The Christmas Books of Mr. M.A. Titmarsh

In Short

This book is a delightful hybrid of Victorian social commentary and classic fairy-tale whimsy. It tells the story of two royal heirs, Giglio and Bulbo, whose lives are disrupted by magic, mistaken identities, and the meddling of the Fairy Blackstick. While the plot follows a traditional arc of adventure, romance, and the restoration of a rightful throne, the narrative is laced with irony and sharp caricatures of the upper class. It endures because of its humor, its inventive disregard for genre conventions, and its warm, human heart hidden beneath a layer of cynical playfulness.

The Story

The kingdom of Paflagonia is ruled by the usurping King Valoroso, who has sidelined his nephew, the rightful heir Prince Giglio. Giglio, an easygoing and somewhat aimless young man, is kept in the dark about his heritage, while the King’s daughter, the Princess Angelica, is courted by the rather dense and plain-looking Prince Bulbo of Crim Tartary. The gears of fate are set in motion by the Fairy Blackstick, a powerful, capricious figure who has a history of turning unpleasant people into inanimate objects—most notably the porter Gruffanuff, whom she transformed into a brass door knocker as punishment for his boorish behavior toward his wife.

The plot thickens with the arrival of the beautiful, lost princess Rosalba, who eventually discovers her true royal lineage. Through a series of magical interventions and comical mishaps, Giglio is forced to flee the palace. During his exile, he is transformed from a lazy youth into a diligent student and a capable, if reluctant, hero. Meanwhile, Prince Bulbo finds himself in the crosshairs of political danger, narrowly escaping a death sentence through a series of absurd errors and last-minute reprieves involving the King’s bumbling ministers.

As the political tension between Paflagonia and Crim Tartary reaches a breaking point, the paths of the two princes and the noble Rosalba converge. Giglio, now mature and prepared to reclaim his birthright, leads the resistance against the tyrannical King Padella of Crim Tartary. The conflict is punctuated by the arrival of a pride of lions—who have conveniently snacked on the King’s enemies—and the reappearance of the Fairy Blackstick. The climax arrives not just through battle, but through the resolution of long-standing enchantments. The Fairy Blackstick restores Gruffanuff to his human form, much to the horror of his wife, and the various entanglements of the court are settled. Giglio is restored to the throne, and he weds the Princess Rosalba, while Bulbo is reprieved from his execution and remains a figure of amiable confusion. The story concludes with a festive celebration, leaving the characters to enjoy their hard-won happiness while the magical influence of the Fairy Blackstick fades into the background.

How It Unfolds

The exile of the heir Prince Giglio, oblivious to his royal status, is pushed aside by his uncle the King and treated as an afterthought in his own palace. His lack of ambition and general listlessness make him an easy target for those seeking to suppress his claim to the throne.

The transformation of the porter The narrative takes a surreal turn as the Fairy Blackstick punishes the rude Gruffanuff by turning him into a brass knocker. This permanent fixture serves as a silent, icy witness to the palace’s ongoing folly and the passing of time.

The education of a prince Banished from court, Giglio enters a new life as a student in the town of Bosforo. Through a mysterious bag that provides for his needs, he applies himself to his studies, emerging after a year as a disciplined and respected young man.

The political entanglement A war brews between Paflagonia and Crim Tartary, fueled by dynastic pride and the mishandling of royal suitors. Prince Bulbo’s life hangs in the balance as ministers bicker over schedules and royal warrants, turning a potential tragedy into a farce.

The final restoration Rosalba’s return and the intervention of the lions force a confrontation that forces the usurpers to yield. The Fairy Blackstick performs one final act, returning the brass knocker to human form, and the rightful order of the kingdom is restored amidst general rejoicing.

The People

Prince Giglio begins as a listless, unthinking youth satisfied with bread and sugar, but through adversity, he matures into a capable and decisive leader who finally claims his rightful place. Prince Bulbo, his counterpart, serves as a gentle, somewhat dull foil; he is a man of limited intellect but genuine heart who survives the chaos of court life through sheer, accidental good fortune. Princess Rosalba represents the moral center, a woman of grace and resilience whose return shifts the kingdom’s trajectory toward justice. The Fairy Blackstick acts as the narrative’s catalyst, a stern, magical arbiter who intervenes to punish hypocrisy and reward the humble. Finally, the porter Gruffanuff, trapped for years as a silent, brass knocker, provides a satirical look at social standing and the consequences of a sour temperament, serving as a dark, cautionary note in an otherwise sunny resolution.

In Its Own Voice

"You ARE going to stay at that door all day and all night, and for many a long year," the Fairy said, very majestically; and Gruffanuff, coming out of the door, straddling before it with his great calves, burst out laughing, and cried, "Ha, ha, ha! this IS a good un!"

This moment marks the Fairy Blackstick’s final judgment on the boorish porter before she transforms him into a knocker.

"Clothes for the back, books for the head: Read, and remember them when they are read."

This inscription, found inside the books provided to the exiled Prince Giglio, serves as his mandate for character transformation during his time at the University of Bosforo.

What It's Really About

At its heart, the book is a playful subversion of the "rightful heir" trope. It suggests that nobility is not merely a matter of birthright, but a quality earned through discipline, education, and the shedding of one’s own selfishness. The story mocks the empty pageantry of royalty and the absurdity of social pretension, arguing that those who take themselves too seriously—like the bumbling ministers or the cruel monarchs—are the ones most likely to end up as objects of ridicule. It questions whether society’s rigid structures are as permanent as they appear, suggesting that even the most "brazen" fixtures of society can be unmade by a single, magical shift in perspective.

Why Read It Today

Readers who appreciate a storyteller who winks at his audience will find this a joyous experience. It feels like a conversation with an exceptionally witty, slightly cynical friend who is nonetheless capable of spinning a genuine fairy tale. The tone is consistently warm, even when the author is busy skewering the pretensions of his characters or the absurdities of the political elite. Because it is written for a general audience, it avoids the dense, academic gatekeeping of its contemporaries, favoring instead a brisk, conversational pace that prioritizes character over heavy-handed moralizing.

You will find it particularly rewarding if you enjoy stories that refuse to take their own magic seriously; the way the author juxtaposes high fantasy with mundane details—like the contents of a student's pantry or the bickering over breakfast—is both hilarious and deeply human. While modern readers might find the Victorian-era attitudes toward social class and "proper" behavior somewhat period-specific, the core of the story—the Prince who learns to be a person, the Princess who claims her own agency, and the Fairy who keeps everyone on their toes—remains timeless. It is a brief, refreshing read that lingers in the mind, reminding us that even in a world of royalty and ruin, a bit of common sense and a kind heart are the most valuable assets of all.