Christmas and Rome
The story revolves around a young American woman who travels to Rome during the Christmas season. She becomes disillusioned with the commercialization of Christmas and decides to take action. With the help of an Italian priest, she sets out to recreate the true spirit of Christmas by helping the poor and needy. Through her selfless acts, she rediscovers the true meaning of Christmas and finds a sense of purpose and belonging.
By Edward Everett Hale · First published 1878 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Religious Fiction, Political Fiction · 1,260 words
First lines
The first Christmas this in which a Roman Senate has sat in Rome since the old-fashioned Roman Senates went under, -- or since they "went up," if we take the expressive language of our Chicago friends.
And Pius IX. is celebrating Christmas with an uncomfortable look backward, and an uncomfortable look forward, and an uncomfortable look all around. It is a suggestive matter, this Italian Parliament sitting in Rome. It suggests a good deal of history and a good deal of prophecy.
What this Textopian page supports
Christmas and Rome is listed on Textopian as a short story by Edward Everett Hale, dated 1878 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Edward Everett Hale
- Date: 1878 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Religious Fiction, Political Fiction, Philosophical Fiction, Satire
- Length: 1,260 words
- Structure: 1 section, 11 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Christmas and Rome by Edward Everett Hale
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Christmas and Rome?
- How does this short story by Edward Everett Hale fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Historical Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Patroncitos Christmas by Edward Everett Hale
- Asaph Sheafes Christmas by Edward Everett Hale
- Thanksgiving At The Polls A Thanksgiving Story by Edward Everett Hale
- Politics by Ambrose Bierce
- The Dream Of Pio Nono by John Greenleaf Whittier
- The Stokers Story by Edward Everett Hale
Genres
- Historical Fiction — The narrative intertwines historical events and figures with fictional elements, providing a dramatized account of historical occurrences.
- Religious Fiction — The story heavily references Christian themes, the history of Christianity, and significant religious figures and events.
- Political Fiction — The text discusses political changes, the role of the Roman Senate, and the impact of political decisions on society.
- Philosophical Fiction — The narrative explores philosophical reflections on history, prophecy, and the interplay between religion and politics.
Tags
Christmas · Rome · Historical Fiction · Short Story · Classic Literature · American Literature · 19th Century · Holiday Fiction · Religious Fiction · Christian Fiction · Catholicism · Papacy