- Paperback: 368 pages
- Publisher: Penguin Classics; New Ed edition (27 Sep 2007)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0140621407
- ISBN-13: 978-0140621402
- Product Dimensions: 18.1 x 2.4 x 11.1 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 254,190 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
A new selection of 30 tales. At a time when children’s stories were formal, moral and didactic, Hans Christian Andersen revolutionized the genre, giving an anarchic twist to traditional folklore and creating a huge number of utterly original stories that sprang directly from his imagination. From the exuberant early stories such as ‘The Emperor’s New Clothes’, though poignant masterpieces such as ‘The Little Mermaid’ and ‘The Ugly Duckling’, to the darker, more subversive later tales written for adults, the stories included here are endlessly experimental, both humorous and irreverent, sorrowful and strange. This book – beautifully illustrated with a selection of Andersen’s amazing paper cut-outs - will bring these magical tales to life for readers of any age.
About the Author
Hans Christian Andersen (1805–75) was born in Odense, Denmark, the son of a poor shoemaker and a washerwoman. As a young teenager, he became quite well known in Odense as a reciter of drama, and as a singer. When he was fourteen, he set off for the capital, Copenhagen, determined to become a national success on the stage. He failed miserably, but made some influential friends in the capital, who got him into school to remedy his lack of proper education. He hated school: aged seventeen, he was in a class of twelve-year-olds and was constantly mocked by them and by the teachers.
In 1829 his first book – an account of a walking trip – was published. After that, books came out at regular intervals. At first, he considered his adult books more important than his fantasies. In later life, however, he began to see that these apparently trivial stories could vividly portray constant features of human life and character, in a charming manner. There were two consequences of this. First, he stopped regarding his stories as trifles written solely for children; second, he began to write more original stories, rather than retelling traditional tales.
He once said that ideas for stories ‘lie in my mind like seeds and only need the kiss of a sunbeam or a drop of malice to flower’. He would often thinly disguise people he liked or disliked as characters in his stories: a woman who failed to return his love becomes the foolish prince in ‘The Little Mermaid’; his own ugliness and humiliation, or his father’s daydream of being descended from a rich and powerful family, are reflected in ‘The Ugly Duckling’.
Hans Andersen’s stories began to be translated into English as early as 1846. Since then, numerous editions, and more recently Hollywood songs and a Disney cartoon, have helped to ensure the continuing popularity of the stories in the English-speaking world.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Unhappy with this product because the cover is not what is shown in the display picture, which is the main reason why i bought it as a present for a friend who collects them with green covers! do not be fooled by the display picture!!
3 of 5 people found the following review helpful
All the famous tales are here along with the not so famous (and not so good) eg The Dung Beetle. Anderson's tales have always struck me as more for adults than for children (just look at the disney-fication of A Little Mermaid) and there is a certain darkness that permeates this collection.
Important for its fame and a pleasure in its simplicity. It's a shame some of the stories don't add up to much but an excellent read anyway.
Important for its fame and a pleasure in its simplicity. It's a shame some of the stories don't add up to much but an excellent read anyway.
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