Every tradition has a story — and some of the best stories are the originals.
Welcome to the Reading Room: a growing shelf of classic Christmas literature, free to read in full. These works are in the public domain — old enough that they now belong to all of us — and each one comes with a short curator’s introduction and a few questions to carry with you, whether you’re reading alone, with your family, or with a book club.
Light the fire. Take your time. The room is open all year.
On the shelf
- A Visit from St. Nicholas (1823) — the 56 lines that invented the modern Santa Claus. 5-minute read.
- The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry (1905) — the most famous twist ending in Christmas literature. 15-minute read.
- A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (1843) — the complete book, one stave at a time. About 2 hours, best spread over five evenings.
More volumes join the shelf throughout the year. Want the story behind these stories? Start in The Library.