Darkest Christmas
Darkest Christmas

Author: Peter Harmsen

Publisher: Casemate

Published: 2022-10-21

Total Pages: 257

ISBN-13: 1636241905

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"This book is of interest to any scholar of World War II, particularly those focused on bridging culture and war. Highly readable, this text is suitable for undergraduate and popular audiences as well. Many should find its analysis to be a refreshing take on the well-trodden field of World War II histories." — Journal of Military History December 1942 saw the bloodiest Christmas in the history of mankind. From the islands in the Pacific to the China front, from the trenches in Russia to the battle lines in North Africa, in the skies over Europe and in the depths of the Atlantic, men were killing each other in greater numbers than ever before. The Holocaust continued, and innocent civilians were murdered by the thousands throughout the evil Nazi empire, even as the perpetrators celebrated the birth of Christ. Millions stationed in far-off lands amid the greatest conflict in human history feared this was their last Christmas in freedom, or their last Christmas alive. At the same time as the slaughter continued unabated, throughout the world there were random acts of kindness, born out of an instinctive feeling of the essential brotherhood of man. These gestures also straddled religious barriers and sometimes included those of non-Christian faiths. Even some Japanese, otherwise embarked on a self-declared crusade against the West, relented for a few precious hours in acknowledgment of the holiday. At the same time, Christmas 1942 saw the injunction of ‘good will to man’ distorted in ugly and callous ways. At Auschwitz, SS guards played cruel games with their prisoners. In Berlin, the German heart of darkness, Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels spent time with his family while still buried in feverish fantasies about the Jewish world conspiracy. Christmas 1942 saw the entire range of man’s conduct towards his fellow man, reflecting the extremes of behavior, good and bad, that World War II gave rise to. The way the holiday was marked around the world tells a deeper and more universal story of the human condition in extraordinary times.

The Darkest Year
The Darkest Year

Author: William K. Klingaman

Publisher: Macmillan + ORM

Published: 2019-02-19

Total Pages: 265

ISBN-13: 1250133181

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The acclaimed narrative history of the American home front during WWII, from the attack on Pearl Harbor through 1942. For Americans on the home front, the twelve months following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor comprised the darkest year of World War Two. Despite government attempts to disguise the magnitude of American losses, it was clear that the nation had suffered a nearly unbroken string of military setbacks in the Pacific; by the autumn of 1942, government officials were openly acknowledging the possibility that the United States might lose the war. Appeals for unity and declarations of support for the war effort made it appear as though the class hostilities and partisan animosities that had beset the United States for decades had suddenly disappeared. Yet a deeply divided American society was splintering even further as conflicting interest groups sought to turn the wartime emergency to their own advantage. Meanwhile, blunders and repeated displays of incompetence by the Roosevelt administration added to the sense of anxiety and uncertainty that hung over the nation. The Darkest Year focuses on Americans’ state of mind not only through what they said, but in the day-to-day details of their behavior. William K. Klingaman delves into the social and cultural changes wrought by war, including shifts in family roles, race relations, economic pursuits, popular entertainment, education, and the arts.

Christmas After Dark - 36 Holiday Ghost Stories & Supernatural Thrillers
Christmas After Dark - 36 Holiday Ghost Stories & Supernatural Thrillers

Author: Charles Dickens

Publisher: Good Press

Published: 2024-01-17

Total Pages: 942

ISBN-13:

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In the evocative collection 'Christmas After Dark - 36 Holiday Ghost Stories & Supernatural Thrillers,' the reader is treated to a remarkable tapestry of the macabre and the mysterious, set against the backdrop of the holiday season. This anthology stands out for its eclectic mix of narratives that weave together the chilling with the festive, showcasing a stunning diversity in literary stylesfrom the gothic to the surreal. The collection reimagines the traditional sentiments of Christmas through a darker lens, highlighting the contrast between the joyous festivities and the eerie quiet of winter nights. The anthology thoughtfully curates stories from a range of time periods, thereby painting a comprehensive picture of the literary evolution of the ghost story genre, with particular attention to its intersection with Christmas traditions. The ensemble of authors featured in the collectionranging from the celebrated minds of Charles Dickens and Arthur Conan Doyle to the lesser-known but equally compelling figures like Florence Marryat and Catherine Crowebrings together a rich array of backgrounds, each contributing a unique voice to the chorus of holiday hauntings. These authors, many of whom were pivotal figures in the Victorian and Edwardian eras, collectively embody the diverse cultural and historical contexts from which these stories spring. Their works not only reflect the societal attitudes and anxieties of their times but also contribute to the overarching theme of the anthology by exploring the universal fascination with the supernatural. This anthology is a treasure trove for those keen on exploring the confluence of holiday cheer and the spectral, offering readers a chance to immerse themselves in a world where the spirit of Christmas meets the spirit world. 'Christmas After Dark' is an indispensable addition to the library of anyone fascinated by the history and evolution of ghost stories and their unique ability to bridge themes of joy, nostalgia, and terror. It beckons the reader to cozy up by the fire on a cold winter's night and delve into tales that promise to chill the heart and warm the soul in equal measure.

Dark Christmas
Dark Christmas

Author: Charles Dickens

Publisher: DigiCat

Published: 2022-11-13

Total Pages: 1176

ISBN-13:

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This meticulously edited collection includes some of the finest Christmas mysteries to keep you company for the entire holiday season! From puzzling detective cases to hair raising ghost tales, this collection has it all: The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle (Arthur Conan Doyle) The Flying Stars (G. K. Chesterton) Percival Bland's Proxy (R. Austin Freeman) A Christmas Capture (Fred M. White) McAllister's Christmas (Arthur Cheney Train) The Mystery of Room Five (Fred M White) A Policeman's Business (Edgar Wallace) Stuffing (Edgar Wallace) Mr Wray's Cash Box (Wilkie Collins) The Adventure of the Second Swag (Robert Barr) A Chaparral Christmas Gift (O. Henry) A Christmas Tragedy (Emmuska Orczy) What the Shepherd Saw (Thomas Hardy) The Silver Hatchet (Arthur Conan Doyle) Markheim (Robert Louis Stevenson) The Wolves of Cernogratz (Saki) Mustapha (Sabine Baring-Gould) The Christmas Banquet (Nathaniel Hawthorne) The Haunted Man (Charles Dickens) The Ghost's Touch (Fergus Hume) Glámr (Sabine Baring-Gould) The Ghosts at Grantley (Leonard Kip) A Terrible Christmas Eve (Lucie E. Jackson) Ghosts and Family Legends (Catherine Crowe) Thurlow's Christmas Story (John Kendrick Bangs) The Abbot's Ghost (Louisa M. Alcott) Old Applejoy's Ghost (Frank R. Stockton) Wolverden Tower (Grant Allen) The Christmas-Eve Vigil (James Bowker) The Box with the Iron Clamps (Florence Marryat) Joseph (Katherine Rickford) The Story of the Goblins Who Stole a Sexton (Charles Dickens) The Ghost of Christmas Eve (J. M. Barrie) The Dead Sexton (Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu) Uncle Cornelius His Story (George MacDonald) The Grave by the Handpost (Thomas Hardy) Number Ninety (Bithia Mary Croker) At Chrighton Abbey (Mary Elizabeth Braddon) The Black Bag Left on a Door-Step (Catherine L. Pirkis) Between the Lights (E. F. Benson) Transition (Algernon Blackwood) The Kit-Bag (Algernon Blackwood)

300 Ways to Make the Best Christmas Ever!
300 Ways to Make the Best Christmas Ever!

Author: Mimi Tribble

Publisher: Sterling Publishing Company, Inc.

Published: 2004

Total Pages: 742

ISBN-13: 9781402716850

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Stories to inspire, crafts to decorate the home, gingerbread houses of all sorts to bake, and drinks to bring cheer to all who come by: these are just some of the ways to make Christmas very, very merry, and more than 500 of them are beautifully collected right here. How will you celebrate? Perhaps the traditional American style seems most appealing: then make a Tole Painted Nativity, whip up some delicious Hot Buttered Rum, and read “The Night Before Christmas” aloud. For a classic Victorian holiday, sing “Deck the Halls,” place a charming Violin and Cherub wreath on the door, and sip some mulled wine. Or choose the Country, Southwestern (a little salsa verde, anyone?), International, or fun-filled Not-Quite-Grown-Up style.

Dreaming of a Dark Christmas
Dreaming of a Dark Christmas

Author: C. D. Watson

Publisher: Bone Diggers Press

Published: 2017-12-15

Total Pages: 42

ISBN-13: 1943465339

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Four dark tales of the holiday spirit. "Christmas Eve Gift" by C.D. Watson. Old Bill sets out on her annual Christmas Eve journey to her niece's house, and discovers an unexpected darkness along the way. "A Dark Christmas" by V.R. Cumming. (A World of the Vampyr short story.) Alice, a dark daughter of the vampire Elizabet, turns the table on a family of hunters, with unexpected consequences. "On the 7th Day of Christmas" by Celia Roman. (A Sunshine Walkingstick short story.) Sunny finally gets to throw a party with her friend David Eckstrom, only a monster shows up and twists a small kink into her New Year's Eve festivities. ​"Twelfth Night" by Lucy Varna. (A Daughters of the People short story.) A thirteen-year-old Lukas Alexiou encounters the Woman with No Face for the first time, and must decide between seizing his destiny, or allowing his father to control him forever.

The Darkest Night
The Darkest Night

Author: Lindy Ryan

Publisher: Crooked Lane Books

Published: 2024-09-24

Total Pages: 255

ISBN-13: 1639108726

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From some of the biggest names in horror comes an Advent calendar of short holiday horror stories perfect for the darkest nights of the year. Edited by award-winning author and anthologist Lindy Ryan and with contributions from masters of horror like Josh Malerman, Eric LaRocca, and Clay McLeod Chapman, this horrific anthology will chill you to the bone. From New York Times bestselling author of Bird Box, Josh Malerman, comes a story of a dark Christmas past in “Children Aren’t the Only Ones Who Know Where the Presents Are Hidden.” From national bestselling author Rachel Harrison, in “Thaw,” a couple spends their first Christmas together in a cabin—but are they alone, or does something else watch them from the tree line? New York Times bestselling authors Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon’s “Wintry Blue” sets an innocent child on the road with a strange and monstrous creature. From the Bram Stoker Award–winning screenwriter of Netflix’s Haunting of Bly Manor and The Fall of the House of Usher, in Jamie Flanagan’s “Bruiser,” something sinister stalks the chilling hallways of a nursing home at night. Author of Such a Pretty Smile, Kristi DeMeester, tells a tale of “Eggnog”: a Christmas party, an overfriendly female coworker, and an angry wife are the recipe for a deadly cocktail party. Plus stories by Nat Cassidy, Darcy Coates, Clay McLeod Chapman, Tim Waggoner, and many more, with an introduction by George C. Romero and art by renowned British horror artist Mister Sam Shearon.

The Krampus and the Old, Dark Christmas
The Krampus and the Old, Dark Christmas

Author: Al Ridenour

Publisher: Feral House

Published: 2016-09-12

Total Pages: 327

ISBN-13: 162731041X

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The Krampus, a folkloric devil associated with St. Nicholas in Alpine Austria and Germany, has been embraced by the American counterculture and is lately skewing mainstream. The new Christmas he seems to embody is ironically closer to an ancient understanding of the holiday as a perilous, haunted season. In the Krampus' world, witches rule Christmas, and saints can sometimes kill.

ON A DARK CHRISTMAS NIGHT – 25 Holiday Spook Classics & Murder Mysteries
ON A DARK CHRISTMAS NIGHT – 25 Holiday Spook Classics & Murder Mysteries

Author: Charles Dickens

Publisher: Good Press

Published: 2024-01-14

Total Pages: 868

ISBN-13:

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ON A DARK CHRISTMAS NIGHT 25 Holiday Spook Classics & Murder Mysteries gathers together an exceptional anthology that bridges the festive cheer of the holiday season with the intriguing shadows of mystery and the supernatural. This collection boasts an impressive palette of literary styles, weaving through the eerie corridors of gothic tales, the enigmatic puzzles of classic mysteries, and the chilling whispers of ghost stories. It illuminates the oft-overlooked darker side of Christmas literature, promising to surprise and captivate readers with its unique juxtaposition of holiday warmth against a backdrop of suspense and spectral ambiance. The range of narratives included showcases the versatility and innovation of its celebrated contributors, making it a standout compilation in the genre of holiday literature. The anthology is curated by a distinguished assembly of authors whose names are synonymous with the pinnacle of English literature and the development of the mystery and supernatural genres. Figures such as Charles Dickens, recognized for intertwining the spectral with the festive, and Arthur Conan Doyle, master of the detective story, contribute to the anthologys rich canvas of holiday noir. The collection not only aligns with the literary movements of Gothic and Victorian mystery but also reflects the eras fascination with the ghostly and the macabre, breathing new life into the traditional Christmas narrative. By combining the works of such illustrious writers, this anthology provides a multifaceted exploration of the themes of redemption, duality, and the supernatural that these holidays evoke. ON A DARK CHRISTMAS NIGHT is an invitation to readers to venture beyond the conventional holiday tales into a realm where the festive spirit meets the mysterious and the uncanny. It offers a unique opportunity to revel in the mastery of classic storytelling while exploring the complex intersection of joy and fear, celebration and contemplation. This collection is an indispensable addition for those who seek to deepen their appreciation of literary craftsmanship and are intrigued by the shadowy dimensions of holiday lore. Its educational value and the rich dialogue it fosters between the different authors works make it a must-read for enthusiasts of literature, history, and the arts alike.

Dark Christmas Collection: 30+ Supernatural Thrillers, Mysteries & Ghost Stories
Dark Christmas Collection: 30+ Supernatural Thrillers, Mysteries & Ghost Stories

Author: Charles Dickens

Publisher: Good Press

Published: 2023-12-10

Total Pages: 1095

ISBN-13:

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The Dark Christmas Collection offers a poignant blend of chilling narratives and yuletide eeriness, showcasing over thirty supernatural thrillers, mysteries, and ghost stories. This anthology boasts a remarkable range of literary styles, from the gothic to the quaintly macabre, each piece echoing the unique allure of the festive season intertwined with the supernatural. The diversity within this collection is its crown jewel, presenting readers with a spectrum of eerie Christmas tales that promise to enchant and unsettle in equal measure. Standout pieces, without singling out authors, manage to perfectly encapsulate the dual spirits of Christmas and spectral wonder, making this compilation a notable contribution to the genre of supernatural literature. The contributing writers, ranging from the likes of Charles Dickens to M.R. James, are unified by their mastery in crafting narratives that delve into the darker facets of the human and beyond-human experience, often against the stark, contrasting backdrop of Christmas cheer. This convergence of authors, many of whom were pioneers or significant figures in their respective eras, represents a cross-section of literary movements from Victorian ghost stories to early modernist explorations of the uncanny. The anthology serves not only as a captivating collection of ghostly Christmas tales but also as a lens through which the evolution of the supernatural in literature can be observed, highlighting how different generations have interpreted the intertwining of festive joy and spectral dread. Dark Christmas Collection is an indispensable volume for anyone fascinated by the shadowy borderlands where the Christmas spirit meets the supernatural. It invites readers to revel in a multi-faceted exploration of ghostly narratives that challenge and redefine traditional yuletide imagery. This anthology is not just a reading experienceit is an invitation to witness a unique blend of horror and celebration, making it a distinctive addition to any collection. Scholars, enthusiasts, and casual readers alike will find educational value, varied insights, and above all, a rich tapestry of stories that echo the complex relationship between the living and the ethereal, encapsulated within the amber glow of Christmas.