This week, we feature an eclectic essay collection from a controversial political figure and a body of classic works celebrating “the most wonderful time of the year.”
Adventure
‘Galahad and the Grail’
By Malcolm Guite and Stephen Crotts
Lovers of King Arthur tales unite! This book is the first of a planned four-part Arthurian epic from one of today’s great living British poets. Follow the Medieval Knights of the Round Table, led by Sir Galahad, as they pursue the Holy Grail. Poetically written with inspiration from the likes of John Milton and J.R.R. Tolkien, this work will capture the imagination of children and adults alike. Full of powerful symbolism, Christian values, and stunning illustration, it’s an adventure for the whole family.
Rabbit Room Press, 2026, 372 pages
Nonfiction
‘Dispatches From the Late Republic: The Culture, Politics, and Prophets of American Greatness, Decline, and Rebirth’
By Michael Anton
Michael Anton held positions in international affairs during both Trump administrations. In this collection of essays, one of America’s leading thinkers and controversial figures, takes us from subjects like containment and nuclear warfare to the Beach Boys and his literary icon, Tom Wolfe. He whisks us off to places like Taiwan and Dubai and into the minds of men like George Kennan and Angelo Codevilla. His writing is erudite and lively, his wisdom deep, and his love for America genuine.
Encounter Books, 2026, 640 pages
History
‘The Company: The Rise and Fall of the Hudson’s Bay Empire’
By Stephen R. Bown
Until liquidated in 2025, Hudson’s Bay Company was Canada’s oldest corporation. Founded in 1670, it was given a monopoly on trade and commerce over today’s north-central Canada. It dominated the fur trade throughout Canada, and was virtually a de-facto government for two centuries, until the Canadian government made it relinquish its monopoly in 1869. This book tells the story of the company from its origin to its cession of its lands in 1870, capturing the epic sweep of the Company’s history.
Anchor Canada, 2021, 496 pages
Science Fiction
‘The Long Gambit’
By Ken Lizzi
Capt. Pyater Welloons owns the free trader Long Gambit, a tramp starship. It is planet-bound. The ship has been arrested until moorage fees are paid, and it needs repairs Welloons cannot afford. Then Welloons is offered a cargo: Twelve million doses of medicine to be run between two planets. It’s a gamble. Everything has to go right, but the advance covers his moorage fees and his most critical repairs. Welloons faces reluctant suppliers, equipment failure, and space pirates to make the delivery.
Raconteur Press, 2026, 232 pages
Classics
‘A Classic Christmas: A Collection of Timeless Stories and Poems’
By Louisa May Alcott, Charles Dickens, Hans Christian Andersen, and more
No, no, for the love of Saint Nick, not Christmas books already! Ah, but this one is special, and if we wait, it will vanish in the holiday hubbub. Here the publishers have assembled 19th-century Christmas stories and poems perfect for anyone who revels in writers like Charles Dickens, Louisa Mae Alcott, Christina Rossetti, and L.M. Montgomery. Publisher Thomas Nelson offers two more old-time collections—“A Vintage Christmas” and “A Timeless Christmas.” A perfect gift for that person who longs for the days of calling cards and carriages.
Thomas Nelson, 2019, 320 pages
For Kids
‘At Night’
By Jonathan Bean
After her family’s nightly ritual of tucking in and saying good night, a young girl finds herself unable to sleep in her room. A gentle breeze from her bedroom window beckons her (and her blankets) to her rooftop garden where she appreciates the wide world around her and, as her mother looks on, falls fast asleep. A gentle and lovely bedtime read.
Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2007, 32 pages
What arts and culture topics would you like us to cover? Please email ideas or feedback to features@epochtimes.nyc.
