Book of Carols, the Penguin

Unlike its more pristine relation, the hymn, the carol has an earthy and exuberant heritage derived from folk dances and pagan festivals. Carols are associated with festive occasions that often involve eating and drinking, and there have even been attempts to ban them in earlier centuries. Ian Bradley's expansive collection of carols explores the richness of the genre both chronologically and geographically, placing each carol in its historical context, from the fifteenth century to the 1990s, and covering every variety of carol, from African-American spirituals and Caribbean calypso to old favorites such as "O Come, All Ye Faithful" and "Away in a Manger". Here are enthralling anecdotes, long-lost verses, and tidings of comfort and joy for all.