Three uplifting Christmas tales--"No Holly for Miss Quinn, Village Christmas," and "The Christmas Mouse"--are offered here in one enchanting volume. The English village of Fairacre is a vision of holiday joy, but celebrations of the season do not always go as expected.

Two novels in the beloved Fairacre series, full of “delicious wit, quirky characters . . . and certainly love and laughter” (Jan Karon). In the English village of Fairacre, retired schoolteachers Dolly Clare and Emily Davis enjoyed a remarkable friendship. Childhood playmates in Beech Green, they would remain close throughout their long lives, eventually sharing a cottage in their retirement. They felt grief when a village family was lost on the Titanic and each experienced young love and then heartbreak when the First World War interrupted both of their romances. In this two-in-one volume, the triumphs and tragedies of their days are depicted with all the humor, humble tenacity, and human warmth for which Miss Read is known. “Miss Read’s Books . . . have deservedly received the highest praise from both English and American reviewers.” —The New York Times Book Review “Miss Read reminds us of what is really important. And if we can’t live in her world, it’s certainly a comforting place to visit.” —USA Today “[Read’s] heroes are the good, the uncomplicated, and those who do the unsung work of the world. It’s a warm, comfortable, part of the picture.” —Kirkus Reviews

A trip to Florence with her friend Amy is a bright spot in Miss Read's retirement; Henry Mawne's complaints about his new wife and John Jenkins' persistent offers of marriage are not.

A violent October storm -- unexpected except by the weatherwise Mr. Willet -- strike the village of Fairacre. Trees and telephone poles are down, and the roof of St. Patrick’s Church has been badly damaged. The repair estimates are so high that its repair seems unlikely. That is, until Mr. Willet suggests a festival. Suddenly, Fairacre is bustling with whist drive, a food sale, a Christmas Bazaar, and finally, the festival itself. But Fairacre still has a long way to go. Will they be forced to sell the church’s treasured Queen Anne chalice? The denizens of Fairacre are undaunted and persevere despite seemingly insurmountable odds.

"Village School" introduces cheerful schoolmistress Miss Read and her lovable group of children, who are just as likely to lose themselves as their mittens. 18 line drawings.

Emily Davis and Dolly Clare had been friends since they were six. When they became pupil teachers, weekly letters kept them in touch. The 1914-18 War brought tragedy to them both - Dolly's fiance, Arnold, was killed at Ypres and Emily's Edgar lay ill in hospital. For weeks Emily made the difficult journey to see him and it was a bitter day for her when he wrote confessing he was going to marry his nurse. Although Emily and Dolly never married, they filled their days teaching other people's children. On retirement, Emily joined Dolly at her cottage and a period of perfect companionship began.

Miss Read, the headmistress of Fairacre School, learns of a proposed new housing development that soon has the citizens of Fairacre up in arms.

London family, newly moved to a quiet country village, are accepted by the unfriendly townfolk only after a newborn baby boy arrives at Christmas.

When Miss Read receives a magnificent diary for Christmas instead of the more customary bath salts, she decides she must make good use of it. In each chapter of her diary, Miss Read recounts a month in her life as headmistress of Fairacre School. With kindly humor, she relates all the difficulties and all the enjoyment of living in a small country community. Her jollity lasts even through staff problems, a village decision to marry her off, and a nagging cleaning lady. But when she writes about her younger pupils, that amusement breaks into laughter.