A magical Christmas tale by Jostein Gaarder. Follow Joachim and Elisabet's journey through 24 chapters, exploring the true meaning of Christmas. Suitable for all ages.

Jostein Gaarder

Cover

Praise for Sophie’s World

Title Page

The First of December

Chapter 1 The Second of December

Chapter 2 The Third of December

Chapter 3 The Fourth of December

Chapter 4 The Fifth of December

Chapter 5 The Sixth of December

Chapter 6 The Seventh of December

Chapter 7 The Eighth of December

Chapter 8 The Ninth of December

Chapter 9 The Tenth of December

Chapter 10 The Eleventh of December

Chapter 11 The Twelfth of December

Chapter 12 The Thirteenth of December

Chapter 13 The Fourteenth of December

Chapter 14 The Fifteenth of December

Chapter 15 The Sixteenth of December

Chapter 16 The Seventeenth of December

Chapter 17 The Eighteenth of December

Chapter 18 The Nineteenth of December

Chapter 19 The Twentieth of December

Chapter 20 The Twenty-First of December

Chapter 21 The Twenty-Second of December

Chapter 22 The Twenty-Third of December

Chapter 23 The Twenty-Fourth of December

Chapter 24 Let Jostein Gaarder introduce you to another magical heroine in

About the Author

By Jostein Gaarder

Copyright

 From beloved Norwegian author Jostein Gaarder, this enchanting Christmas classic weaves together magic and miracles   
'All the elements of a perfect Christmas tale' ­ The Times  
'A gentle wise gem' Independent   
'Totally delightful' Irish Times  
  
Hidden in the corner of a dusty old bookshop, Joachim discovers a handmade advent calendar and begs his father to let him take it home.   
  
The next morning, when he opens the calendar's first door, out falls a tightly folded piece of paper: the first instalment of a magical story about a young girl named Elisabet.   
Little by little these pieces tell the girl's story, and as we learn what happened to her, another story is revealed - that of the strange old man who made the calendar.   
  
'Anyone who enjoyed Jostein Gaarder's philosophical bestseller Sophie's World will relish ­The Christmas Mystery ' Sunday Times  
  
Translated by Elizabeth Rokkan

A startlingly original presentation of the Nativity story, woven into an enthralling and mysterious novel.

Fifty years ago a girl disappeared from her home in Norway. She ran after a lamb and found herself travelling right across Europe to Palestine, and back through 2000 years to meet the Holy Family in Bethlehem. There she met angels, shepherds, wise men and other biblical characters who joined her on her pilgrimage; and she heard of many of the things that happened in the world in the last 2000 years. In present-day Norway, a boy acquires a strange old Advent calendar. Hidden in each of the windows is a tiny piece of paper. Little by little these pieces unfold the girl's story and as we learn what happened to her, another story is revealed - that of the strange old man who made the calender.

A magical Christmas adventure based around advent. It has a warm, festive feel to it and I'm sure anyone would enjoy it at Christmas time. WORCHESTERNEWS.CO.UK

Jostein Gaarder was born in Oslo in 1952. Sophie's World, the first of his books to be published in English, has been translated into 60 languages and has sold over 40 million copies. He is the author of many other bestselling, beloved novels and children's books, including The Orange Girl, The Christmas Mystery and The Ringmaster's Daughter. He lives in Oslo with his family.

Gaarder tells the most famous story in the world freshly, every chapter containing his characteristic twists and turns. Like Sophie's World it's a children's book that can be read by adults, and it could even be read together through the advent period, day by day. The story is told from the perspective of Joachim, who becomes intrigued when his magic advent calendar reveals the story of a little girl who went missing in 1948. A different chapter of her story is contained behind each of the doors. His family become involved and Bethlehem is the final destination. (Kirkus UK)

Intelligent Nativity story by Norwegian philosopher/novelist Gaarder (The Solitaire Mystery, p. 621, etc.), full of heart and warmth. As ever, Gaarder offers a didactic subtext. Joachim's father buys him a homemade, 40-year-old Advent calendar from a dusty bookstore. The calendar has a door to open for each December day leading up to Christ's birth. Behind each door lies a picture. But when Joachim first opens the calendar, a small slip of paper falls out containing a substory that goes on day by day as each door is opened and a fresh sheet appears. The substory tells of little Elisabet, who runs off in pursuit of a lamb only to find herself on a pilgrimage to Bethlehem. Each day's episode adds a new pilgrim to her group, until there are wisemen, angels, shepherds, and sheep; two millennia of history unfold backward. In yet another story, a girl named Elisabet, who was kidnapped 40 years ago, turns up as a middle-aged woman on Christmas Eve, mingling the celebration of Christ's birth with a contemporary event. For adult children. (Kirkus Reviews)

The Christmas Mystery

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