This book contains the following story:
The Box of Delights is a story by John Masefield published in 1935, a sequel to his earlier book 'The Midnight Folk'. The plot revolves around a young boy named Kay Harker, who is on his way home for the Christmas holidays. On the train, he encounters a mysterious old Punch and Judy man named Cole Hawlings. Hawlings entrusts Kay with a magical box that allows the owner to shrink in size, to shapeshift, to fly, to travel to the past and to experience various magical wonders and creatures, and thus is sought for evil purposes by Abner. Cole (who turns out to be the medieval philosopher and alleged magician Ramon Llull) entrusts the box to Kay.
Kay soon discovers that the box is sought after by a group of villains led by a sinister figure named Abner Brown. These villains are known as "The Wolves" and have supernatural abilities. Abner Brown desires the Box of Delights for its magical properties, and the chase between Kay and the Wolves becomes the central conflict of the story.
As Kay unravels the mysteries surrounding the box, he finds himself embroiled in a fantastical world filled with magic, time travel, and mythical creatures. The plot weaves together elements of adventure, mystery, and Christmas magic.
Throughout his journey, Kay receives help from various allies, characters drawn from English folklore, history and pagan mythology including Herne the Hunter, King Arthur, Father Christmas, unicorns, Roman soldiers and medieval monks. The story culminates in a battle between the forces of good and evil, with Kay using the Box of Delights to overcome the threats posed by Abner Brown and The Wolves.
