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    The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus
    The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus
    The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus
    Ebook123 pages1 hour

    The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus

    By L. Frank Baum

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    An imaginative work published in 1902, Baum tells the story of Claus, an orphaned human raised by various immortal creatures in an enchanted forest. When he reaches adulthood, Claus is told to live among mortals, and he is disheartened initially by poverty, war, and other negative aspects of humanity. He becomes well-known for his kindness to children, and this enthusiasm leads to the invention of the first toys. Claus eventually makes it his life's mission to bring joy to children, and this unfolds into an entertaining explanation of many Christmas traditions, including stockings, trees, and climbing chimneys. The road is not always smooth, and Claus ultimately must face the result of mortality after a lifetime of generosity. "The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus" shows the depth of Baum's understanding of children that explains his monumental success as an author of classic children's literature.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherDigireads.com Publishing
    Release dateJan 1, 2010
    ISBN9781596251861
    Author

    L. Frank Baum

    L. Frank Baum (1856-1919) published The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in 1900 and received enormous, immediate success. Baum went on to write seventeen additional novels in the Oz series. Today, he is considered the father of the American fairy tale. His stories inspired the 1939 classic film The Wizard of Oz, one of the most widely viewed movies of all time. MinaLima is an award-winning graphic design studio founded by Miraphora Mina and Eduardo Lima, renowned for establishing the visual graphic style of the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts film series. Specializing in graphic design and illustration, Miraphora and Eduardo have continued their involvement in the Harry Potter franchise through numerous design commissions, from creating all the graphic elements for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Diagon Alley at Universal Orlando Resort, to designing award-winning publications for the brand. Their best-selling books include Harry Potter and the Philospher’s Stone, Harry Potter Film Wizardry, The Case of Beasts: Explore the Film Wizardry of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, The Archive of Magic: Explore the Film Wizardry of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, and J.K. Rowling’s Fantastic Beasts screenplays. MinaLima studio is renowned internationally for telling stories through design and has created its own MinaLima Classics series, reimagining a growing collection of much-loved tales including Peter Pan, The Secret Garden, and Pinocchio.

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    Reviews for The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus

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    • 2/5
      I should have been able to read this in a ridiculously short amount of time; I mean, it's a tiny book. Plus, I always try to finish books on principle. However, I couldn't finish this one. I love the story's premise and the fairies, nymphs and other magical creatures were delightful. But I can't get past L. Frank Baum's writing style. I find it stifling and looking back, I suppose I've always found his writing stifling because I've never been able to get the whole way through one of his books. Every time I even think about finishing this book I cringe, so I think I'm just going to cut myself a break and go read something more enjoyable.
    • 5/5
      I owned a copy of this book when I was a child and I still, many, many years later, mourn its loss. This was one of my favorite books and I can't begin to say how beautiful a story I find it. I love the way that Baum mingled fairies and animal wonder tales with the Santa Claus mythology to create a new version of the story.The version I owned as a child was a very early edition and had beautiful illustrations, but I don't know if it was a first edition; that edition was illustrated by Mary Cowles Clark. My local library has copies illustrated by Michael Hague. I think he's a wonderful illustrator, but I imprinted on the pictures from my childhood.
    • 5/5
      Beautifully illustrated book of how Santa Claus came to be. Not the usual story - beginning with the fantasical fairytale of St. Nick being raised by woodland fairies to finding reindeer to building toys and finally becomming immortal.
    • 2/5
      Meh. It's an unremarkable late Victorian children's tale. Merely unremarkable (and I'm finding I don't much care for the late-Vic-children's-tale as a genre, so "unremarkable" counts against it in my book). Employs a non-traditional "pantheon" of magical beings (knooks? ryls?) in the regular (non-magical) world, with which I did not connect. I thought there were lots of inconsistencies, large and small, and several things that just were not credible (not only did Santa invent toys, but he continues to monopolize absolutely this "cottage" {hee hee} industry). Plus some Victorian social bias slips through (e.g., the rich children speak well, the poor ones do not).
    • 4/5
      As the title implies, The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus serves up Santa's "origin story" from being found by nymphs as an infant, to being raised by them, and then going out into the world to make life better for children everywhere. Told by L. Frank Baum, the style is similar to the Oz books, and explains everything: why Santa makes toys, how the reindeer got involved, why he goes down the chimney, and so on. I mean, who doesn't want to know how this all works?This book is one of six Penguin Christmas Classics, published in beautiful hardcover editions. I spotted these in a shop last year, and almost gave in to temptation; this one was a gift from a Secret Santa this year. I have a feeling I will be buying more ...
    • 4/5
      In The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus, L. Frank Baum creates a unique life history for the jolly old elf from his infancy through to his achievement of immortality. Baum's Santa lives in a valley adjacent to Oz and interacts with fairy folk like those in his more famous body of work. Like the Oz stories, Baum's writing here is characterized by unadulterated joy and optimism, without condescending to his audience. Indeed, both adults and children can enjoy his writing. While certain elements of Baum's Santa Claus differ from what has become the standard, the essence of the character is still present. Parents can easily add this book to the list of traditional holiday books to share with their children while Oz enthusiasts will delight in Santa's backstory after seeing him in The Road to Oz, the fifth book in the Oz series.
    • 4/5
      A delightful children's fantasy. A reminder of what made Baum's books so enjoyable. The older style of writing may take some getting used to, but it is well worth it. By removing Santa Claus to the realm of folklore, he can explain who Santa Claus is, how he does what he does and why he does what he does without getting involved with the conflict of the religion of Christmas. You can have both.
    • 5/5
      This is a sweet book introducing the world to the man behind the bright red suit. From the time he's abandoned as a baby and adopted by fairies, to his first trip through the countryside with reindeer, every aspect of the Santa Claus myth is explained. I loved that at its heart it's a story of seeing the harsh reality in the world and deciding to be the change that you want. Santa Claus is depicted as a generous, loving man who wants to make children happy. The origins of his toy making skills and chimney entrances are explained in a playful and satisfying way. Such a wonderful Christmas tale!
    • 4/5
      This book has been made into a cartoon movie that I came upon one Christmas season but it was only bits and pieces that I saw. I was caught by the movie but unfortunately I couldn't get the channel to tell me what the show was nor could I figure it out so it disappeared back into the darkness of oblivion for me even though I kept thinking about it. A few years ago my sister found out that it was actually a book and the author while she chose to gift this book for me for my birthday instead of the movie. I have read it and enjoyed it while hoping still someday that I will be able to finish the movie. L. Frank Baum has never been much of an author for me although I must say his books are much better than the movie adaptations. As the knowledge came to me for the author I was disappointed a bit. Just like his famous series this book is inhabited with creatures, plants and beings that have come from Baum's creative mind. They are based upon life but given a new meaning that defies the archaic beliefs such as fairies that aren't repulsed by metal but instead act as guardians of mankind. What caught my attention with this book is the fact that this book is about the generosity of man and that are efforts are never in main. It gives a very reasonable and sturdy framework that seems to answer all the questions that one may have for Santa Claus including his origins, how he has lived for so long and why certain Christmas traditions have come into being. It goes into the history of children having been forsaken or neglected by their parents until one person (the famous Claus) chose to have pity and make it his mission to ease the troubles of their life until they are made by nature to take it up. This is definitely no Nativity tale and mentions nothing of the Lord Jesus but Baum still admits that even in his world of immortals there is a Supreme Being who is still in charge. The plot and writing is simple to follow while the story is quite beautiful in my opinion. This is definitely one of my favorite Christmas-time tales. And for me it is a classic!
    • 3/5
      So this was the basis for one of my favorite Christmas specials, which they don't show often enough (I am referring to the 1985 version). Baum's story of Santa Claus does take out the religious aspect and focuses more on the fantasy and fairy aspect. At times, there is a feeling of how long is this going to go on, but there is a certain charm to the story.
    • 4/5
      I’ve read the first few Oz books from Baum, and I’m enjoying that series. It’s fun and imaginative. That’s what I thought of this book as well, though only to a lesser extent. That’s not to say this book is worse than those of the Oz series, it’s just a different side of Baum’s writing.

      The Santa Claus mythology we know today varies from culture to culture and generation to generation. While I’ve long outgrown the holiday traditions from my childhood, this book didn’t lack in a story to draw me in and think about Santa again in my 26th year of life. Baum, like he’s known for, was able to create in a short novel, a vast world full of magic and creatures that life just outside of the human realm. Some elements are recognizable, and others may have been Baum’s own creation. not being a Santa scholar, I’ll take it as what it is, an origin story of Baum’s own mind. A refreshing one for me as a reader who grew up with Tim Allen’s Santa and many other very different versions.

      I’m glad I finally picked this one up. I continue to enjoy Baum’s stories for children and only wish I discovered them at a much earlier age to have enjoyed them all by this time in my life.
    • 3/5
      Meh. At times charming, other times dry. It almost felt like Baum was going down a list of characteristics of Santa Claus he wanted to include and, one by one, marked them off as he fit them into his story. Also, I don't know why, but I had a hard time believing the Fairies as such benign, helpful peoples.Recommended to parents, caregivers and/or teachers who want to read a Christmas-themed tale to their younger kids during the holiday season. Adults, especially fans of the Oz books, might find themselves underwhelmed.3 stars
    • 3/5
      This begins with the discovery of the human baby by nymph Necile, who asks for permission from the Master Woodsman, a ruler of immortals, to keep the mortal child for her own. Named Claus, the boy is raised by all the fairies and magical creatures until the day he realizes that he must go live among other humans. He discovers a talent for toy-making, an empathy for all children, a way to carry his toys across the world and how simple B&E is.I didn't know Baum, author of The Wizard of Oz, had written anything else. This was published in 1902, well before Coca-Cola provided us with the Santa we think of now, so I don't know how much Baum based his Santa on folktales and how much was his own creation. For instance, the reindeer names are Flossie, Glossie, Racer, Pacer, Reckless, Speckless, Fearless, Peerless, Ready and Steady.This is written like a very old-fashioned fairy tale and was slow going at first until I realized that this book must have been intended to be read out loud to children.
    • 5/5
      One of my all time favorite books. when each of my kids entered 3rd grade I would buy a copy and donate it to the class to be read aloud by the teacher.
    • 5/5
      Overall I enjoyed this book. It was a whimsical fairy tale that told us various elements of how Santa came to be. It was an interesting lens to see the Christmas world through. Full review forthcoming on my blog.
    • 3/5
      Cute and quaint.
    • 4/5
      Received from Early Readers program.This is a Santa Claus origin story from the author of the OZ books L. Frank Baum. It is a very quaint little book and has some very sweet little fantasy elements. Would be a good little series of bedtime stories for young children leading up to Christmas. It is a little dated but not too much, and I enjoyed reading it.

    Book preview

    The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus - L. Frank Baum

    THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF SANTA CLAUS

    BY L. FRANK BAUM

    A Digireads.com Book

    Digireads.com Publishing

    Print ISBN 13: 978-1-4209-3237-9

    Ebook ISBN 13: 978-1-5962-5186-1

    This edition copyright © 2011

    Please visit www.digireads.com

    CONTENTS

    YOUTH

    Chapter 1. Burzee

    Chapter 2. The Child of the Forest

    Chapter 3. The Adoption

    Chapter 4. Claus

    Chapter 5. The Master Woodsman

    Chapter 6. Claus Discovers Humanity

    Chapter 7. Claus Leaves the Forest

    MANHOOD

    Chapter 1. The Laughing Valley

    Chapter 2. How Claus Made the First Toy

    Chapter 3. How the Ryls Colored the Toys

    Chapter 4. How Little Mayrie Became Frightened

    Chapter 5. How Bessie Blithesome Came to the Laughing Valley

    Chapter 6. The Wickedness of the Awgwas

    Chapter 7. The Great Battle Between Good and Evil

    Chapter 8. The First Journey with the Reindeer

    Chapter 9. Santa Claus!

    Chapter 10. Christmas Eve

    Chapter 11. How the First Stockings Were Hung by the Chimneys

    Chapter 12. The First Christmas Tree

    OLD AGE

    Chapter 1. The Mantle of Immortality

    Chapter 2. When the World Grew Old

    Chapter 3. The Deputies of Santa Claus

    YOUTH

    Chapter 1. Burzee

    Have you heard of the great Forest of Burzee? Nurse used to sing of it when I was a child. She sang of the big tree-trunks, standing close together, with their roots intertwining below the earth and their branches intertwining above it; of their rough coating of bark and queer, gnarled limbs; of the bushy foliage that roofed the entire forest, save where the sunbeams found a path through which to touch the ground in little spots and to cast weird and curious shadows over the mosses, the lichens and the drifts of dried leaves.

    The Forest of Burzee is mighty and grand and awesome to those who steal beneath its shade. Coming from the sunlit meadows into its mazes it seems at first gloomy, then pleasant, and afterward filled with never-ending delights.

    For hundreds of years it has flourished in all its magnificence, the silence of its inclosure unbroken save by the chirp of busy chipmunks, the growl of wild beasts and the songs of birds.

    Yet Burzee has its inhabitants—for all this. Nature peopled it in the beginning with Fairies, Knooks, Ryls and Nymphs. As long as the Forest stands it will be a home, a refuge and a playground to these sweet immortals, who revel undisturbed in its depths.

    Civilization has never yet reached Burzee. Will it ever, I wonder?

    Chapter 2. The Child of the Forest

    Once, so long ago our great-grandfathers could scarcely have heard it mentioned, there lived within the great Forest of Burzee a wood-nymph named Necile. She was closely related to the mighty Queen Zurline, and her home was beneath the shade of a widespreading oak. Once every year, on Budding Day, when the trees put forth their new buds, Necile held the Golden Chalice of Ak to the lips of the Queen, who drank therefrom to the prosperity of the Forest. So you see she was a nymph of some importance, and, moreover, it is said she was highly regarded because of her beauty and grace.

    When she was created she could not have told; Queen Zurline could not have told; the great Ak himself could not have told. It was long ago when the world was new and nymphs were needed to guard the forests and to minister to the wants of the young trees. Then, on some day not remembered, Necile sprang into being; radiant, lovely, straight and slim as the sapling she was created to guard.

    Her hair was the color that lines a chestnut-bur; her eyes were blue in the sunlight and purple in the shade; her cheeks bloomed with the faint pink that edges the clouds at sunset; her lips were full red, pouting and sweet. For costume she adopted oak-leaf green; all the wood-nymphs dress in that color and know no other so desirable. Her dainty feet were sandal-clad, while her head remained bare of covering other than her silken tresses.

    Necile's duties were few and simple. She kept hurtful weeds from growing beneath her trees and sapping the earth-food required by her charges. She frightened away the Gadgols, who took evil delight in flying against the tree-trunks and wounding them so that they drooped and died from the poisonous contact. In dry seasons she carried water from the brooks and pools and moistened the roots of her thirsty dependents.

    That was in the beginning. The weeds had now learned to avoid the forests where wood-nymphs dwelt; the loathsome Gadgols no longer dared come nigh; the trees had become old and sturdy and could bear the drought better than when fresh-sprouted. So Necile's duties were lessened, and time grew laggard, while succeeding years became more tiresome and uneventful than the nymph's joyous spirit loved.

    Truly the forest-dwellers did not lack amusement. Each full moon they danced in the Royal Circle of the Queen. There were also the Feast of Nuts, the Jubilee of Autumn Tintings, the solemn ceremony of Leaf Shedding and the revelry of Budding Day. But these periods of enjoyment were far apart, and left many weary hours between.

    That a wood-nymph should grow discontented was not thought of by Necile's sisters. It came upon her only after many years of brooding. But when once she had settled in her mind that life was irksome she had no patience with her condition, and longed to do something of real interest and to pass her days in ways hitherto undreamed of by forest nymphs. The Law of the Forest alone restrained her from going forth in search of adventure.

    While this mood lay heavy upon pretty Necile it chanced that the great Ak visited the Forest of Burzee and allowed the wood-nymphs as was their wont—to lie at his feet and listen to the words of wisdom that fell from his lips. Ak is the Master Woodsman of the world; he sees everything, and knows more than the sons of men.

    That night he held the Queen's hand, for he loved the nymphs as a father loves his children; and Necile lay at his feet with many of her sisters and earnestly harkened as he spoke.

    We live so happily, my fair ones, in our forest glades, said Ak, stroking his grizzled beard thoughtfully, that we know nothing of the sorrow and misery that fall to the lot of those poor mortals who inhabit the open spaces of the earth. They are not of our race, it is true, yet compassion well befits beings so fairly favored as ourselves. Often as I pass by the dwelling of some suffering mortal I am tempted to stop and banish the poor thing's misery. Yet suffering, in moderation, is the natural lot of mortals, and it is not our place to interfere with the laws of Nature.

    Nevertheless, said the fair Queen, nodding her golden head at the Master Woodsman, it would not be a vain guess that Ak has often assisted these hapless mortals.

    Ak smiled.

    Sometimes, he replied, when they are very young—'children,' the mortals call them—I have stopped to rescue them from misery. The men and women I dare not interfere with; they must bear the burdens Nature has imposed upon them. But the helpless infants, the innocent children of men, have a right to be happy until they become full-grown and able to bear the trials of humanity. So I feel I am justified in assisting them. Not long ago—a year, maybe—I found four poor children huddled in a wooden hut, slowly freezing to death. Their parents had gone to a neighboring village for food, and had left a fire to warm their little ones while they were absent. But a storm arose and drifted the snow in their path, so they were long on the road. Meantime the fire went out and the frost crept into the bones of the waiting children.

    Poor things! murmured the Queen softly. What did you do?

    I called Nelko, bidding him fetch wood from my forests and breathe upon it until the fire blazed again and warmed the little room where the children lay. Then they ceased shivering and fell asleep until their parents came.

    I am glad you did thus, said the good Queen, beaming upon the Master; and Necile, who had eagerly listened to every word, echoed in a whisper: I, too, am glad!

    And this very night, continued Ak, as I came to the edge of Burzee I heard a feeble cry, which I judged came from a human infant. I looked about me and found, close to the forest, a helpless babe, lying quite naked upon the grasses and wailing piteously. Not far away, screened by the forest, crouched Shiegra, the lioness, intent upon devouring the infant for her evening meal.

    And what did you do, Ak? asked the Queen, breathlessly.

    "Not much, being in a hurry to greet my nymphs. But I commanded Shiegra to lie close to the babe, and to give it her milk

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