English author Jeanette Winterson is known for her edgy, experimental novels such as Oranges are not the Only Fruitand Sexing the Cherry. But her story "O'Brien's First Christmas" is a straightforward, heartwarming tale written in a classic style. It appears, in a slightly longer version, in Winterson's short story collection, The World and Other Places published by Vintage press.
The story is read by London native Joss Marsh, a professor of English and Victorian Studies at Indiana University Bloomington. Marsh is active in community theater, and, with her partner David Francis, performs Victorian magic lantern shows.