Christmas with Rosamunde Pilcher

by Rosamunde Pilcher and Andreas von Einsiedel

Book Overview

Rosamunde Pilcher, the beloved author ofThe Shell SeekersandComing Home, invites you to share the magic of the Christmas season with her and her family as they celebrate the holiday in timeless... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312192479
• ISBN13: 9780312192471
• Release Date: January 1997
• Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
• Length: 122 Pages
• Weight: 1.34 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 8.6" x 8.7"

Customer Reviews

Christmas With Rosamunde Pilcher

For fans of Rosamunde Pilcher or any lover of all things Christmas, this is a festive book to relish. Curl up with a cup of cocoa and become entranced as the famous writer recalls her best Christmas ever. In 1996, she gathered her children and their children for a week's holiday to Zennor on the north cliffs of Cornwall, ten minutes from Land's End. The occasion was to celebrate her 50th wedding anniversary. She had never been a fan of Christmas because, as she recalls, as a child it was always a rather low-key and disappointing time. When you read her recounting of this family Christmas you will see why those bleak Christmases of long ago were obliterated by what she calls "perhaps the best Christmas ever." Fans of her work will be thrilled to share in her holiday traditions. From November when she sits down to write the first of over 300 cards she shares with friends around the world to her favorite recipes (scones, shortbread, oatcakes, and more), this is an intimate look into the private life of the renowned writer. Baking is a Christmas tradition with her because as she confides, "I love the scent of scones and mince pies as it wafts through the house." But as for her favorite scent, she emphatically records, "The smell of tangerines is one of the true smells of Christmas." The book is filled with many full-color photos of the way she decorates her own home at Christmas, the festive touches she adds throughout the house, the delicacies ready on the big kitchen sideboard. In addition there are pictures of her with her family gathered around the fireplace and enjoying her Christmas Day Feast (recipes included). An extra added treat at the end is the inclusion of my favorite of all her short stories, "Miss Cameron at Christmas," a touching, feel-good finale to an exceptional book.

--Rosamunde weaves some holiday magic--

CHRISTMAS WITH ROSAMUNDE PILCHER is indeed a festive book. It's filled with stories, beautiful photographs, delicious recipes and the charm of Rosamunde Pilcher herself. Many family photographs are included and they add personal warmth to the book. Starting with some remembrances in A Very Special Holiday, Pilcher then discusses a little of the history of sending Christmas cards and includes some interesting lore. The practice was started in Great Britain around 1843 and the original cards were religious. Later, the family scenes were introduced, followed by pictures of Father Christmas, and snow scenes featuring birds, which were usually robins. The Christmas Baking section was especially enjoyable. She says that her kitchen, "is comfortably warm even on the coldest days, thanks to the Aga, the typically British gas-fired stove, which is actually more an oven whose fire is never allowed to die down in the winter." Rosamunde talks about the traditional family foods that she makes and includes several recipes. She mentions mince pies, turkey and short bread, but I'm intrigued to try the more unfamiliar recipes, for example, Drop Scones, Oatcakes, and Whisky Loaf. A short story called " Miss Cameron at Christmas," is featured and completes this wonderful Christmas offering. My favorite quotation from Rosamunde is, "The smell of tangerines is one of the true smells of Christmas." I couldn't agree more! I always associate tangerines with Christmas. This book is most satisfying.

A lovely book

This was my Christmas present to me. It is beautifully illustrated with pictures of the author's home nicely decorated for Christmas. She uses natural things like pine cones and branches painted gold, ribbons, etc. Photographs of her home and family are so nice. The recipes are written for U.S. kitchens, too. She begins with a family party at a hotel in Cornwall and then describes Christmas in Scotland. A short story finishes the book. It's all simply lovely.

Warm, informative, with a several delightful surprises.

Without knowing what to expect, "Chrsitmas With Rosamund Pilcher" turned out to be everything one could hope for. There are numerous photos of the authur and her family, which include views of her home, her kitchen, parlour, etc., in which she gratifying shines as the warm individual we, who enjoy her books, feel she must be. But there are also wonderful photos of her beloved Cornwall, and it is an opportunity to peek into the land about which we, her readers, have read so much. The surprises (which you must read to appreciate - so telling does not really ruin them) include some family details and history, recipies of the season (particularly delightful for the Anglophile cook) and even a short story at the end of the book. All in all, it felt to me that Rosamund Pilcher and her home, and Aunt Lavinia and the Dower house of "Coming Home", have a lot in common. I felt as if I had visited both in this delightful book.