A Visit From Saint Nicholas (ePub)

Clement Clarke Moore (1779-1863) was a distinguished American scholar and poet, best known for his iconic poem 'A Visit from Saint Nicholas,' more commonly known today as 'The Night Before Christmas.' Born in New York City to a prosperous Episcopal family, Moore was an intellectual force of his era, contributing not only to American literature but also to academia as a professor of Oriental and Greek literature at the General Theological Seminary in New York, a position that reflected both his erudition and his deep religious convictions. Moore's legacy rests largely on the poem he published anonymously in 1823, which has since become a quintessential piece of Christmas lore. The poem is celebrated for its vivid and affectionate depiction of the St. Nicholas figure, and it has had a profound impact on the American conception of Santa Claus, shaping the merry and portly character familiar in popular culture. Moore's lively verses and enchanting imagery have delighted readers for nearly two centuries, earning him a permanent place in the canon of holiday literature. Despite its enormous popularity, Moore's authorship of the poem was not publicly acknowledged until 1837. Moore's literary style in the famous poem is characterized by its cheerful rhythms and rhymes that have captivated the imaginations of both children and adults, making it one of the most read and recited poems in the English language during the holiday season.