Book 48. The Life and Adventures
of Santa Claus, by L. Frank Baum. Unabridged audio.
This is a wonderful imagining of
the life of Santa Claus, telling the secret story of how he came to be the
loving gift-giver we know him to be.
Published just a few years after
the first Oz book, this book is written in Baum’s trademark style. Recasting
the story with elements from fairy tales adds an eerie, odd sense to the story.
There are forests, woodsmen, and evil beings who can turn invisible, just to
name a few of these aspects.
In this telling, Santa is found
as a baby by the immortal Master Woodsman of the World. As he grows, he becomes
concerned about the poor state of many children, and begins to aid them by
carving pieces of wood into things that he calls “toys.” With the help of other
immortals, he delivers these toys to an ever-expanding group of children,
eventually becoming an immortal himself.
All of the elements that are needed
in a story about Santa are here. The traditional roles of chimneys, stockings,
reindeer, helper elves and the impossible bag are all worked into the story.
The presence of toy stores in the modern world is also explained.
This was a thoroughly delightful
story.
Source: The Classic Tales Podcast.
As always, BJ Harrison does a wonderful job narrating this story.
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