A Merry Literary Christmas

…to one and all…

There are many people in the world who can convey the meaning of Christmas time in their expressions and emotions, but there are few who can convey its meaning in words. As a way of saying Merry Christmas to you all, here are a series of excerpts from great writers’ works.

‘It was his own room. There was no doubt about that. But it had undergone a surprising transformation. The walls and ceiling were so hung with living green, that it looked a perfect grove; from every part of which, bright gleaming berries glistened. The crisp leaves of holly, mistletoe, and ivy reflected back the light, as if so many little mirrors had been scattered there; and such a mighty blaze went roaring up the chimney, as that dull petrification of a hearth had never known in Scrooge's time, or Marley's, or for many and many a winter season gone. Heaped up on the floor, to form a kind of throne, were turkeys, geese, game, poultry, brawn, great joints of meat, sucking-pigs, long wreaths of sausages, mince-pies, plum-puddings, barrels of oysters, red-hot chestnuts, cherry-cheeked apples, juicy oranges, luscious pears, immense twelfth-cakes, and seething bowls of punch, that made the chamber dim with their delicious steam. In easy state upon this couch, there sat a jolly Giant, glorious to see, who bore a glowing torch, in shape not unlike Plenty's horn, and held it up, high up, to shed its light on Scrooge, as he came peeping round the door.’ – A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens

‘They drank healths, told stories, sang songs, `reminisced', as the old folks say, and had a thoroughly good time. A sleigh ride had been planned, but the girls would not leave their father, so the guests departed early, and as twilight gathered, the happy family sat together round the fire.’ – Little Women, Louisa May Alcott

‘But angel like, when I awoke,
Thy silvery form so soft and fair
Shining through darkness, sweetly spoke
Of cloudy skies and mountains bare

The dearest to a mountaineer
Who, all life long has loved the snow
That crowned her native summits drear,
Better, than greenest plains below –

And voiceless, soulless messenger
They presence waked a thrilling tone
That comforts me while thou art here
And will sustain when thou art gone’

- final three stanzas of ‘To a Wreath of Snow’, from the fantasy world of Gondal, Emily Jane Brontë

‘Hallo. A great deal of steam. The pudding was out of the copper. A smell like a washing-day. That was the cloth. A smell like an eating-house and a pastrycook's next door to each other, with a laundress's next door to that. That was the pudding.’ – A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens

‘she ushered me into a room whose double illumination of fire and candle at first dazzled me, contrasting as it did with the darkness to which my eyes had been for two hours inured; when I could see, however, a cosy and agreeable picture presented itself to my view.

A snug small room; a round table by a cheerful fire; an arm-chair high-backed and old-fashioned, wherein sat the neatest imaginable little elderly lady, in widow's cap, black silk gown, and snowy muslin apron.’ – Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë

‘The more it snows(Tiddely pom),
The more it goes(Tiddely pom),
The more it goes(Tiddely pom)
On snowing. 

And nobody knows(Tiddely pom),
How cold my toes(Tiddely pom),
How cold my toes(Tiddely pom),
Are growing.’

- The House at Pooh Corner, A.A.Milne 

'Turning towards the hearth, where the two logs had fallen apart, and sent forth only a red uncertain glimmer, he seated himself on his fireside chair, and was stooping to push his logs together, when, to his blurred vision, it seemed as if there were gold on the floor in front of the hearth. Gold!—his own gold—brought back to him as mysteriously as it had been taken away! He felt his heart begin to beat violently, and for a few moments he was unable to stretch out his hand and grasp the restored treasure. The heap of gold seemed to glow and get larger beneath his agitated gaze. He leaned forward at last, and stretched forth his hand; but instead of the hard coin with the familiar resisting outline, his fingers encountered soft warm curls. In utter amazement, Silas fell on his knees and bent his head low to examine the marvel: it was a sleeping child—a round, fair thing, with soft yellow rings all over its head.' - Silas Marner, George Eliot

Merry Christmas to everyone!

My Strictly Winners

Those of us who watch Strictly Come Dancing usually have our favourites from across the series'. I confess to only having watched series four, five and six. Here are my favourites (in no particular order) from those three series.

Alesha Dixon

Of all the women in the three series I've watched, Alesha has stood out by a mile. Whilst Rachel Stevens and Lisa Snowdon may have been topping the judges leader board week after week after week and breaking Strictly records left right and centre, neither seemed to give off the spark as Alesha. From week one of series five, Alesha lit up the stage. She may not have been as technically accurate as Rachel or Lisa, but the combination of her technique with her exceptional performance is what made her stand out so far above the crowd.

Austin Healey

It was disappointing to see Austin and Erin voted out in the quarter-final stage. From the very beginning they, along with Cheri and James, were the couple to beat. Whilst never achieving the scores of Rachel and Lisa, Austin's performances were always more engaging and entertaining. His technique was very good and helped mark him as one of the best male dancers on Strictly. And that paso doble...

Mark Ramprakash

Series four was the first time I watched Strictly and from start Mark Ramprakash was the one to watch. He and Karen Hardy, whilst not the most consistent of couples, came up trumps when it was needed. Their salsa is one of the most memorable dances, a brilliant combination of performance and technique. The performance which marked them as one of my favourite couples was their Argentine tango in semi-final week. It had all the ingredients needed for a superb dance. Since that tango, no other couple has performed one as good as that (not even Rachel Stevens).

Gethin Jones

He may not have been the best dancer in series five, that was Alesha, but he was always fun to watch. His breakout week towards the end of the series showed him as being the most improved performer on the show - that salsa was awesome! He and Camilla were one of the most entertaining couples in the three series I've watched.

The Dances

Not only do most Strictly viewers have their favourite couples but also their favourite dances. Each series has at least one dance which stands out and is remembered from one series to the next. Despite not having watched the second series Jill Halfpenny and Darren Bennett's jive is one which will not be forgotten as it is often shown and quoted on Strictly as having been one of the best dances. Here are my favourites from the last three series (in no particular order).

Mark Ramprakash and Karen Hardy's Salsa

Highly entertaining - technically brilliant - all that a salsa should be. And, of course, extremely hot! The song and Karen's choreography were more than well suited providing the best salsa of series four, five and six.

Alesha Dixon and Matt Cutler's Cha Cha Cha

By far the most consistent performer in series five, this cha cha cha to Crazy in Love summed up Alesha's Strictly achievement. It may not have been technically perfect, but the sheer energy and vibrance has made this one of the most memorable Strictly performances yet. As memorable as Jill Halfpenny's jive.

Mark Ramprakash and Karen Hardy's Argentine Tango

The Argentine tango, along with the paso doble, is my favourite dance. I was at first a little sceptical about the music, but by the end I was not at all. The dance was, for me, the dance of the series. It was full of passion, raunchiness, drama and technique, altogether successfully conveying the dark and seedy nature of the Argentine tango. As of yet, the best Argentine tango I've seen.

Austin Healey and Erin Boag's Paso Doble

In series six I watched week after week waiting for a striking performance. Whilst Rachel and Lisa produced very good dances there still seemed to be a spark lacking. The paso dobles' of the series had been disappointing and the only I could think of which had been any good since series four was the one Mark Ramprakash and Karen Hardy performed. I was unsure whether Austin and Erin could pull it off. But, with an electric opening, they performed the dance of the series. Full of passion, control, drama and energy this paso matched upto the likes of the series four Argentine tango and the series five cha cha cha. One definitely to be remembered.