Of Christmas by Max Beerbohm (1917)
A man arrives at an inn late at night, persistently calling for entry until the door is finally opened. He is described as weak and unimpressive, having spent his academic years studying philosophy and later engaging in finance. His name is Trot Dimby, and he is linked to a prominent figure, Lord Abraham Hart, who mistakenly believed in his potential. The narrative hints at a deeper exploration of truth, particularly in relation to Christmas, suggesting that the pursuit of truth is akin to a chaotic hunt rather than a calculated endeavor. The text transitions into a poetic reflection on Christmas, invoking imagery of a man with a drum in a town, leading to the appearance of Saint Gabriel. The narrator expresses a desire to sing and celebrate the essence of Christmas, contemplating the act of songwriting and the significance of various locations where he might perform. The work emphasizes the intrinsic and extrinsic beauty of the Christmas feast, suggesting a complex interplay between tradition, personal experience, and the search for meaning. The narrator's musings blend humor, introspection, and a critique of societal norms surrounding the holiday, ultimately framing Christmas as a multifaceted experience that transcends mere celebration.
By Max Beerbohm · First published 1917 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Satire, Fantasy · 1,292 words
First lines
There was a man came to an Inn by night, and after he had called three times they should open him the door -- though why three times, and not three times three, nor thirty times thirty, which is the number of the little stone devils that make mows at St. Aloesius of Ledera over against the marshes Gue-la-Nuce to this day, nor three hundred times three hundred (which is a bestial number), nor three thousand times three-and-thirty, upon my soul I know not, and nor do you -- when, then, this jolly fellow had three times cried out, shouted, yelled, holloa'd, loudly besought, caterwauled, brayed, sung out, and roared, he did by the same token set himself to beat, hammer, bang, pummel, and knock at the door. Now the door was Oak. It had been grown in the forest of Boulevoise, hewn in Barre-le-Neuf, seasoned in South Hoxton, hinged nowhere in particular, and panelled -- and that most abominably well -- in Arque, where the peasants sell their souls for skill in such handicraft. But our man knew nothing of all this, which, had he known it, would have mattered little enough to him, for a reason which I propose to tell in the next sentence. The door was opened. As to the reasons why it was not opened sooner, these are most tediously set forth in Professor Sir T. K. Slibby's "Half-Hours With Historic Doors," as also in a fragment at one time attributed to Oleaginus Silo but now proven a forgery by Miss Evans. Enough for our purpose, merry reader of mine, that the door was opened.
What this Textopian page supports
Of Christmas is listed on Textopian as a short story by Max Beerbohm, dated 1917 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Max Beerbohm
- Date: 1917 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Satire, Fantasy, Poetry, Holiday Literature
- Length: 1,292 words
- Structure: 1 section, 10 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Of Christmas by Max Beerbohm
- 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 Of Christmas?
- How does this short story by Max Beerbohm fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Literary Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Scruts by Max Beerbohm
- Franklin Hyde by Hilaire Belloc
- The Actor Manager by Harry Graham
- The Feast by Max Beerbohm
- Christmas by Max Beerbohm
- In Homes Unblest 1919 by Max Beerbohm
Genres
- Literary Fiction — The work features a complex narrative style and explores themes of truth and the human experience, characteristic of literary fiction.
- Satire — The text employs humor and irony to critique societal norms and the nature of truth, aligning it with satirical literature.
- Fantasy — Elements of the supernatural and whimsical, such as the appearance of Saint Gabriel, place the work within the fantasy genre.
- Poetry — The inclusion of verse and lyrical elements throughout the text indicates a strong poetic influence.
Tags
Satire · Humor · Social Commentary · Christmas · Holiday · Fiction · Short Stories · English Literature · 20th Century Literature · Comedy · Wit · Irony