The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by Frank L. Baum (1902)

Posted on 2018-01-08 by thelittleman
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I’ve read a number of Christmas books over the past two Decembers and—while I foresee soon exhausting the world’s selection of worthwhile Christmas-themed books—I’d like to continue this trend for the next few years. The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by Frank L. Baum (the author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz) is by far the most enjoyable Christmas fiction I’ve read thus far. In fact, I’ll very likely read it again to my kids at some point in the coming years, and not because it “brings us back to the true heart of Christmas,” but because it’s just so entertaining!

This book follows the story of a baby boy raised by an immortal being named Necile in the mythical woods of Burzee and under the watchful eye of the Master Woodsman, Ak. After Claus catches a glimpse of the vast world beyond the realm controlled by such peaceful immortal races as the Nymphs, the Fairies, the Ryls, and the Knooks, he realizes that he could influence his own race of humanity by living more closely to them. He tells the immortals,

Every man has his mission, which is to leave the world better, in some way, than he found it. I am of the race of men, and man’s lot is my lot. (16)

Thus he moves house to The Laughing Valley where, almost by accident, he discovers what joys can be shared by the construction and giving away of a toys (something, in fact, he himself invented when he first whittled the shape of a cat from a piece of fire wood).

From here, Baum follows the growth and aging of Santa Claus, his protection from the evil Awgwas, and his progress toward immortality (a gift given him by the Immortals), and along the way, we learn so much about the traditions of Christmas and of Santa Claus himself. We learn why stockings are hung on the fireplace mantle, why Santa first chose to enter homes through the chimney (and what he does at homes with central heating), why we have Christmas trees, what makes Santa’s reindeer more special than any other deer in the world, and the unique deputies Claus employs to ensure that he can reach every child’s home in just one twenty-four-hour period. While I of course know many of the real stories behind our Christmas traditions, it’s entertaining to see how a secularist might explain such things to a child.

Some instances from the book make me question, however, whether Baum really is as much a secularist as one would suppose from his fantasy literature, or if in fact he’s writing in allegorical terms. For example, when describing the great battle of the Immortals against the (predestined-to-fail) evil Awgwa race, he writes: “These Awgwas we know to be a powerful race, and they will fight desperately; yet the outcome is certain. For we who live can never die, even though conquered by our enemies.” (45) Sounds like C.S. Lewis to me!

Despite his heavy-handed fantasy, Baum actually doesn’t venture far from the biblical understanding that man is mortal, created from the clay of the earth (35) by the Supreme Master Himself (73), and that all the rest of Creation is made—at least to a degree—for man’s use. Of course, such views were widely accepted as truth even by non-believers at the turn of the 20th century, so this is no evidence that Baum was a champion of biblical truth, but it does make one think.

I really enjoyed Baum’s humor in this book, as much as his introduction to the fantastic, immortal races of English lore. I especially enjoyed his passage regarding the Sound Imps, for it shows that—while he certainly understood children—Frank L. Baum was an adult who likely had a love-hate relationship with the children he knew; and as a kindergarten teacher, I can relate!

The King of the Sound Imps…had wings on his feet, for his people are swift to carry all sounds that are made. When they are busy they carry the sounds but short distances, for there are many of them; but sometimes they speed with the sounds to places miles and miles away from where they are made. The King of the Sound Imps had an anxious and careworn face, for most people have no consideration for his Imps and, especially the boys and girls, make a great many unnecessary sounds which the Imps are obliged to carry when they might be better employed. (71)

I truly enjoyed this book and look forward to introducing it to my own children in the coming years. I hope it can become the classic in our home that it’s been in the literary world for over a century.

©2017 E.T.

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