • “A Christmas Story” by Carrie Jane Thomas • “Fannie May’s Christmas” by Katherine Davis Tillman • “Elsie’s Christmas” by Salem Tutt Whitney • “General Washington: A Christmas Story” by Pauline Elizabeth Hopkins • “The Autobiography of a Dollar Bill” by Lelia Plummer • “Mirama’s Christmas Test” by Timothy Thomas Fortune • “A Christmas Party That Prevented a Split in the Church” by Margaret Black • “Three Men and a Woman” by Augustus M. Hodges • “It Came to Pass: A Christmas Story” by Bruce L. Reynolds • “A Christmas Journey” by Louis Lorenzo Redding • “Uncle U.S. Santa Claus” by James Conway Jackson • “The Devil Spends Christmas Eve in Dixie” by Andrew Dobson • “One Christmas Eve” by Langston Hughes • “Santa Claus is a White Man” by John Henrik Clarke • “Merry Christmas Eve” by Adele Hamlin • “White Christmas” by Valena Minor Williams A Treasury of African American Christmas Stories celebrates a rich storytelling tradition and will be cherished by readers for years to come.