"Searching for Santa Claus is both a lovely gift book for serious Santa fans and an important resource for anyone studying the history of American children's literature.”
- Linda Raedisch, author of The Old Magic of Christmas.
 
Santa Claus appears throughout popular culture, captivating the imaginations and shaping the wishes of millions of children across the world – but he only came into focus as a social and cultural icon relatively recently, in the nineteenth century.

This landmark anthology, the first of its kind, traces his evolution. For the first time, it brings together the most influential and pivotal portraits of Santa Claus, revealing how a simple gift-giver developed into one of the most recognised global figures. Through its ground-breaking exploration of stories, poems, and images, it shines a light on the cultivation of Santa as both a vitally important literary figure and a powerful cultural touchstone who stands at the heart of our seasonal celebrations.
 
"Much has been written about Santa Claus' origins in European folk and religious tradition, the 'jolly old elf' slipping down an American chimney on the night before Christmas to signal the end of the story. This collection makes it clear that Santa still had a long way to go, evolving along with and very much through American children's literature. We see him as a king, a factory boss, and even as Mother Goose's groom! Especially interesting are the letters to Santa written by real-life nineteenth-century children and the section devoted to the much neglected, and uniquely American, subject of Mrs. Claus. Searching for Santa is both a lovely gift book for serious Santa fans and an important resource for anyone studying the history of American children's literature."
- Linda Raedisch, author of The Old Magic of Christmas.

"Thomas Ruys Smith doesn’t just search for Santa Claus; he finds him in the forgotten corners of the 19th-century American imagination. Searching for Santa Claus is a fascinating trove of stories, poems, and images chronicling the creation of an icon. Essential reading for anyone who’s ever wondered where Santa really came from."
- Brian Earl, host of the Christmas Past podcast and author of Of Christmases Long, Long Ago.
 
"Santa Claus is the most important fictional character in history, a legendary figure who fills our media, drives our economy, and lives in the imagination of millions upon millions of children. In this splendid book, Thomas Ruys Smith traces the development of the magical gift-bringer through the art, poetry, and stories of the nineteenth century. This is a wonderful trip through time for lovers of Christmas and an indispensable anthology for lovers of history."
Gerry Bowler, author of Santa Claus: A Biography
 
“Like Santa’s annual journeys, Smith’s anthology is exhaustive, including virtually every story about Santa. Collectively they create the story of not only an American icon, but a British icon as well. Anyone interested in the history of Santa Claus should have this on their book shelves.”
Tom A. Jerman, author of Santa Claus Worldwide: A History of St. Nicholas and Other Holiday Gift-Bringers.
 
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Professor Thomas Ruys Smith specialises in the study of nineteenth-century literature and culture. He is the author and editor of a wide range of books including, most recently, The Last Gift: The Christmas Stories of Mary E. Wilkins Freeman (Louisiana State University Press, 2023).