Clement Clarke Moore's ’Twas the Night Before Christmas remains a
beloved favorite among families around the world. While nearly everyone knows
the story of Santa's Christmas Eve visit, few know the story behind the author of the holiday classic. Set in nineteenth-century New York, The Story of
“’Twas the Night Before Christmas” by Gerard and
Patricia Del Re tells Moore's story—that of a deeply spiritual father who
returned his family's devotion with the gift of a poem.
Born in the New York Foundling Hospital, Gerard Del Re was raised in an orphanage in Syosset, Long Island, New York. After transferring to another
school, he worked as a ticket taker at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre in New York's Lincoln Center. It was here that he met his wife, Patricia, with whom he wrote over twenty manuscripts. A composer of classical music, Patricia died in 1997 and is always listed as a coauthor on her husband's works.
During their joint career, Gerard and Patricia Del Re wrote manuscripts on diverse topics, such as film siblings and the 1956 World Series. Many stories focused on the Christmas experience for different characters, from a lonely bus driver to a group of aliens who land on Earth in the middle of a blizzard. Four of their books, along with two short stories, have been published.
When not working, Mr. Del Re served as a music critic for a small New York newspaper. He has been featured in numerous publications, including TV Guide,
and, being quite the conversationalist on areas of his expertise, he has done
numerous radio interviews on his works. He now concentrates solely on his writing and resides in New York.