It’s been called one of the greatest short stories ever written: James Joyce‘s The Dead, set on The Feast of the Epiphany, opening as Gabriel Conroy and his wife, Gretta, arrive late to his aunts’ annual Christmas party.

Well worth a timely read, or watch the very fine film adaptation (directed by John Huston and starring Anjelica Huston).

(top image: Winter Scene 1867, Jan Abrahamsz Beerstraaten)