The Christmas Holly

"The Christmas Holly" by Marion Harland is a sentimental novel written during the late 19th century. This heartwarming tale explores themes of family life, the spirit of Christmas, and the importance of rekindling joy and love amidst daily struggles. The narrative captures the essence of holiday nostalgia while emphasizing compassion, charity, and the need for togetherness during the festive season. Set against the backdrop of a typical Christmas Eve, the story unfolds through the experiences of the Dryden family, particularly focusing on the disappointment of children Allison and Nettie, who feel neglected due to their mother's stern demeanor towards Christmas festivities. Their father's decision to secretly bring joy back into their lives leads him to impulsively shop for gifts, while the mother, too, is touched by the Christmas spirit and decides to do something special for the children. The book culminates in a joyful Christmas morning, revealing the transformative power of love and forgiveness within the family, highlighting the idea that Christmas should be a time of happiness and magical moments for children. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Mary Virginia Terhune, also known by her penname Marion Harland, was an American author who was prolific and bestselling in both fiction and non-fiction genres. Born in Amelia County, Virginia, she began her career writing articles at the age of 14, using various pennames until 1853, when she settled on Marion Harland. Her first novel Alone was published in 1854 and became an "emphatic success" following its second printing the next year. For fifteen years she was a prolific writer of best-selling women's novels, classified then as "plantation fiction", as well as writing numerous serial works, short stories, and essays for magazines.