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The Nutcracker
After hearing how the toy nutcracker that she and her brother received for Christmas got his ugly face, Marie helps break the spell he is under and watches him change into a handsome prince. Illustrated notes throughout the text explain the historical background of the story.After hearing how the toy nutcracker that she and her brother received for Christmas got his ugly face, Marie helps break the spell he is under and watches him change into a handsome prince
64 pages, Hardcover
Published September 1, 1999
33 people want to read
About the author
David Clement-Davies
23 books911 followersDavid was born in 1964 and went to Westminster School and Edinburgh University. There, Clement-Davies read History and English Literature, specializing in the Italian Renaissance, and Russian Literature and Society. For many years, he dreamed of one day becoming an actor taking a drama course and working in theater. However, he was also interested in writing and soon became a freelance travel journalist.
Clement-Davies lived in a little mountain home in Andalusia region of Spain to write The Sight, has traveled the world and now also lives in London. He has also written a musical, two adult novels, and a play, set in the present and the 17th century, called Startled Anatomies, alongside his children’s books. His online publishing website is phoeniarkpress.com and from there he is trying to create a grass roots publisher.
Clement-Davies lived in a little mountain home in Andalusia region of Spain to write The Sight, has traveled the world and now also lives in London. He has also written a musical, two adult novels, and a play, set in the present and the 17th century, called Startled Anatomies, alongside his children’s books. His online publishing website is phoeniarkpress.com and from there he is trying to create a grass roots publisher.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 7, 2019
I read this adaptation of the classic by ETA Hoffman in the Eyewitness edition because I wanted the historical annotations. However, I think that they cut out quite a bit.
I'll probably try to read the original version at some point soon because this story just struck me as so very odd, I'm sure they left out something important.
However, I do always like these DK versions for their lovely illustrations and the little tidbits they provide. I have a copy of A Christmas Carol in this edition and it is my favorite (however, it is abridged. This does not say abridged, it says adapted, but I think they should be more forthright about that).
In future, I will read these for the reasons stated, but I will try to be sure to get other more faithful editions to get the full story. As this one sits, I would not want to read this to my grandchild, because it sounds rather schizophrenic. And I can't see from this edition why everyone is so enamored with it, or why they would want to make so many stage adaptations of it.
I'll probably try to read the original version at some point soon because this story just struck me as so very odd, I'm sure they left out something important.
However, I do always like these DK versions for their lovely illustrations and the little tidbits they provide. I have a copy of A Christmas Carol in this edition and it is my favorite (however, it is abridged. This does not say abridged, it says adapted, but I think they should be more forthright about that).
In future, I will read these for the reasons stated, but I will try to be sure to get other more faithful editions to get the full story. As this one sits, I would not want to read this to my grandchild, because it sounds rather schizophrenic. And I can't see from this edition why everyone is so enamored with it, or why they would want to make so many stage adaptations of it.
December 20, 2021
This is the original fairy tale of the Nutcracker and like many fairy tales, it is scary and filled with morals and lessons about values. The ballet story that we are so familiar with is just a small part of this book, This book also includes historical notes about Germany during the 19th century. I really enjoyed this version of the nutcracker and I am planning to see the Bolshoi version of the ballet tomorrow at the movies.
March 2, 2024
Gorgeous illustrations and a lot of really fun and interesting history about the ballet, the author, and the time period. A must read for anyone who loves The Nutcracker ballet and score.
November 5, 2018
I specifically requested the version illustrated by Sendak from the library. This is the second time I've ended up with this version while trying to get that version; I am less and less sure that the sendak version is even real. Maybe it's like sasquatch; lots of reported sightings, but none verifiable?
I suppose none of that actually has anything to do with this book, which is a subpar retelling, accented with acceptable illustrations and terrible footnotes. If you want an illustrated "nutcracker" this is not your best bet.
(this is getting super confusing. The above was written a few weeks back, as a review of the "eyewitness" version of the tale. But I finally DID find the sendak version and now this review is showing up when I try to review that one)
I suppose none of that actually has anything to do with this book, which is a subpar retelling, accented with acceptable illustrations and terrible footnotes. If you want an illustrated "nutcracker" this is not your best bet.
(this is getting super confusing. The above was written a few weeks back, as a review of the "eyewitness" version of the tale. But I finally DID find the sendak version and now this review is showing up when I try to review that one)
January 4, 2017
This DK Eyewitness Classics edition of "The Nutcracker" is an abridged, annotated, and illustrated version of the original story by Ernst Hoffmann eventually turned into the famous Tchaikovsky ballet.
On the surface, this is a perfectly good children's story, set during Christmastime and full of extravagance, adventure and whimsy. What really makes this edition shine are the notes and annotations, providing details that a modern reader might not know: explaining the tradition of presenting the Christmas tree to the children on Christmas Eve; a photo of a doll like those Marie would have had; pointing out similar stories from the same time featuring transformations, like "Beauty and the Beast" and "The Frog-Prince."
Although the annotations explain the vocabulary and the setting of the story quite well, there really isn't any attempt to analyze or criticize the story. The author gets a nod for having ugly people that are really good on the inside, but the "prettiest princess you have ever seen" is an Aryan beauty, with pale pink skin, blue eyes, and hair like gold. Fritz is depicted as a harsh commander of his toy soldiers. (Would this depiction be considered harsh by a reader of the time? Was it some sort of social commentary?) Marie's age isn't given, but she is depicted as a young girl anywhere from six to twelve, but then at the end she
The illustrations by James Mayhew are pretty good. I'd be curious to know how heavily abridged this version is - not something I'd expect to be informed of, however!
It would be fun to read this just before going to see a performance of "The Nutcracker" ballet, probably adding to one's understanding (and enjoyment) of the ballet.
On the surface, this is a perfectly good children's story, set during Christmastime and full of extravagance, adventure and whimsy. What really makes this edition shine are the notes and annotations, providing details that a modern reader might not know: explaining the tradition of presenting the Christmas tree to the children on Christmas Eve; a photo of a doll like those Marie would have had; pointing out similar stories from the same time featuring transformations, like "Beauty and the Beast" and "The Frog-Prince."
Although the annotations explain the vocabulary and the setting of the story quite well, there really isn't any attempt to analyze or criticize the story. The author gets a nod for having ugly people that are really good on the inside, but the "prettiest princess you have ever seen" is an Aryan beauty, with pale pink skin, blue eyes, and hair like gold. Fritz is depicted as a harsh commander of his toy soldiers. (Would this depiction be considered harsh by a reader of the time? Was it some sort of social commentary?) Marie's age isn't given, but she is depicted as a young girl anywhere from six to twelve, but then at the end she
The illustrations by James Mayhew are pretty good. I'd be curious to know how heavily abridged this version is - not something I'd expect to be informed of, however!
It would be fun to read this just before going to see a performance of "The Nutcracker" ballet, probably adding to one's understanding (and enjoyment) of the ballet.
December 11, 2015
What a lovely book. The historical details in the margins give us some understanding of the author's perspective.
This was a morning time selection. My children loved the fullness of the story and the imagery was captivating. What a fun Christmas read. We are looking at our nutcrackers with just a little more than heightened suspicion. ;)
This was a morning time selection. My children loved the fullness of the story and the imagery was captivating. What a fun Christmas read. We are looking at our nutcrackers with just a little more than heightened suspicion. ;)
May 30, 2013
I read this to my 5-yr-old. I wasn't familiar before with the original story, so it was interesting. My daughter found the 7-headed mouse king scary, though.
December 13, 2016
g8 but to mLg for kids lol m8 rekT
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews