Hans Christian Andersen's Fairy Tales

by Hans Christian Andersen, H.P. Paull (Translator)

Overview

This elegant hardback edition presents Hans Christian Anderson classic fairy tales, featuring beautiful gold cover embossing and gilded page-edges.

Hans Christian Anderson is the ultimate author of the literary fairy-tale. His utterly original stories avoid the moral didacticism and Disney-esque saccharine that fairy tales are often associated with. Instead their beauty, tragedy and strangeness have captivated the imagination of readers, both young and old. This collection contains 35 of his best-known tales, including 'The Snow Queen', 'The Emperor's New Suit' and 'The Red Shoes'.

This deluxe pocket-sized gift edition contains the classic translation by H. P. Paull, and is presented with an embossed cover design, ivory pages, beautifully designed endpapers and gold gilded page edges. Part of the Arcturus Ornate Classics series, this book makes wonderful gift for any lover of classic literature.

ABOUT THE SERIES: Arcturus Ornate Classics are beautifully bound editions of iconic literary works across history. These compact, foil-embossed hardbacks are printed using deluxe ivory paper and make the perfect gift.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781398851412
Publisher:	Arcturus Publishing Limited
Publication date:	06/03/2025
Series:	Arcturus Ornate Classics , #66
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	4.13(w) x 6.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) was a prolific Danish writer who is best known for his fairy tales, which have been translated into more than 100 different languages. His birthday, 2 April, is celebrated as International Children's Book Day each year and one of Copenhagen's most celebrated monuments, the statue of the Little Mermaid in the harbour, commemorates one of his best-known tales.

Date of Birth:

April 2, 1805

Date of Death:

August 4, 1875

Place of Birth:

Odense, Denmark

Place of Death:

Copenhagen, Denmark

Table of Contents

Foreword ix

The Tinder Box 1

Great Claus and Little Claus 15

The Real Princess 35

The Hardy Tin Soldier 39

The Flying Trunk 53

Ole Luk-Oie 67

The Swineherd 89

The Nightingale 101

The Snow Queen 121

The Red Shoes 173

The Shepherdess and the Chimney-Sweeper 185

The Shadow 197

The Shirt Collar 219

The Bottle-Neck 225

The Elder Tree Mother 243

The Story of a Mother 259

Editorial Reviews

Zwerger, who has illustrated several Andersen tales as individual picture books, here presents an oversized storybook collection of eight, ranging from the readily familiar (``The Emperor's New Clothes''; ``The Princess and the Pea'') to others that will be new to many readers (``The Rose Tree Regiment''; ``The Jumpers''). She provides a few full-page pictures, at most, for each--just enough to sketch a character, suggest a scene and offer a jumping-off point for the reader's vision. Her lines are characteristically dainty, her palette strong and true--a combination reminiscent of the color plates that frequently embellished texts of yore. Noted translator Bell's retellings are literal and literary, with a leisurely, somewhat old-fashioned feeling created by long, lyrical sentences and descriptions and frequent exclamations and addresses to the reader; they are a fitting match for Zwerger's elegant style. The opening selection, ``The Sandman,'' is, unfortunately, the longest, most rambling and diffuse, and the most clearly European; but after this somewhat difficult beginning, the collection opens a rich world to the reader willing to invest time and imagination in these classic renditions. Ages 4-up. (Nov.)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Gr 4 Up-- This handsome edition, containing eight stories, has a few old favorites and some lesser-known tales that can only be found in complete anthologies. Bell's translations are crisp, offering Andersen's wry observations and romantic prose in clean, precise English. The book is asethetically pleasing--long and narrow, with thick, creamy white pages; a fine typeface; and plenty of white space framing text and illustration. Zwerger's elegant pencil-and-watercolor illustrations are typically restrained in palette, utilizing mostly earthen tones. Her compositions are classically balanced, with uncluttered backgrounds, and realistic characters, costumed fancifully. Each story begins with a simple headpiece decoration and is accompanied by one or more plates. A lovely volume. --Karen K. Radtke, Milwaukee Public Library

School Library Journal

This collection of eight tales includes relatively unknown stories, such as "The Rose Tree Regiment," along with such familiar favorites as "The Princess & the Pea." Bell's finesse in writing is well matched by Zwerger's delicate, understated approach in the illustrations, which are introspective rather than dramatic. Sophisticated in design, the book features fluid watercolors and wide-bordered text on tall, white pages. Children accustomed to picture book versions of the stories will find far fewer illustrations for the amount of text; for instance, only one picture appears within "The Emperor's New Clothes." A handsome edition.

Carolyn Phelan

Listeners will be fascinated by these original stories from Hans Christian Andersen—no Disney adaptations here. They’re richly voiced by F. Murray Abraham and enlivened by a cast of acclaimed narrators who add playful differentiation to the many characters. The tales range from the familiar “Thumbelina,” “The Little Mermaid,” and “The Princess and the Pea” to those less well known like “The Rags” and “Luck Can Be Found on a Stick.” They’re filled with surprises for those acquainted only with the sanitized versions, with many missing the happy endings we’re used to hearing. Abraham’s elegant narration and measured pacing provide the perfect foil to the more whimsical style of those portraying the characters in this engaging production. S.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, 2019 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine

APRIL 2018 - AudioFile