{"product_id":"thomas-hardy-s-christmas-book-john-h-chandler-9780750914345","title":"Thomas Hardy's Christmas","description":"The works of Thomas Hardy describe curious rituals, pagan superstitions and nostalgia for a simpler, happier past. He portrayed Christmas repeatedly in his work. It was the season for dancing, carousing and music. But it was also a time charged with ghosts and strange beleifs, and sometimes the setting for life's great events - for matchmaking and death. This anthology presents his well-known Christmas and New year scenes - the Mellstock quire, the mummers, the oxen kneeling in their pien and the darkling thrush - along side less familiar descriptions - the Paphian Ball, the absent-minded church musicians, a conversation with God, and birds in the winter snow. Here too is a Christmas story involving highway robbers and a cupboard full of snuff which Hardy wrote for a children's annual early in his career. Hardy's own words are complemented by those of his contemporaries, William Barnes and W H Hudson, plus excerpts from diaries, newspapers and letters ranging from a contemporary Christmas toast to a play.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49510921077009,"sku":"GOR001308265","price":10.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ LIKE_NEW \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":50708986429713,"sku":"GOR014043130","price":10.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":53241880379665,"sku":"GOR004311468","price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/0750914343.jpg?v=1751442479","url":"https:\/\/www.worldofbooks.com\/products\/thomas-hardy-s-christmas-book-john-h-chandler-9780750914345","provider":"World of Books ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}