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Historical The Real St. Nicholas: Tales of Generosity and Hope from Around the World by Louise Carus $22.95 / Quest Books / 2002 Louise Carus in The Real St. Nicholas has compiled legends from around the world. Spanning centuries and continents, these tales show us a saint who is far more than just a "jolly old elf." Although the title is a bit of a misnomer, Carus has little to say about the historical Nicholas. But this is really not her fault as little is known about him, save that he was bishop of Myra, a city in modern-day Turkey. While tradition places him at the Nicene Council, his name is not found in the records of that gathering. Fortunately, this shortage of historical evidence is counterweighed by an abundance of legends about his life. In one, he saves several innocent soldiers from execution; in another, he leads a storm-tossed ship to safe harbor; in still another, he befriends a mouse and transforms her into a woman (then, when her husband proves cruel, back into a mouse again!). And, of course, Carus includes the most famous legend about St. Nick's life-the tale of the poor but devout nobleman unable to afford a dowry for his three daughters. The bags of gold which St. Nicholas flung through his window later became Jolly Old St. Nick's bag full of toys. Carus also includes a number of Christmas stories, running the gamut from heart-warming to amusing. Among the highlights is a rather spicy tale about the origin of pfeffernüsse cookies (which involves St. Nick's well-fed and excited donkey). The Christmas stories are matched by an equal number of legends detailing some of St. Nick's lesser-known exploits. Some of these tales feature St. Nick healing an injured ant or leading a group of schoolgirls out of a forest. Others show a less-than-jolly St. Nicholas. In one, he changes a cruel miller into a jackass while in another he lays the "smack down" on a monster who is terrorizing a village. The Real St. Nicholas won the 2002 Nautilus Award for best children's book. While children will certainly enjoy this beautifully illustrated book, adults will also find plenty here to keep their attention. If you are interested n folk-Catholic legends or if you are loing for a good book for the holidays, you will find this an invaluabl addiion to your library. --Kevin Filan

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