Anderson, Elizabeth

About the author

Elizabeth Anderson was an early 20th-century American author of children’s literature known for her imaginative exploration of fantastical realms and gentle moral undertones. Although personal biographical details remain elusive, Anderson’s best-recognized work, The Goblins’ Christmas, solidified her place in the tradition of holiday-themed storytelling. Released in a period when illustrated children’s books were gaining traction as family keepsakes, this short narrative merged whimsical descriptions of mischievous goblins with the warmth and anticipation often associated with the Christmas season.

In The Goblins’ Christmas, Anderson conjures a winterland in which goblins—depicted as capricious but ultimately benign creatures—appear on Christmas Eve to enact playful pranks and hidden acts of kindness. Through rhythmic verses and festive imagery, the tale weaves a sense of wonder and mild suspense, capturing how the unknown can be both magical and slightly unsettling. The goblins might upend furniture or swap stockings, but their ultimate motive aligns with fostering holiday cheer and personal reflection. In typical fashion for children’s literature of the era, a soft moral emerges: even those seemingly mischievous can harbor goodwill, and generosity blossoms in unexpected forms.

This thematic blending of the mysterious and the benevolent was part of a broader shift in children’s literature. While earlier Victorian stories sometimes featured stern moral instructions, Anderson’s tone is lighter and more imaginative, allowing young readers to revel in the comedic chaos that goblins create before the comforting resolution. The setting—often an old house or a snowy landscape—accentuates the seasonal allure, grounding the story in recognizable Christmas motifs like illuminated trees and stockings hung by the fireplace. Readers witness how these supernatural visitors interact with a world shaped by the holiday’s cozy traditions: family gatherings, shared meals, and the sense of communal anticipation leading up to Christmas morning.

Additionally, many editions of The Goblins’ Christmas feature charming illustrations. These complement Anderson’s verse-like prose, visually bringing the goblins to life in ways that emphasize whimsy rather than menace. The resulting interplay of text and art garnered appeal among parents reading aloud to children, a ritual that underscored the era’s belief in storytelling as a vehicle for bonding and moral reinforcement. While not achieving the monumental fame of contemporaneous holiday classics, Anderson’s contribution, with its sprightly rhyme scheme and spirited depiction of impish holiday magic, remains a minor gem in the annals of early American children’s holiday literature. It showcases a time-honored formula: blend lighthearted fantasy, spirited drawings, and gentle virtue to kindle a sense of festive delight in readers young and old.