Readers looking for a keepsake holiday celebration suitable for individual study and family sharing alike will find the perfect combination of art and scholarship in Twas the Night: The Art and History of the Classic Christmas Poem.

The book is an unexpected treasure trove, surprising because, with so very many books centered on Christmas traditions and history, it's refreshing to see an artistic and literary review of a classic poem that breathes new life into traditional perceptions.

Any collection looking for superior, solid, artistic, historical examinations of Christmas must include Twas the Night as a highly recommended mainstay. Whether a library is focused on art, history, popular culture, or Christmas, Twas the Night represents an outstanding work of literature and a compelling read the entire family can enjoy.

‘Recommended Reading – Donovan’s Bookshelf’ monthly feature Donovan’s Literary ServicePamela McColl achieves this goal by reviewing the history of the world's most cited poem. While one might think this should have been done already, over the years, if not time and again, it might come as a surprise to note that hers is the first in-depth coverage of the poem's origin Twas the Night's strength is its inclusion of hundreds of vintage images and works of art which accompany the analysis.

The classic Christmas poem A Visit From St. Nicholas (also known as Twas The Night Before Christmas) is on the cusp of enjoying two bicentennial mile markers, so this is the perfect time to absorb its ongoing impact and alluring history.

These aren't just McColl's reflections. Dozens of excerpts from a wide range of literary sources illustrate the centuries of influence that birthed this poem and others which continue to drive its classic popularity through the years.

Tracing these influences also results in a deeper understanding of Christmas culture, holiday traditions, and the art, publications, individual influencers, and evolution of the holiday spirit.

Readers also likely won't anticipate the degree and depth of American and world history that enter the stage of this poem's origins, but McColl adds all these elements to vastly expand Twas the Night's many facets: "At the 1809 New York Historical Society St. Nicholas Banquet a toast was read: “To the memory of St. Nicholas. May the virtuous habit simple manners of our Dutch ancestors be not lost in the luxuries and refinement of the present time.” The interest in the revival or establishment of Saint Nicholas reflected Pintard’s desire to create a sense of identify for the city."

The result begins with the poem's origins, but it's really a representation of changing artistic, cultural, social, and historical atmosphere swirling around the poem ths. September 2022.:

http://donovansliteraryservices.com/september-2022-issue.html

http://donovansliteraryservices.com/pick-of-the-month.html

Diane Donovan, Senior Reviewer

Twas The Night

Pamela McColl

Grafton and Scratch Publishers

‎978-1927979303 $36.00 Hardcover

https://www.amazon.com/Twas-Night-History-Classic-Christmas/dp/1927979307

Kirkus Review

In celebration of the bicentennial of the Christmas season’s most well-known and oft-recited poem, “A Visit From St. Nicholas” (also commonly referred to as “ ’Twas the Night Before Christmas”), McColl provides a collection of illustrations, snippets of literature, and historical tidbits related to Clement Clark Moore’s renowned rhyme. The author’s illuminating peek into the formulation and reception of the poem is well organized, with lovely, colorful images from various sources peppering the pages of text. Readers are given not only the background of the poem—written in 1822 and published in 1823—but also the origins of St. Nicholas and the varying cultural customs tied to Christmas throughout history. For example, McColl notes how Saturnalia was “the most popular festival in the Julian calendar” before Christianity became widespread. Similarly, readers can examine the use of Santa Claus’ image in popular culture—he appears in an Andy Warhol series—and how the belief in witchcraft in Colonial New England affected the region’s holiday celebrations. A highlight of the author’s extensive compilation turns out to be the holiday poems interspersed throughout, such as Louisa May Alcott’s “A Song for a Christmas Tree” (1871) and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s “Christmas Bells” (1863). McColl’s book, which seeks to present “selected images, along with dozens of literary excerpts, to illustrate the way in which…’Twas the Night, drew inspiration from the historical record of artistic expression and winter celebrations in western culture,” does just that. Though mainly told through quotes or passages from others, with some of her own observations sprinkled in between, the author’s commemoration is a detailed, thorough, and beautiful work for lovers of Christmas and fans of the holiday’s most famous poem.

"A delightful and informative exploration of “A Visit From St. Nicholas” for the holiday season."

Find out more

TWAS THE NIGHT: THE ART AND HISTORY OF THE CLASSIC CHRISTMAS POEM

By Pamela Mccoll

IR_Star-black IR RATING:5.0STARS

Pamela McColl's TWAS THE NIGHT: The Art and History of the Classic Christmas Poem, is packed full of vintage illustrations and lesser known historical details that make the book a bundle of perennial joy, for believers and non-believers alike. IR Approved

Posted by IR Staff
September 21, 2022

All readers could ever wish to learn--in pictures and prose--about the world’s definitive festive verse.

Across fourteen chapters, Pamela McColl takes a deep dive into the story–indeed, stories – behind The Night Before Christmas, the poem that is now firmly embedded in our collective consciousness. In the first chapter, the author paints a broad picture of the background to the poem, which was originally called A Visit from St Nicholas. The reader soon learns that the publication of this book is very timely – it coincides with the bicentenary of the poem’s recited debut on Christmas Eve 1822, followed by its initial printing a year later. The poem that has delighted children for nigh on two centuries appears to have a lively and frequently edited past. McColl outlines the controversy behind the poem’s authorship as well as illuminating the cultural history of this seasonal favorite.

The poem’s appeal to children is made clear from the outset, with the author pointing to the tone and rhythm of the verse, and giving an insight into the benevolence that underpins the content. McColl explains that TWAS THE NIGHT differs from previous representations of St Nicholas due to the absence of punishment: we learn that earlier portrayals depict the great man as wielding a birchen rod and passing judgment on children’s behavior. Such explanations are supported by thorough scholarship and literary excerpts, as well as a proliferation of glorious images, accurately described in the book as a ‘treasure trove of vintage illustrations’. It is clear that McColl has extensively researched her subject over a lengthy period of time; her enthusiasm for this poem also shines through in her impassioned prose.

One of the many delightful aspects of this book is its organization, which helpfully enables the reader to ‘dip in’ at will. For example, should one wish to find out more about Clement Clarke Moore, the man credited with writing the poem, then there is a whole chapter dedicated to him. The chapter entitled ‘The Enchanted Past’ is particularly enlightening, as well as being entertaining. From start to finish, reading this book is a little like being escorted on a magical journey through time, with minutiae of detail and accompanying visuals at every juncture. Children, of course, will love the carefully curated illustrations, while adults will appreciate the breadth and depth of research that has gone into the making of this book. History enthusiasts will undoubtedly prize the skillful assembling of such a wide range of source material, resulting in a coherent story of the poem’s life. Each source is clearly referenced for the reader’s benefit.

Pamela McColl’s TWAS THE NIGHT: The Art and History of the Classic Christmas Poem, is packed full of vintage illustrations and lesser known historical details that make the book a bundle of perennial joy, for believers and non-believers alike.

~Amanda Ellison for IndieReader

Celebrating the poem's Bicentennial 1822-2022.

Hardcover release September 8 2022

Grafton and Scratch Publishers

264 Pages Hardcover

ISBN 9781927979303

Distributed by Baker and Taylor Ohio

In 2012, Pamela McColl pubilshed a revised edition of Twas The Night Before Christmas that attracted international media attention, from the Colbert Report to the BBC, her edit out of the reference to Santa Claus smoking a pipe was a topic over dinner tables from Brisbane to New York. In appreciation of the classic poem marking a bi-centennial anniversary in 2022/2023 ( the writing 1822 - the publishing 1823) McColl brings her extensive knowledge of the poem's history and the thousands of editions to this new publication. McColl studied art and history and worked as a corporate art consultant for 20 years before launching a book and art publishing company. This new title for McColl was ten years in the making - both in terms of the research, collecting of art work and illustration and writing.

Available at bookstores worldwide for Christmas.

Grafton and Scratch is also pleased to be celebrating the 10th. anniversary of its edition of the classic Christmas poem - Twas The Night Before Christmas edited by Santa Claus for the Benefit of Children of the 21st. Century. Available in hardcover, paperback, and Ebook and ibook format with enhanced features. Also available in Spanish, French and Mandarin.

About Us

Spanish edition in hardcover, ebook and iBook for the delight of young readers.

ISBN 978-0-9879023-5-1

Santa's Song

Spanish edition in hardcover, ebook and iBook for the delight of young readers.

A playful song book based on the alphabet and the popular Christmas carol We Wish You A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

ISBN 978-1927979-23-5

Other titles

A charming story of the life of Santa Claus as a young boy.

Published and redesigned by Grafton and Scratch. Written by Sarah Addington with illustrations by Gertrude Kaye.

Sarah Addington wrote The Boy Who Lived in Pudding Lane Being A True Account, if only you believe it, of the Life and Ways of Santa, Oldest Son of Mr. and Mrs. Claus, to satisfy her curiosity, for she had to know where Santa Claus lived as a young boy and what his family was like, and how Santa got started in the enchanting pastime of toy-making and gift-giving. The charming 1922 edition is now back in print. The original illustrations by Gertrude Kaye have been restored and enlivened, for the delight of children of all ages, by award winning designer Elisa Gutierrez and published by Grafton and Scratch. ISBN 9781927979266 Hardcover. Ebook 9781927979280

Twas The Night-The Art and History of the Classic Christmas Poem

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New board book format $14.95

200th. Anniversary Edition $16.95 hardcover with dustjacket

the iconic poem turns 200