Bored to tears, with Christmas approaching, a Baron takes his good wife's suggestion in this poem from Carol Ann Duffy, and appoints a Lord of Misrule—a yeoman who will preside over the holiday festivities at their manor. So begins a riotous time, in which social conventions are inverted, much feasting and drinking occurs, and wild shenanigans ensue..

Published in 2016, The King of Christmas is apparently part of an annual holiday tradition in which Scottish poet Duffy, for many years the Poet Laureate of the UK, presents a Christmas poem to the public, in a beautifully-illustrated picture book edition. Apparently it all began in 2009, with the publication of Mrs. Scrooge: A Christmas Poem, illustrated by the marvelous Posy Simmonds, and has carried on ever since. The poem from this past year (2023) was Christmas Eve at The Moon Under Water, illustrated by Margaux Carpentier.

I was completely unaware of this tradition, when I purchased a digital edition of The King of Christmas shortly before the holiday. As it happens, I imagined it was an actual children's picture book, given the fact that this is usually what illustrator Lara Hawthorne produces. Duffy is an adult author, for the most part, but has also produced children's book, such as the original fairy-tale, The Lost Happy Endings. In any case, despite this not being what I expected, I did enjoy it. The story told through the poem was amusing, the poem itself was a pleasure to read, and I enjoyed the accompanying artwork from Hawthorne. I might even consider tracking down some of the other entries in this "Christmas Poems" tradition, next holiday season. Recommended to fans of the poet, and to anyone looking for a riotous Christmas celebration, in picture book form, for adults. ( )