Rudy and Babette

by Hans Christian Andersen

ET us now go to Switzerland, and see its wonderful mountains, whose steep, rocky sides are covered with trees. We will climb up to the fields of snow, and then make our way down to the grassy valleys, with their countless streams and rivulets, impetuously rushing to lose themselves in the sea. The sunshine is hot in the narrow valley; the snow becomes firm and solid, and in the course of time it either descends as an avalanche, or creeps along as a glacier.

82 pages, Paperback

First published July 19, 2012

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

[Debbie Zapata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another title for my Literary Birthday challenge. I've read and seen film versions of the most common Hans Christian Andersen stories such as The Little Mermaid and The Ugly Duckling. But I never had heard of the stories in this volume. Rudy and Babette is the first and longest of four stories in this collection. It is a story of love and life, and growing up. But it is also a story about supernatural forces fighting for one man, and escaping or perhaps not escaping Fate. There are also some very clever cats telling each other about the goings-on during the days when Rudy is a frequent visitor at the mill-house where Babette lives. Here is my favorite exchange between the two cats, after our lovers have had a spat and made up:

"Now that's all over!" said the parlor cat. "Rudy is here again, they understand each other, and that is the greatest good fortune, they say." "I heard in the night," said the kitchen cat, "the rats say the greatest good fortune is to eat tallow-candles and to have quite enough rancid bacon. Now, which shall I believe—rats, or a pair of lovers?" "Neither of them!" said the parlor cat. "That is always safest."

The story of Rudy and his quest for the love of Babette was interesting and really caught my attention from the beginning, but I was kind of saddened by the ending. The other stories were just as spell-binding, with Andersen's wonderful mix of fantasy and wisdom. I especially enjoyed The Fellow-Traveler, about Johannes and his adventures when he goes out into the wide world after his father dies. There are some charming descriptions of elves playing along the road and a magician's cave that was perfect: both incredibly creepy and very creative, just as a proper magician should have. (But I still don't think a chair cushion made of live mice would be very comfortable!)

I think of fairy tales and children's books when I think of Hans Christian Andersen, but even children of my age will enjoy these stories and learn something from them. And I am off to read another Andersen collection and see what other adventures I can have!