Books are perfect in any case, but when it’s a 240-page hardback dedicated to celebrating Christmas, there really isn’t anything better, is there?
The Christmas Book is a volume dedicated to this festive time of year. Art, literature, recipes, and more are spread across the pages, with featured essays by Sam Bolton, Dolph Gotelli, and David Trigg informing its readers of global traditions and rituals. Descriptions of surfing Santa’s carrot-filled shoes and fried chicken being a Christmas dinner delicacy, to name a few.
Food is an important aspect of Christmas and this book understands this, as recipes take up a large part of the content. Yotam Ottolenghi contributes Mediterranean and Middle Eastern influences, the iconic Nigella Lawson demonstrates her ‘domestic goddess’ take on indulgent festive dishes and Ravneet Gill includes her show-stopping pastries to the pages. These global culinary perspectives are a great part of The Christmas Book as it offers new takes on Christmas dishes, introducing new traditions and enjoyment for your taste buds.
It wouldn’t be a beautiful book without some photography, Andy Warhol, Norman Rockwell, and Sandro Botticelli are some names that make a feature within the book. There are over 200 captivating images, ranging from crafts and decorations to seasonal landscapes. The main photography style aims to blend fine art with documentary-style imagery.
The meaningful words and poetry make this an iconic coffee table book for the festive season – possibly more for your children due to the length and authors. J. R. R. Tolkien’s Father Christmas Letters is featured with an iconic excerpt, as well as Raymond Briggs’ The Snowman – making the book suitable for the whole family.
Overall, The Christmas Book – which is available to buy from The Courtauld Shop, Amazon, and World of Books from £26.48, is a visually engaging piece with touches on different Christmas around the globe. It helps readers feel those festive feelings of nostalgia, inspiration for decorations, and appreciation for the culture and history of Christmas.
