Best-Loved Christmas Carols: The Stories Behind Twenty-five Yuletide Favorites

Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly.€ “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.€ “Good King Wenceslas.€ These are just three of the beautiful, enduring Christmas carols featured in this lavish book and CD set-and every one has become an integral part of the holiday. Exquisitely illustrated pages showcase fine art from the world€s great museums and libraries, along with fascinating information on each carol and its lyrics. The audio recordings come from widely renowned musical ensembles, and a superlative introduction provides historical perspective, with background on the origin of carols, the influence of medieval guilds and Mystery plays, and carols from different eras.