SEVEN TALES BY H.C. ANDERSEN

by Hans Christian Andersen

The Fir Tree, The Princess and the Pea, Happy Family, The Ugly Duckling, The Darning Needle, It's Absolutely True!, and The Steadfast Tin Soldier. Illustrated by Maurice Sendak.

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories, Anthologies, Childrens, Fairy Tales

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1959

About the author

Hans Christian Andersen (often referred to in Scandinavia as H.C. Andersen) was a Danish author and poet. Although a prolific writer of plays, travelogues, novels, and poems, Andersen is best remembered for his fairy tales. Andersen's popularity is not limited to children; his stories — called eventyr, or "fairy-tales" — express themes that transcend age and nationality.

Andersen's fairy tales, which have been translated into more than 125 languages, have become culturally embedded in the West's collective consciousness, readily accessible to children, but presenting lessons of virtue and resilience in the face of adversity for mature readers as well. Some of his most famous fairy tales include "The Little Mermaid", "The Ugly Duckling", "The Nightingale", "The Emperor's New Clothes" and many more. His stories have inspired plays, ballets, and both live-action and animated films.

Reviews

[Jodee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hans Anderson is always a good read. I picked it up to share with the girls. The wonderful life lessons that are contained in his simple stories alway keep me coming back. This version is a great one for young readers.

[Angie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have a couple of favorites (The Ugly Duckling and The Princess and the Pea), but a couple of these I had never heard of and didn't care for very much. Overall, I don't think I would read these stories to my children or grandchildren.

[Riot · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love these fairytales so much. the absolute nostalgia of all of these is amazing and im so glad i decided to pick them up again. theres something perfect about reading fairytales during holiday times too. the nostalgia and warm energy for it is amazing.

[Erin Boyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely collection of fairy tales, some of the more melancholy variety. I always love Maurice Sendak's illustrations!

[celo · Rating 2 out of 5]

They said, Hans Christian Andersen is a good story-teller, a craftsmen of fairy tales. Maybe that was true, but I'll definitely say that Andersen's works is not really my cup of tea.

I do believe that fairy tale doesn't always have a happy ending. Many of Oscar Wilde's and The Grimm Brother's works told me that I was right, and hell I am. Hans Christian Andersen's, on the other hand, someway wasmade for the more tender ears.

There's seven stories in this book and I have to say that many of it wasn't that good for us, adults. It may entertain many younger audience so if you intended to find a tale stories for children, I do believe that this book is highly recommended; sadly I wasn't. I'm that kind of person who seek for another kind of fairy tales; one that full of tragedy, irony, and such. And I can't find those qualities in this book. Yes, there's The Little Match Girl in this book and yes, it's quite a tragedy. But Hans Christian Andersen was a soft storyteller, he wrapped the tragedy with candy.

I don't know, it really is not my cup of tea. Thanks, but no thanks.

[Spencer Didlake · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Nightingale is good but not great, more of a moral than story.The ugly duckling is a classic. The gardener and the squire is written well, not a fan of the squire or the mistress though. The little Match-Seller is a solid but very short and tragic tale.

[Benjamin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well crafted stories heartfelt and heartbreak alike. One may imagine reading these words to children before bed.