Who Wrote The Christmas Carol "In The Bleak Midwinter"�?

Most carols are traditional and their authors unknown, but this well-loved carol was originally a poem by Christina Rossetti  (1830-94). She was a famous religious poet and sister of the Pre-Raphaelite artist Dante Gabriel Rossetti. "In the Bleak Midwinter" focuses on the idea of the infant Jesus as a forlorn outcast, unrecognised by the world although "Angels and archangels/ All gathered there." The poem urges Christians to give their heart to Jesus, whether or not they have other riches to offer. It is typical of Rossetti in its emphasis on suffering and loneliness, with love as the only redemption.

The poem was set to music and arranged as a hymn by Gustav Holst in the early 20th century. It continues to be a favourite in churches at Christmas, even though (or perhaps because) its message is unusually sad for a Christmas carol.