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More than 156 of the great Dane's best-loved fairy tales.
Biography courtesy of HarperCollins
Unlike The Brothers Grimm's Fairy Tales, Hans Christian Andersen wrote all his own stories. However, these, like Grimm, were intended for adult audiences, not children. Andersen is better known for tales like Thumbelina, The Emperor's New Suit, The Snow Queen, and The Little Mermaid, to name a few. Don't except happily ever after, a lot of these tales are sad. While others are happy, sad, like the character dies but goes to heaven to be reunited with love ones, type thing.
Though few of these tales are Fairy Tales in the modern definition, they are an enjoyable read. A lot of tales teach morals, have Christian connections, some are just fun and others can run a little on the serious side. Bare in mind, if you are familiar with Disney's The Little Mermaid, the original is similar in some ways but very different from the child friendlier version.
Unlike Grimm, these tales are children friendly. Though some tales would be better for older children than younger.
Anonymous
Posted May 20, 2007
These are the tales that will pass the test of time. I read them as a boy, and now I read them to my son. I tell him, 'Not knowing the tales of 'The Ugly Duckling,' 'Thumbelina' and 'The Little Mermaid' is like not knowing how to walk or talk.' These tales are as monumental to children as The Godfather, Schindler's List and Gone with the Wind are to adults.
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Posted December 13, 2005
Hans-Kristian Andersen is the most favorite author of my childhood and of today!!! - his works are full of beautiful fantasies and bring so much satisfaction to a reader - I would also like to say that the tale about 'Snow Queen' was written by him and dedicated to a Swedish famous singer called Andie Lind whom he was in love with and who did not respond him mutually - the tales like 'Mermaid' and the 'Nightingale' are also dedicated to Andie Lind.
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Posted March 14, 2001
If you remember Thumbelina, The Nightingale, The Ugly Duckling or The Princess and the Pea, they are all here in a wonderful collection of stories written by Hans Christian Anderson. Unlike the Brothers Grimm, who collected and recorded popular tales, Hans Christian Anderson wrote his own ¿folk¿ tales, which also contain Danish history and foreign literature. Not all of his stories end well, yet this is a side of life children should learn about so they can be aware of it later in life. Your child might be horrified to learn that not everything ends up quite as magical as it would in a Disney movie. My favorite tale has always been ¿The Little Mermaid.¿ She wanted to be something she was not meant to be and for me that is a lesson of how we should be who we really are. She actually ends up not marrying the prince. I quote: The little mermaid lifted up glorified eyes towards the sun, and felt them, for the first time, filling with tears. On the ship, in which she had left the prince¿¿she saw him and his beautiful bride searching for her; sorrowfully they gazed at the pearly foam, as if they knew she had thrown herself into the waves. Some of the stories are very moralistic, yet he retains a mischievous sense of humor in some stories. His stories always reflect his fertile imagination. This particular collection was translated by Mrs. H. B. Paull, H. Oskar Sommer, Jean Hersholt and several other unknown translators. Six distinguished artists helped to illustrate this book. These are black and white illustrations and there are not really very many of them. To me a fully illustrated book should be fully illustrated. Nonetheless, this is not a book just for children. In fact, I see this more as a book which should be read to children by their parents. In this way parents and children can discuss items of interest. This book on its own would most likely not appeal to a child, due to the lack of pictures. It is meant to be read to them as far as I can tell. I also would recommend it to adults who remembered these stories as I did and want to read them again. Perhaps I also remember the story about the tinder box very well. It is a magical story of a soldier who goes into a hollow tree and finds a passage with doors which lead to chambers. It sounds frightening at first but has a lovely happy ending. Books can take us to another world and this one will take a child to many places they will never forget. And so the first story begins: ¿Far down in the forest, where the warm sun and the fresh air made a sweet resting place, grew a pretty little fir-tree; and yet it was not happy, it wished so much to be tall like its companions¯the pines and firs which grew around it. The sun shone, and the soft air fluttered its leaves, and¿¿.¿
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Overview
More than 156 of the great Dane's best-loved fairy tales.