Patum Peperium: The Great Christmas Book Series, Cont'd (Jeremy)

The Great Christmas Book Series
Jeremy

I’m honoured to participate in this year’s Great Christmas Book Series alongside such august contributors.

“It is more blessed to give than to receive,” taught Our Lord, whose hard sayings are always filled with more sense than our common sort. So, in honour of such wisdom, I’ve included, in my list, both books that I would be delighted to give away in honour of His birth, as well those which I would, selflessly eager to let others have greater blessing, like to receive.

Jesus of Nazareth – Benedict XVI
It’s Christmas, so most people won’t be hearing or thinking about Jesus for a while. There’s no better way to reintroduce the centre of our happy observances than with His Holiness’ warm look at Emmanuel. World, yearning in lonely exile, meet the Son of God appeared.

Letters From Father Christmas – J.R.R. Tolkien
This illustrated collection of Tolkien’s letters to his children is a Christmas classic, and filled with all sorts of material to inspire a similar, lovely, family tradition. Tolkien, Elves, Orcs attacking the North Pole, and Christmas trees. Could it be anything but brilliant?

Empire – Niall Ferguson
That the British Empire did more good than harm is something few would dare to say aloud, let alone in print. Ferguson’s brave survey of the “Rise and Demise of the British World Order,” while not completing the work, is an essential start to a properly revised appraisal of the scepter'd isle’s rule over a quarter of the Earth. Of particular interest is Ferguson’s sympathetic treatment of the (Catholic convert) Lord Ripon’s push for greater Indian rights during his time as Vice-Roy. Extra value if you buy it to someone in Post-Colonial Studies; ‘though any blessing gained in the giving will be lost if you take cruel pleasure in their squirming.

King's Counsellor Abdication and War: The Diaries of Sir Alan Lascelles – Sir Alan Lascelles Ed. Duff Hart-Davis
As private secretary to three monarchs, Lascelles offers unique perspectives on some of the most important events of the 20th Century. From Edward VIII’s abdication (in the long-gone days when marriage to a divorcée, or American, disqualified one from the throne) through the Second World War to the Coronation of Elizabeth II. Lascelles offers plenty of substance for those seeking serious history; or gossip.

The Chevalier de Montmagny: First Governor of New France – Jean-Claude Dubé
Another man, another Empire. Following Charles Huault de Montmagny from childhood in Paris, through Corsairing for Christ in Malta, induction as a knight of the Order of St John of Jerusalem, and governorships in Canada and the West Indies, this scholarly biography is a fascinating account of a brave, faithful servant; of the French Crown, but also of Christ, his Church, and all Christendom.

Gentleman – Bernhard Roetzel
If you’ve ever wondered which silk knots to wear with your checked shirt while out shooting at the weekend, or what flask to bring with you and what you need to put in your pipe as you walk, you’ll find the answer here. For any other question related to gentlemanly propriety, in fact. This rich resource is of more value to a man than a compass to an arctic explorer. It might have only been improved under the editorial eye of Sir Basil, who would have been sure to include the missing chapter “On Christian Piety” to the benefit of the book and its readers. Without such piety, a man is more likely to be only a well-dressed cad. (See VIII, Edward)

Soldier of the Great War, Winter’s Tale, Freddy and Fredericka – Mark Helprin
In fact, I recommend anything by Helprin, surely one of the best writers currently producing. Nevertheless, these three are a great start. A young Italian who lives, learns about, and teaches beauty; a fantastical, mythical tale interwoven with love for New York City unrivalled anywhere save Mr. Andrew Cusack’s weblog; and an hilarious tale of a haughty Prince of Wales and his empty-headed, attention-seeking wife who discover themselves and love while lost in the United States on a secret mission to reclaim them for the Crown. Helprin’s prose is marvellous, his stories rich, and his observations often profound and spiritually sensitive. If that’s not enough to convince you, as my friend Emily once pointed out, all his works feature characters gaining insights in physically high places and sex on trains – which sounds like something that might’ve come from something written by the late ‘60s Auden:

I’ve had insights in a high place
and sex on moving trains,
but of the pleasure from the brace
it’s the insights’ that remains.

(A poor imitation, I know.)

Merry Christmas, everyone, and happy reading.

Jeremy can be found just a bit North of us at Classic Canadian.