<div> <b>One of five beloved Christmas classics in collectible hardcover editions</b><br> <br> Written in 1816 by one of the leaders of German Romanticism for his children, nephews, and nieces, <i>The Nutcracker </i>captures better than any other story a child’s wonder at Christmas. The gift of a handsomely decorated nutcracker from a mysterious uncle sets the stage for a Christmas Eve like no other for the little girl Marie. That night, Marie’s extraordinary present comes to life, defends her from the taunting Mouse King, and whisks her off to the Kingdom of Dolls. The inspiration for the classic ballet, E. T. A. Hoffmann’s irresistible tale of magic and childhood adventure continues to captivate readers of all ages. Today, many of the most enchanting symbols of Christmas, from nutcrackers to sugar plums to mistletoe, are still imbued with the power of this story.<br> <br> <b>Penguin Christmas Classics</b><br> <br> Give the gift of literature this Christmas.<br> <br> Penguin Christmas Classics honor the power of literature to keep on giving through the ages. The five volumes in the series are not only our most beloved Christmas tales, they also have given us much of what we love about the holiday itself. <i>A Christmas Carol</i> revived in Victorian England such Christmas hallmarks as the Christmas tree, holiday cards, and caroling. The Yuletide yarns of Anthony Trollope popularized throughout the British Empire and around the world the trappings of Christmas in London. The holiday tales of Louisa May Alcott shaped the ideal of an American Christmas. <i>The Night Before Christmas</i> brought forth some of our earliest Christmas traditions as passed down through folk tales. And <i>The Nutcracker</i> inspired the most famous ballet in history, one seen by millions in the twilight of every year.<br> <br> Beautifully designed?with foil-stamped jackets, decorative endpapers, and nameplates for personalization?and printed in a small trim size that makes them perfect stocking stuffers, Penguin Christmas Classics embody the spirit of giving that is at the heart of our most time-honored stories about the holiday.<br> <br> Collect all five Penguin Christmas Classics:<br> <br> <i>A Christmas Carol</i> by Charles Dickens<br> <i>Christmas at Thompson Hall: And Other Christmas Stories</i> by Anthony Trollope<br> <i>A Merry Christmas: And Other Christmas Stories</i> by Louisa May Alcott<br> <i>The Night Before Christmas</i> by Nikolai Gogol<br> <i>The Nutcracker</i> by E. T. A. Hoffmann</div>