A whimsical, thought-provoking Christmas short story full of wintry atmosphere.
Feature image credit: Bloomsbury Publishing
From the author of mega fantasy hits like Piranesi and Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell comes this curious short story set in the same universe as the latter. It’s several times smaller than Susanna Clarke’s other works, but still contains every inch of that magical ambiance she’s known for. The Wood at Midwinter is a bite-sized (as in, will take you less than 30 minutes to read) festive fable that falls somewhere between Grimm-esque fairy tale and Christmas legend, rooted in Christianity but really more spiritual.
The story itself is simple, or seems so at first. Merowdis Scot, not yet 20 years old, goes for a winter walk in the forest with her animal friends (who can talk, as can the wood itself). She’s been told she’s not obedient enough to be a nun but has also rejected the prospect of marriage — a position that seems archaic and yet is still incredibly relatable to the modern millennial. While Merowdis is in the wood, contemplating her deep thoughts, she comes across something that changes the trajectory of her life forever.
While the plot itself is wafer thin, the meaning, interpretations, and inspirations bubbling beneath the surface are substantial enough to keep you wondering long after you’ve finished reading. At its base level, this is an old-world Christmas story for adults (not the Love Actually kind), that comes packaged in a gorgeous gold-foiled hard cover with black-and-white illustrations. But for those who are in for some deep thinking over the festive period, this is a tale of a character who, as the author writes in the Afterword, serves as a bridge between different worlds. There are elements from the Christian tradition that emerge in the story, but presented in a way that we seldom have the chance to see:
“The birth of a child,” said Merowdis. “It happens at this time.”
A human child? asked the wood.
“Yes, a human child,” said Merowdis.
Men are foolish, said the wood. Have babies in the spring. Not midwinter. How can babies grow when the earth is frozen, when the light is short and the dark is long?
Aside from the questions this short story triggers, it carries a peaceful and magical yet slightly eerie tone. If it were a Christmas carol, it would be Sinéad O’Connor’s version of “Silent Night.” The prose proves Clarke’s capacity to write a good story at any length, since fewer pages certainly don’t equate to less effort; it’s arguably more difficult to leave as much of an impact with so few words.
The only minor gripe would be that, as thought-provoking and profound as it is, I was left wanting a little more character development; even though Merowdis certainly goes through a major change, it wasn’t clear why. Perhaps the intent was to leave the reader with questions to consider, but I would have loved for more of them to be answered.
Still, this tiny tome makes a dazzling Christmas gift. The cover alone will woo any book lover, but the story within will whisk you off to a wintertime fantasy land where — literally — anything is possible.
Reviewed by Vanessa Elle
Instagram: @vanessaellewrites
The views expressed in this review belong to the author and not Glam Adelaide, its affiliates, or employees.
Distributed by: Bloomsbury Publishing
Released: December 2024
RRP: $14.99
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