John Collier “Back For Christmas”
Text Interpretation The story “Back For Christmas” was written by John Henry Noyes Collier (1901 – 1980). He was a British-born author and screenplay writer best known for his short stories. His stories may be broadly classified as fantasies. They feature an caustic wit and are usually ironic or dark in tone. Collier’s short stories are perfectly constructed and feature a brilliant literary craftsmanship that can easily escape notice. John Collier is considered to be one of the modern masters of the short story and certainly the preeminent writer of short fantasies. The title of the story under analysis is short but excites many associations. The word ‘Christmas’ always has positive connotations. The text can be connected with a bright, kind and even funny holiday. But in fact this story is rather shrewd. The title produces the exciting effect. It also presents a strong position. The theme of getting back for Christmas is the domineering one in this story from the beginning of it till the very end. The author lays a particular stress upon the title of the story.
The story under analysis is about Mr. Carpenter and his wife Mrs. Carpenter. The story opens with the description of the farewell party in the house of Carpenters. Husband and wife were going to America on a lecture tour She promised to bring him back for Christmas. His friends believed her. She managed everything so wonderfully. The final arrangements for closing the house had been taken care of . The Doctor called her upstairs. He said there was something in the bathroom drain. When she leaned over to look, he struck her over the head with a lead pipe. He knew where to dispose of her body, because he had been pottering about the cellar for some time, trying to scrape out a bin for wine he told her. He hid her body and finally left the country. In New York he felt free at last. The first mail arrived from England. One letter from a building