I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was one of the most popular American poets of the 19th century. Loved both in his time and today for his lyrical style, reminiscent of the English Romantics, Longfellow is one of the few American writers to have been included in the Poets’ Corner of Westminster Abbey. Janna Steagall is a surface designer and illustrator whose dream is to make the world a more whimsical place one artwork at a time.

Longfellow’s 1864 poem is set against rosy-hued scenes of a town on Christmas. The refrain of “peace on earth, good-will to men!” is juxtaposed with references to global and interpersonal conflict that are as relevant today as they were to the author’s original Civil War–era setting. The digital illustrations are similar in style to the work of Christian Robinson, with flat coloring in warm, inviting tones. Like the text, they have a timeless quality, reflecting the poem’s message of hope.