Now it is the turn of Terry Pratchett’s festive fairytale Hogfather (1996).
The Hogfather is a Discworld character. He is similar to Father Christmas: he is a mythical fat and jolly bearded man who wears red and white and brings presents for the good children of Discworld on Hogswatchnight (December 32nd). He travels by sleigh; it is drawn by pigs rather than reindeer though.
Although some readers say that Hogfather is Terry Pratchett’s best book, it is not at the top of my list: that place is occupied by his books about the Discworld witches!
There is not much in Hogfather that inspires commentary, however I noticed some interesting similarities and common themes and elements in these two very different seasonal stories and decided to list a few of them.
A few common features
A big metaphysical battle is a major theme in both books.
In The Box of Delights the battle is between good and evil; in Hogfather it is between rationality and belief. It is about logic and rules versus magic and mythology.
Ruining the holiday spirit is the name of the game.
John Masefield’s wicked witch Sylvia Daisy and her accomplices want to prevent the midnight service on Christmas Eve from being held, which would be a great victory for evil; Terry Pratchett’s inhuman Auditors want to assassinate the Hogfather to prevent him from delivering the presents on Hogswatchnight. This will stop people believing in him, which would be a disaster for humanity.
In The Box of Delights, all the cathedral staff from the Bishop downwards disappear; in Hogfather, the Hogfather himself goes missing.
Kay Harker and his friends try to find the missing clergy, bell-ringers, choir and others; the Discworld character Death’s grand-daughter Susan tries to find out what has happened to the real Hogfather.
The wonderful Punch & Judy man in The Box of Delights is kidnapped by the evil gang and they find a replacement to give the performances to avoid suspicion; on the side of good in the other story, Death impersonates the missing Hogfather and hands out the presents in an attempt to keep the belief going: the seasonal show must go on.
The Box of Delights has the independent and spirited little girl Maria, an important character who stands up to Sylvia Daisy; Hogfather's Susan is a governess - as Sylvia Daisy used to be - and like Maria she won’t stand for any nonsense.
The Box of Delights features the great and fictional Tatchester Cathedral with its churchmen and pinnacled tower, while Hogfather features the Unseen University building with its wizards and tall Tower. Both of these institutions have a Dean.
Ruining the holiday spirit is the name of the game.
John Masefield’s wicked witch Sylvia Daisy and her accomplices want to prevent the midnight service on Christmas Eve from being held, which would be a great victory for evil; Terry Pratchett’s inhuman Auditors want to assassinate the Hogfather to prevent him from delivering the presents on Hogswatchnight. This will stop people believing in him, which would be a disaster for humanity.
In The Box of Delights, all the cathedral staff from the Bishop downwards disappear; in Hogfather, the Hogfather himself goes missing.
Kay Harker and his friends try to find the missing clergy, bell-ringers, choir and others; the Discworld character Death’s grand-daughter Susan tries to find out what has happened to the real Hogfather.
The wonderful Punch & Judy man in The Box of Delights is kidnapped by the evil gang and they find a replacement to give the performances to avoid suspicion; on the side of good in the other story, Death impersonates the missing Hogfather and hands out the presents in an attempt to keep the belief going: the seasonal show must go on.
The Box of Delights has the independent and spirited little girl Maria, an important character who stands up to Sylvia Daisy; Hogfather's Susan is a governess - as Sylvia Daisy used to be - and like Maria she won’t stand for any nonsense.
The Box of Delights features the great and fictional Tatchester Cathedral with its churchmen and pinnacled tower, while Hogfather features the Unseen University building with its wizards and tall Tower. Both of these institutions have a Dean.
The Box of Delights has the chief villain Abner Brown; Hogfather has Mr Brown, an expert picker of locks who works for the villains. Both Browns come to a bad end.
In The Box of Delights one sleigh is drawn by lions and another by unicorns, while the Hogfather’s sleigh is drawn by a team of hogs.
Kay rides beautiful magical white horses; Death has the magnificent white horse Binky.
The Box of Delights has evil clergymen who can take the form of wolves and hunt people in a pack; the mythical Herne the Hunter transforms himself into a giant stag to escape them. The Hogfather takes the shape of a giant boar and is hunted by his enemies in the form of a pack of dogs.
The Box of Delights has the talking Rat; Hogfather has the Death of Rats, also known as The Grim Squeaker.
A final comparison
We have magic, poetry, history and mystery in The Box of Delights; in Hogfather, we have witty remarks, humorous topical references, philosophising, amusing and familiar characters and a very different kind of magic.
I suspect that C. S. Lewis was influenced by The Box of Delights when he wrote his stories about Narnia: I can see some common elements there too!
For example, the expression “Aslan is on the move” reminds me of Masefield’s “The Wolves are running”, although one is heartening and the other a sinister warning.
For me, the The Box of Delights is a classic that I return to each year, while Hogfather is something to be read just two or three times.
Terry Pratchett on YouTube
Hogfather was made into a two-part TV film; parts of it can be found on YouTube. Terry Pratchett makes a brief appearance in the cameo role of the toymaker!
Terry Pratchett and the DVD cover:
The Box of Delights was made into a six-part TV series; it was a pleasant surprise when I found it on YouTube last Christmas.
I also discovered some very good Terry Pratchett films on YouTube at the same time: Going Postal and the animated version of Wyrd Sisters. They have no Christmas connections but make a good treat for the holiday season.
In The Box of Delights one sleigh is drawn by lions and another by unicorns, while the Hogfather’s sleigh is drawn by a team of hogs.
Kay rides beautiful magical white horses; Death has the magnificent white horse Binky.
The Box of Delights has evil clergymen who can take the form of wolves and hunt people in a pack; the mythical Herne the Hunter transforms himself into a giant stag to escape them. The Hogfather takes the shape of a giant boar and is hunted by his enemies in the form of a pack of dogs.
The Box of Delights has the talking Rat; Hogfather has the Death of Rats, also known as The Grim Squeaker.
A final comparison
We have magic, poetry, history and mystery in The Box of Delights; in Hogfather, we have witty remarks, humorous topical references, philosophising, amusing and familiar characters and a very different kind of magic.
I suspect that C. S. Lewis was influenced by The Box of Delights when he wrote his stories about Narnia: I can see some common elements there too!
For example, the expression “Aslan is on the move” reminds me of Masefield’s “The Wolves are running”, although one is heartening and the other a sinister warning.
For me, the The Box of Delights is a classic that I return to each year, while Hogfather is something to be read just two or three times.
Terry Pratchett on YouTube
Hogfather was made into a two-part TV film; parts of it can be found on YouTube. Terry Pratchett makes a brief appearance in the cameo role of the toymaker!
Terry Pratchett and the DVD cover:
The Box of Delights was made into a six-part TV series; it was a pleasant surprise when I found it on YouTube last Christmas.
I also discovered some very good Terry Pratchett films on YouTube at the same time: Going Postal and the animated version of Wyrd Sisters. They have no Christmas connections but make a good treat for the holiday season.
