“Good King Wenceslas looked out, on the Feast of Stephen, when the snow lay round about, deep and crisp and even.” Familiar to all Christmas carolers, these words begin the story of a brave king and his page as they journey through the winter wilderness, bearing Christmas gifts to the poor and needy.

Bohemia in the time of King Wenceslas is caught in a twofold struggle: first, the old pagan ways and its many gods, against the new Christian religion and its one God, the God of love; second, the authority of its good Christian king, Wenceslas, against the power of his rebellious brother, Duke Boleslas.

When young Vojak is captured by Boleslas, he is claimed by Wenceslas and given the Christian name of Stephen, after the Church’s first martyr. In faithful service to the king, Stephen must face his people’s struggle with courage and compassion, ready at each dangerous moment and every dramatic turn to follow in the footsteps of his master, good King Wenceslas.

Beautifully illustrated by Gordon Laite, Mildred Corell Luckhardt’s Good King Wenceslas is certain to delight readers both young and old with its story of Christian kindness and Christmas joy. A beautiful gift for Christmas time or anytime!

Mildred Corell Luckhardt (1898–1990) was an American author, educator, and lyricist. A graduate of Columbia Uni­versity, Luckhardt wrote and edited over a dozen books, including The Story of Saint Nicholas (1960), Christmas Comes Once More: Stories and Poems for the Holiday Season (1962), and Thanksgiving: Feast and Festival (1966).