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The Little Mermaid and other fairy tales
This collection of fairy stories by one of the genre's most celebrated figures brings together 27 classic tales including The Little Mermaid, The Emperor's New Clothes, The Little Matchgirl, The Tinderbox, A Real Princess, The Flying Trunk, Oli Lockeye and Danish Holger.
304 pages, Leather Bound
Published January 1, 2016
356 people are currently reading
3920 people want to read
About the author
Hans Christian Andersen
7,803 books3,538 followersHans 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 326 reviews
July 21, 2021
"Princesses he found in plenty; but whether they were real princesses was impossible for him to decide..."
What is real and what is fantasy? Well, all of THIS is fantasy! & yet it is foundational truths that ground these flights of fancy which include the strangest casts of all time: prince swans and frog princesses; ghosts, angels, saints; bizarro items like curative tears and magic spells; phantasmagoric locales like churchyard, emblems like crosses, and much religion. And marriage, death, transformation.
The titular story is as was always said--forlorn, gloomy, DEPRESSING. But also rife with incongrous monstrosities such as mermaid sisters bald from their sacrifice to the sea witch, as well as the ultimate motif: sea foam insignificance.
"A" tales: The Marsh King's Daughter, The Wild Swans, The Red Shoes, The Flying Trunk, The Ugly Ducking, The Little Mermaid
"B" tales: The Storks, The Nightingale, The Emperor's New Clothes, Princess and the Pea
"C" tales: Thumbelina, Elfin-Mount, The Snow Queen
What is real and what is fantasy? Well, all of THIS is fantasy! & yet it is foundational truths that ground these flights of fancy which include the strangest casts of all time: prince swans and frog princesses; ghosts, angels, saints; bizarro items like curative tears and magic spells; phantasmagoric locales like churchyard, emblems like crosses, and much religion. And marriage, death, transformation.
The titular story is as was always said--forlorn, gloomy, DEPRESSING. But also rife with incongrous monstrosities such as mermaid sisters bald from their sacrifice to the sea witch, as well as the ultimate motif: sea foam insignificance.
"A" tales: The Marsh King's Daughter, The Wild Swans, The Red Shoes, The Flying Trunk, The Ugly Ducking, The Little Mermaid
"B" tales: The Storks, The Nightingale, The Emperor's New Clothes, Princess and the Pea
"C" tales: Thumbelina, Elfin-Mount, The Snow Queen
April 4, 2022
Yes, I‘ll admit it, I‘m kinda addicted to MinaLima‘s special editions of classic tales. Originally, I had no intention of buying this one, too, since it‘s just a collection of some of Hans Christian Andersen‘s fairytales - not all of them, not even my favorite ones - but the design for The Little Mermaid alone is so breathtaking that I had to (yes, the books held me down in the store and twisted my arm until I relented, that is my version of events and you can‘t prove me a liar *lol*).
Ignore the blurb for this edition as it is entirely wrong (in fact, I think it was attributed to the wrong edition, but whatever). This book contains 12 of Andersen‘s fairytales. Amongst them are:
The Little Mermaid
The Ugly Duckling
The Princess and the Pea
Thumbelina
I think those are some of the most well-known by this author, but there are also „lesser“ tales included here. All in all, I‘d say it‘s a well-rounded selection, showing Andersen‘s full range of themes.
Here‘s the usual disclaimer that I put in every review of these special editions for those who didn‘t know:
MinaLima is the name of the creative team consisting of Miraphora Mina and Eduardo Lima, famous ever since their work on the Harry Potter as well as Fantastic Beasts movies. In the meantime, they don't just make props (packaging, fake newspapers, wallpapers and other decorative elements) but adaptations of classic children's stories. Such as this one.
As with all the other MinaLima editions, the design is what makes this book extraordinary and worth getting even if you already have other editions with at least some of Andersen‘s tales. Here are some examples.
Absolutely gorgeous, a jewel on my shelf - I have a few very nice books but MinaLima‘s works have a special place even amongst those (the lower rating is because, overall, this is still not as marvelous a book as MinaLima‘s others but note that this is hairsplitting).
Ignore the blurb for this edition as it is entirely wrong (in fact, I think it was attributed to the wrong edition, but whatever). This book contains 12 of Andersen‘s fairytales. Amongst them are:
The Little Mermaid
The Ugly Duckling
The Princess and the Pea
Thumbelina
I think those are some of the most well-known by this author, but there are also „lesser“ tales included here. All in all, I‘d say it‘s a well-rounded selection, showing Andersen‘s full range of themes.
Here‘s the usual disclaimer that I put in every review of these special editions for those who didn‘t know:
MinaLima is the name of the creative team consisting of Miraphora Mina and Eduardo Lima, famous ever since their work on the Harry Potter as well as Fantastic Beasts movies. In the meantime, they don't just make props (packaging, fake newspapers, wallpapers and other decorative elements) but adaptations of classic children's stories. Such as this one.
As with all the other MinaLima editions, the design is what makes this book extraordinary and worth getting even if you already have other editions with at least some of Andersen‘s tales. Here are some examples.
Absolutely gorgeous, a jewel on my shelf - I have a few very nice books but MinaLima‘s works have a special place even amongst those (the lower rating is because, overall, this is still not as marvelous a book as MinaLima‘s others but note that this is hairsplitting).
July 28, 2018
I've had this book for a about two years now and I totally forgot to add this to my Read on GR
July 23, 2023
After having this on my shelves for years and dipping in and out of it, I have finally read it cover to cover! 😁
Obviously with the Little Mermaid being the main story in this, I of course thought of the Disney movie...and found it interesting how classic fairytales are romanticized particularly by Disney.
My favorite stories were “The Little Mermaid, ” “The Marsh King's Daughter,” “The Nightingale, ” “The Wild Swans,” and “The Emperor's New Clothes.”
The Little Mermaid ended better than I remembered: The prince was never going to love her in the way she loved him despite her giving away her voice, feeling like walking on swords, and having to give up an immortal afterlife if he married someone else...which he did. But by her choosing to not kill him in order to become a mermaid again, her good deed was rewarded by her turning into a child of air, having to care for humans for three hundred years, and then earning her immortality. Her sorrow was hard to read as she desperately tried to get the prince to notice her in a romantic way and yet he did not; it reminded me of Taylor Swift's “Invisible”:
“She can't see the way your eyes
Light up when you smile
She'll never notice how you stop and stare
Whenever she walks by
And you can't see me wantin' you the way you want her
But you are everything to me
And I just wanna show you
She don't even know you
She's never gonna love you like I want to
And you just see right through me but if you only knew me
We could be a beautiful, miracle, unbelievable
Instead of just invisible”
Obviously with the Little Mermaid being the main story in this, I of course thought of the Disney movie...and found it interesting how classic fairytales are romanticized particularly by Disney.
My favorite stories were “The Little Mermaid, ” “The Marsh King's Daughter,” “The Nightingale, ” “The Wild Swans,” and “The Emperor's New Clothes.”
The Little Mermaid ended better than I remembered: The prince was never going to love her in the way she loved him despite her giving away her voice, feeling like walking on swords, and having to give up an immortal afterlife if he married someone else...which he did. But by her choosing to not kill him in order to become a mermaid again, her good deed was rewarded by her turning into a child of air, having to care for humans for three hundred years, and then earning her immortality. Her sorrow was hard to read as she desperately tried to get the prince to notice her in a romantic way and yet he did not; it reminded me of Taylor Swift's “Invisible”:
“She can't see the way your eyes
Light up when you smile
She'll never notice how you stop and stare
Whenever she walks by
And you can't see me wantin' you the way you want her
But you are everything to me
And I just wanna show you
She don't even know you
She's never gonna love you like I want to
And you just see right through me but if you only knew me
We could be a beautiful, miracle, unbelievable
Instead of just invisible”
January 27, 2020
Le favole sono ben più di ciò che ci si aspetta.
Quelle di Andersen poi, son ben difficili da battere ✨
Quelle di Andersen poi, son ben difficili da battere ✨
January 6, 2021
Recensione completa -> https://thebooksblender.altervista.or...
June 23, 2021
The Little Mermaid: 🌟🌟🌟(3)
The Nightingale: 🌟🌟🌟 (3)
The Ugly Duckling: 🌟🌟🌟(3)
The Swineherd: 🌟🌟 (2)
The Tinder Box: 🌟🌟🌟 (3)
The Princess and the pea: 🌟🌟🌟🌟(4)
The Emperor new clothes:🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟(5)
The red shoes: 🌟🌟(2)
Thumbelina: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟(5)
The steadfast tin soldier:🌟🌟🌟(3)
The little match girl:🌟🌟🌟🌟(4)
The snow queen: 🌟🌟(2)
The Nightingale: 🌟🌟🌟 (3)
The Ugly Duckling: 🌟🌟🌟(3)
The Swineherd: 🌟🌟 (2)
The Tinder Box: 🌟🌟🌟 (3)
The Princess and the pea: 🌟🌟🌟🌟(4)
The Emperor new clothes:🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟(5)
The red shoes: 🌟🌟(2)
Thumbelina: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟(5)
The steadfast tin soldier:🌟🌟🌟(3)
The little match girl:🌟🌟🌟🌟(4)
The snow queen: 🌟🌟(2)
March 21, 2021
La Sirenita junto a la Caperucita Roja, son mis personajes favoritos de los cuentos infantiles.
Pero a la pequeña sirena le tengo especial cariño porque fue la primera película que vi en un cine. En el año noventa y con ocho años la vi de estreno en el cine París de Barcelona, en el Portal de l’Àngel, lugar en el que ahora podemos encontrar un Zara. Sí, triste.
Tan triste como la verdadera historia de la famosa Sirenita*
Seguro que muchos de vosotr@s solo conocéis la historia que nos contó Disney, una más destilada, menos macabra y con un bonito final feliz.
Pero la historia original le pertenece al creador de cuentos de hadas Hans Christian Andersen, fue de este cuento original de donde la factoría Disney extrajo la información.
En principio ambas historias son muy similares una chica mitad pez, mitad humana se enamora de un príncipe. Descubre que los humanos al morir pueden conservar su alma eternamente, pero que ella como sirena, tras sus 300 años de vida, se convertirá en espuma de mar.
En busca de esa alma y esa eternidad, hace un pacto con una bruja, al conseguir unas piernas, ella le entregará su voz, y ya no podrá volver al mar jamás, pero cada vez que camine el dolor será punzante en sus pies, agujas que se le clavaran a cada paso.
Ella acepta.
Hasta aquí las similitudes son palpables, pero el final es totalmente diferente y desgarrador. El príncipe nunca la amó, él siempre estuvo enamorado de la princesa de otro reino. Él nunca supo que ella le salvó de ahogarse. Solo al final cuando ella ya es espuma.
Tendrá la posibilidad de volver al mar como sirena si lo mata, pero no puede porque ella lo ama y prefiere convertirse en espuma. Por su buen corazón obtiene la recompensa de tras morir conseguir el alma inmortal, de una manera un tanto macabra la risa que le provoquen niñ@s buenos le restará un año de condena y la lágrima de los mal@s un día más.
Os recomiendo leer la historia original, esta edición es preciosa y en ella podemos encontrar 17 cuentos del nombrado autor.
https://best22witches.com/the-little-...
@best_22_witches
Pero a la pequeña sirena le tengo especial cariño porque fue la primera película que vi en un cine. En el año noventa y con ocho años la vi de estreno en el cine París de Barcelona, en el Portal de l’Àngel, lugar en el que ahora podemos encontrar un Zara. Sí, triste.
Tan triste como la verdadera historia de la famosa Sirenita*
Seguro que muchos de vosotr@s solo conocéis la historia que nos contó Disney, una más destilada, menos macabra y con un bonito final feliz.
Pero la historia original le pertenece al creador de cuentos de hadas Hans Christian Andersen, fue de este cuento original de donde la factoría Disney extrajo la información.
En principio ambas historias son muy similares una chica mitad pez, mitad humana se enamora de un príncipe. Descubre que los humanos al morir pueden conservar su alma eternamente, pero que ella como sirena, tras sus 300 años de vida, se convertirá en espuma de mar.
En busca de esa alma y esa eternidad, hace un pacto con una bruja, al conseguir unas piernas, ella le entregará su voz, y ya no podrá volver al mar jamás, pero cada vez que camine el dolor será punzante en sus pies, agujas que se le clavaran a cada paso.
Ella acepta.
Hasta aquí las similitudes son palpables, pero el final es totalmente diferente y desgarrador. El príncipe nunca la amó, él siempre estuvo enamorado de la princesa de otro reino. Él nunca supo que ella le salvó de ahogarse. Solo al final cuando ella ya es espuma.
Tendrá la posibilidad de volver al mar como sirena si lo mata, pero no puede porque ella lo ama y prefiere convertirse en espuma. Por su buen corazón obtiene la recompensa de tras morir conseguir el alma inmortal, de una manera un tanto macabra la risa que le provoquen niñ@s buenos le restará un año de condena y la lágrima de los mal@s un día más.
Os recomiendo leer la historia original, esta edición es preciosa y en ella podemos encontrar 17 cuentos del nombrado autor.
https://best22witches.com/the-little-...
@best_22_witches
November 20, 2020
Ein tolles Buch mit alten, teilweise eher unbekannten Märchen,die durch wunderschöne Illustrationen unterstrichen werden.
Die Charaktere sind in den meisten Geschichten wirklich toll. Sie sind mutig, kühn, loyal, treu, neugierig oder einfach unschuldig. Wie im Märchen geht es um Gut und Böse, um die Macht der Liebe, eines reinen Gewissens oder einfach um Treue und Aufopferung. Allerdings sind die Charaktere vielschichtiger, es gibt Entwicklungen und die Geschichten wirken wie Analogien auf verschiedenste Ereignisse in der Realität: Verlust, Erwachsenwerden, Mangel an Grundbedürfnissen und vielem mehr. Es werden durch die Geschichten bildhaft tolle Werte vermittelt. Die Welten sind fantasievoll und ausführlich beschrieben, sodass man sich selbst Kleinigkeiten gut vorstellen kann. Meist haben sie fantastische Elemente die passend etabliert werden und Die Welt natürlich ergänzen. Die Storys sind fantasiereich und vielseitig und weichen teilweise von dem bekannten Stoff ab, was wirklich sehr spannend ist. Der Schreibstil ist natürlich grandios, ganz der Liga entsprechend in der Andersen mit seinen Kunstmärchen spielt. Wie bereits erwähnt unterstreichen die Illustrationen das wunderbar.
Alles in allem ein buntes Sammelsurium das einen mit den meisten Geschichten sehr erfreut und verzaubert aber auch nachdenklich zurücklässt.
Die Charaktere sind in den meisten Geschichten wirklich toll. Sie sind mutig, kühn, loyal, treu, neugierig oder einfach unschuldig. Wie im Märchen geht es um Gut und Böse, um die Macht der Liebe, eines reinen Gewissens oder einfach um Treue und Aufopferung. Allerdings sind die Charaktere vielschichtiger, es gibt Entwicklungen und die Geschichten wirken wie Analogien auf verschiedenste Ereignisse in der Realität: Verlust, Erwachsenwerden, Mangel an Grundbedürfnissen und vielem mehr. Es werden durch die Geschichten bildhaft tolle Werte vermittelt. Die Welten sind fantasievoll und ausführlich beschrieben, sodass man sich selbst Kleinigkeiten gut vorstellen kann. Meist haben sie fantastische Elemente die passend etabliert werden und Die Welt natürlich ergänzen. Die Storys sind fantasiereich und vielseitig und weichen teilweise von dem bekannten Stoff ab, was wirklich sehr spannend ist. Der Schreibstil ist natürlich grandios, ganz der Liga entsprechend in der Andersen mit seinen Kunstmärchen spielt. Wie bereits erwähnt unterstreichen die Illustrationen das wunderbar.
Alles in allem ein buntes Sammelsurium das einen mit den meisten Geschichten sehr erfreut und verzaubert aber auch nachdenklich zurücklässt.
April 10, 2018
Hans Christian had some oddball stories there. My favorite was The Princess and the Pea...which interesting enough was the shortest of the stories. Oops? This was a very pretty edition, though, although there was some sketchy pictures. Let's just say that I enjoyed Disney's adaptions of these stories so much better.
February 10, 2019
Ich liebe Märchen und hier konnte ich wieder in die Welt meiner Kindheit eintauchen. Durch die Illustrationen ist das Buch gleich noch viel schöner und man kann auch Dinge bewegen und drehen. Wundervolle Aufmachung und gut ausgewählte Märchen, das Buch werde ich sicher auch noch mit meinen Kindern lesen.
March 25, 2021
I had this book in my collection for a while by now. It was a really fantastic book. The bounding and the pages just felt great. I think any child will love this book and would want to explore the old fairly tales.
March 12, 2018
Read all of these for the first time. I was so disappointed with The Little Mermaid. Thumbelina was my favourite
April 25, 2025
Andersen è sempre stato il mio narratore preferito. Riscoprire queste fiabe da adulta è un piacere immenso, che mi riporta a un'epoca di ingenuità e schiettezza, in cui è possibile innamorarsi al primo sguardo, sognare ad occhi aperti, essere stregati da una scheggia di ghiaccio, morire di freddo la notte di capodanno e dormire dentro il guscio di una noce, con un petalo di rosa come coperta. Un mondo in cui la magia è normale e l'ascesa al paradiso la gioia più grande.
Read
April 5, 2021I don't really know how to rate or review this. Some stories I liked, others not so much.
May 2, 2020
n dieser wundervoll illustrierten Schmuckausgabe findet ihr eine Reihe von Märchen. Von ‚Die kleine Meerjungfrau’ bis ‚Das hässliche Endlein‘ ist so einiges dabei. Einige Märchen sind sehr bekannt, andere eher unbekannt. Aber gerade diese Mischung hat mir wirklich gut gefallen. Mein Highlight war natürlich neben "Däumelinchen" -> "Die Kleine Meerjungfrau!"
Ariel war mein allerliebster Disneyfilm als Kind, dennoch kannte ich die Originalfassung des Märchens bisher nicht. Ich habe es absolut geliebt es nun zu lesen und zu erfahren, wie die Geschichte in Wahrheit endet! Das ist nämlich ein bisschen anders als bei der Filmversion.
Die Märchen sind mit Bildern und tollen interaktiven Illustrationen versehen, die das Leseerlebnis verzaubern und so zu etwas ganz Besonderem machen. Außerdem sorgen sie für zusätzliche Unterhaltung! Das atembereaubende Cover muss an dieser Stelle natürlich ebenfalls kurz Erwähnung finden.
Ich kann euch die von Mina Lima illustrierten Ausgaben aus dem Coppenrathverlag nur sehr ans Herz legen. Sie sind definiv den ein oder andern Blick wert. Ein Muss für Märchenfans! 4 Sterne
Ariel war mein allerliebster Disneyfilm als Kind, dennoch kannte ich die Originalfassung des Märchens bisher nicht. Ich habe es absolut geliebt es nun zu lesen und zu erfahren, wie die Geschichte in Wahrheit endet! Das ist nämlich ein bisschen anders als bei der Filmversion.
Die Märchen sind mit Bildern und tollen interaktiven Illustrationen versehen, die das Leseerlebnis verzaubern und so zu etwas ganz Besonderem machen. Außerdem sorgen sie für zusätzliche Unterhaltung! Das atembereaubende Cover muss an dieser Stelle natürlich ebenfalls kurz Erwähnung finden.
Ich kann euch die von Mina Lima illustrierten Ausgaben aus dem Coppenrathverlag nur sehr ans Herz legen. Sie sind definiv den ein oder andern Blick wert. Ein Muss für Märchenfans! 4 Sterne
Read
July 10, 2017C'est toujours agréable de relire les contes d'enfance
vraiment je trouve plutôt sympathique l'idée de retrouver les contes de mon enfance. En effet, je ne les ai connus majoritairement que par les Disney, ou de petits dessins animés pour enfants.
vraiment je trouve plutôt sympathique l'idée de retrouver les contes de mon enfance. En effet, je ne les ai connus majoritairement que par les Disney, ou de petits dessins animés pour enfants.
May 15, 2018
I only enjoyed a few of the stories in this book. The rest of the fairy tales were either sad, long, boring or just plain weird.
July 28, 2018
some of these stories were pretty good, while other's just made me glaze over in boredom.
September 30, 2024
Tja Märchen bewerten ist schwierig, weil sie zum Teil extrem schlecht altern 🙈 Die Ausgabe von MinaLima ist aber ein wahrer Traum 😍
January 1, 2023
In between reads and waiting on one to arrive, I picked up the HarperCollins latest interactive fairy tale edition, The Little Mermaid and Other Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Andersen. I’ve previously enjoyed Peter Pan, The Beauty and the Beast, and I look forward to reading Alice in Wonderland when it releases.
This collection of fairy tales in these interactive editions are so fun! Minalima does an AMAZING job with the illustrations and interactive elements! The artwork is positively gorgeous! In this installment, I particularly enjoyed the artwork in The Little Mermaid, as the undersea life was so colorful. Another little detail I enjoyed was how the page numbers were highlighted with a little picture that was iconic to the individual story you were reading. It was nice how they were kept separate from one another.
In this book you will find the fairy tales; The Little Mermaid, The Nightingale, The Ugly Duckling, The Swineherd, The Tinder Box, The Princess and the Pea, The Emperor’s New Clothes, The Red Shoes, Thumbelina, The Steadfast Tin Soldier, The Little Match Girl, and The Snow Queen. Some of these I’ve read before and others were new ones for me, though I pretty much have heard of all of them! It was a treat reading the familiar ones and knowing the outcome and yet reading the new ones was also a delight since I didn’t know what was going to happen.
I could go into detail about what each fairy tale is about and I was almost going to, but instead I think I will let you read them for yourself. Just remember these are the fairy tales Disney movies were based off of, not the other way around! Some of these stories get pretty morbid, which I remembered that of The Little Mermaid. Not all fairy tales end happily ever after and after reading these, I feel like Hans was a fan of the unhappily ever after. I mean, the end usually involves death for pete’s sake!
And did you know in Thumbelina, she pretty much shrugs off leaving her mother—I assume you all know the general idea of this story. And then when she’s on the cusp of happily ever after, she let’s some prince change her name because Thumbelina is “ugly” sounding! Really? Really?! Then when you look at The Ugly Duckling, that poor little guy was nearly suicidal because everyone kept calling him ugly. And really, have you Googled “baby swans?” They are ADORABLE!!!
It truly goes to show you what a different time these writers lived in when they wrote these classic fairy tales. I mean, I get that. I really do, but man does it hurt to read such things. Why do I barely twitch an eye when a stepsister decides to cut off her toes in order to fit into a shoe, but seeing a poor little ducky heartbreakingly consider suicide because everyone calls him ugly send me into a fit of tears?! It’s insane!
Besides some of the moral issues I had with these tales, I still very much enjoyed them! I am fan of the original fairy tales and I know that they are not all happy ones. This is truly dark reading material when you think of it. Luckily, there’s a good mix of dark and light-hearted tales in this collection. A wise move on the publisher’s part I’d say! Lol.
Definitely a worthy read for the fan of fairy tales and the interactive elements alone are what make this a fantastic read! The gorgeous illustrations falling closely behind that, if not just on the level because you can’t have the elements without the art! This book, and the collection to date, is truly a work of art that any booklover should have among their shelves!
Overall Rating 5/5 stars
This collection of fairy tales in these interactive editions are so fun! Minalima does an AMAZING job with the illustrations and interactive elements! The artwork is positively gorgeous! In this installment, I particularly enjoyed the artwork in The Little Mermaid, as the undersea life was so colorful. Another little detail I enjoyed was how the page numbers were highlighted with a little picture that was iconic to the individual story you were reading. It was nice how they were kept separate from one another.
In this book you will find the fairy tales; The Little Mermaid, The Nightingale, The Ugly Duckling, The Swineherd, The Tinder Box, The Princess and the Pea, The Emperor’s New Clothes, The Red Shoes, Thumbelina, The Steadfast Tin Soldier, The Little Match Girl, and The Snow Queen. Some of these I’ve read before and others were new ones for me, though I pretty much have heard of all of them! It was a treat reading the familiar ones and knowing the outcome and yet reading the new ones was also a delight since I didn’t know what was going to happen.
I could go into detail about what each fairy tale is about and I was almost going to, but instead I think I will let you read them for yourself. Just remember these are the fairy tales Disney movies were based off of, not the other way around! Some of these stories get pretty morbid, which I remembered that of The Little Mermaid. Not all fairy tales end happily ever after and after reading these, I feel like Hans was a fan of the unhappily ever after. I mean, the end usually involves death for pete’s sake!
And did you know in Thumbelina, she pretty much shrugs off leaving her mother—I assume you all know the general idea of this story. And then when she’s on the cusp of happily ever after, she let’s some prince change her name because Thumbelina is “ugly” sounding! Really? Really?! Then when you look at The Ugly Duckling, that poor little guy was nearly suicidal because everyone kept calling him ugly. And really, have you Googled “baby swans?” They are ADORABLE!!!
It truly goes to show you what a different time these writers lived in when they wrote these classic fairy tales. I mean, I get that. I really do, but man does it hurt to read such things. Why do I barely twitch an eye when a stepsister decides to cut off her toes in order to fit into a shoe, but seeing a poor little ducky heartbreakingly consider suicide because everyone calls him ugly send me into a fit of tears?! It’s insane!
Besides some of the moral issues I had with these tales, I still very much enjoyed them! I am fan of the original fairy tales and I know that they are not all happy ones. This is truly dark reading material when you think of it. Luckily, there’s a good mix of dark and light-hearted tales in this collection. A wise move on the publisher’s part I’d say! Lol.
Definitely a worthy read for the fan of fairy tales and the interactive elements alone are what make this a fantastic read! The gorgeous illustrations falling closely behind that, if not just on the level because you can’t have the elements without the art! This book, and the collection to date, is truly a work of art that any booklover should have among their shelves!
Overall Rating 5/5 stars
September 30, 2022
Una lettura "coccola2 per la sottoscritta.
Quando da piccola si ama alla follia il classico Disney, non si può non rimanere innamorati di questo classico, per bambini, ma dal forte impatto emotivo.
Dico questo perché, se si ama il cartone, molto è ridotto e adattato ad un pubblico giovane; il libro originale invece, porta con se allo stesso tempo un senso di amore e allo stesso tempo angoscia.
La trama originale ovviamente viene mantenuta per buona parte della sua stesura ma alcuni punti sono significativamente diverse: passiamo oltre al numero delle sorelle sirene, che è veramente insignificante. Molto più importanti sono invece due punti fondamentali alla trama:
1_ La sirenetta perde la voce e cerca di far innamorare il principe (cosi come nel cartone), ma lui alla fine non la ama mai veramente; il matrimonio finale non è impedito da una strega del mare, ma da una vera scelta del principe.
2_Ovviamente la conclusione della storia, completamente diversa: un funale tragico e dolce allo stesso tempo, ma a livello romantico una vera tragedia.
Una storia bellissima e super consigliata a tutti: a mio parere destinata a tutte le età, perchè in grado di far trasparire (ad età diverse) moltissime interpretazioni.
La nuova edizione della ippocampo poi è una meraviglia visiva.
Quando da piccola si ama alla follia il classico Disney, non si può non rimanere innamorati di questo classico, per bambini, ma dal forte impatto emotivo.
Dico questo perché, se si ama il cartone, molto è ridotto e adattato ad un pubblico giovane; il libro originale invece, porta con se allo stesso tempo un senso di amore e allo stesso tempo angoscia.
La trama originale ovviamente viene mantenuta per buona parte della sua stesura ma alcuni punti sono significativamente diverse: passiamo oltre al numero delle sorelle sirene, che è veramente insignificante. Molto più importanti sono invece due punti fondamentali alla trama:
1_ La sirenetta perde la voce e cerca di far innamorare il principe (cosi come nel cartone), ma lui alla fine non la ama mai veramente; il matrimonio finale non è impedito da una strega del mare, ma da una vera scelta del principe.
2_Ovviamente la conclusione della storia, completamente diversa: un funale tragico e dolce allo stesso tempo, ma a livello romantico una vera tragedia.
Una storia bellissima e super consigliata a tutti: a mio parere destinata a tutte le età, perchè in grado di far trasparire (ad età diverse) moltissime interpretazioni.
La nuova edizione della ippocampo poi è una meraviglia visiva.
August 6, 2021
Ich kannte folgende Geschichten, obwohl ich sie noch nie im Original gelesen hatte:
Die kleine Meerjungfrau
Die Schneekönigin
Döumelinchen
Die Prinzessin auf der Erbse
Des Kaisers neue Kleider
Der standhafte Zinnsoldat
Das hässliche Entlein
Kannte ich nicht:
Die roten Schuhe
Die Nachtigall
Der Schweinehirt
Das Feuerzeug
Das Mädchen mit den Schwefelhölzern
Diese Märchensammlung hat mir ganz gut gefallen, die Sprache war natürlich ziemlich altmodisch, da diese Märchen im 19. Jahrhundert entstanden sind.
Die Bilder und Gimmicks haben mir tatsächlich bei „Die Schöne und das Biest“ aus demselben Verlag ein bisschen besser gefallen.
Alles in allem mittelmäßige 3 Sterne.
Die kleine Meerjungfrau
Die Schneekönigin
Döumelinchen
Die Prinzessin auf der Erbse
Des Kaisers neue Kleider
Der standhafte Zinnsoldat
Das hässliche Entlein
Kannte ich nicht:
Die roten Schuhe
Die Nachtigall
Der Schweinehirt
Das Feuerzeug
Das Mädchen mit den Schwefelhölzern
Diese Märchensammlung hat mir ganz gut gefallen, die Sprache war natürlich ziemlich altmodisch, da diese Märchen im 19. Jahrhundert entstanden sind.
Die Bilder und Gimmicks haben mir tatsächlich bei „Die Schöne und das Biest“ aus demselben Verlag ein bisschen besser gefallen.
Alles in allem mittelmäßige 3 Sterne.
January 6, 2019
Märchen waren als ich Kind war nicht so mein Ding und auch heute zählen sie nicht zu meiner bevorzugten Lesegattung, aber in Kombination mit den tollen Illustrationen von MinaLima wird das Lesen wahrlich zu einem Genuss 💕
January 15, 2021
Of the Barnes and Noble leatherbounds, this one is not my favourite. Don't get me wrong, it's beautiful! But the cover is really bright and silvery. It's a nice edition to my collection!
February 10, 2025
read for class
November 28, 2023
This has to be the wackiest set of stories ever put together.
I picked up this book because even after years of having heard about 'The Little Mermaid', I had never read the story nor did I know more than bits and pieces about it. Incidentally, those bits and pieces only served to make the story more enigmatic but the real impetus to read the story came from another piece of fiction in which the main character's favourite story is 'The Little Mermaid' and even though I don't remember the book or the character's name the seed of that idea took root and here we are.
This book has seventeen stories and since I bought the book without knowing what the other stories in this book were it was a pleasant surprise to learn that I was more familiar with the author's work than I had thought.
This anthology has 'Thumbelina', 'The Princess and the Pea', 'The Emperor's New Clothes' and 'The Ugly Duckling', all stories I had read one version or the other of and was familiar with. I was also delighted to learn that the Snow Queen which was the inspiration for Frozen was also included in this book and I couldn't wait to get started.
1. The Little Mermaid
The first story in the book is the titular one and it was a revelation because apparently, not all fairy tales have a happily ever after. I was stunned with the direction this story took and how it ended which in hindsight is probably praiseworthy. In a way, this story tells you that even when you pursue something whole-heartedly and with a lot of determination and effort you might still never get it which is a rather sad lesson but put it another way and we are left to question what it is that the Little Mermaid wants and if in a roundabout way she got what she wanted.
Also, apparently, the Little Mermaid is not called Ariel and I had the hardest time not referring to her as such while writing up this review. If someone didn't know about the influence of Disney before now you do.
2. Thumbelina
This was just weird. It was disconcerting to read this one because I remember reading it when I was young but reading this version of it made it seem like a whole new story. Also, it's fascinating how I equated being married to HEA when that is so not the case. Also, you can't help but perceive the fickleness of the people getting married. Fairy tales really capitalise on the possibility of love at first sight and with age, you realise how improbable if not downright impossible that must be. The beauty and delight of these stories seems to evaporate along with that understanding leaving behind the harsh realities of the character's life which makes the whole concept of fairy tales rather grim.
3. The Snow Queen
This is nothing like Frozen. The story is so, so different that when a similarity would come up it would bowl me over. I liked how the story starts with the myth of the mirror because that was one interesting detail but otherwise this story was just about average, though some of the details woven into the story are quite nice and have definitely been used in other stories.
4. Elfin-mount
I fail to understand what this story was trying to convey unless of course, it was about the miracles of story-telling.
5. The Marsh King's Daughter
Another story with interesting elements that have definitely been used to weave other stories but as a whole, this story is way too obsessed with Christianity and at times read like straight-up propaganda.
6. The Storks
Are storks known as Peter? Because otherwise, this story has no point.
7. The Nightingale
This story almost made a point and I feel like it would have been wonderful if it actually had.
8. The Wild Swans
This was an interesting story and I actually quite enjoyed it.
9. The Princess and the Pea
This is my favourite story from the anthology. It was exactly like I remembered it to be and that made me happier than I could have ever expected. Though apparently, it isn't a pea.
10. The Red Shoes
This is a straight-up horror story about the downfalls of pride with a Christian twist. I'm coming to realise that the author might have had some sort of an agenda when he wrote these stories.
11. The Emperoro's New Clothes
This story was in my curriculum at school. I have studied it and somehow despite all that I still didn't know it was written by Hans Christian Andersen. Though the version I read was different from the one in this book. The differences lay in more than creative liberties that may be taken during translation, entire events were different which made this old story feel new. Also, this story as always is very thought-provoking.
12. The Swineherd
This one has me stumped and I can't elaborate just how much I loathe that stupid prince, though in hindsight it paints a rather severe but accurate image of women growing up in patriarchal and male-dominated societies.
13. The Flying Trunk
I fail to understand this story, why the hell could he not just walk to the Princess? (I might have accidentally hit the nail with that line.)
14. The Leaping Match
This is actually a pretty good story based on a concept that has been replicated in other stories far too often so this one didn't feel quite as novel. Though the idea of a woman being married off to an animal which happens quite often in this anthology makes me think of things like misogyny.
15. The Shepherdess and the Chimney-Sweep
It was a quick read though I failed to understand the point of it.
16. The Ugly Duckling
I have read a version of this story before and I love the version of this story that lives in my head which is all about how even an ugly duckling can be a beautiful swan, how even if you don't fit in with the norm you can still be beautiful in ways other people can't perceive but this version of the story completely disabused that notion I had in my head. It was all about how if you are born a swan you are a swan and it shifted the entire narrative focus on what we are born with instead of who we transform into and all things considered, I like my version better.
17. The Naughty Boy
I feel like this is a sarcastic tale about love. Let me know if I'm right.
So, I feel like I really hit the nail on the head when I described this anthology as WACKY and I rest my case.
I picked up this book because even after years of having heard about 'The Little Mermaid', I had never read the story nor did I know more than bits and pieces about it. Incidentally, those bits and pieces only served to make the story more enigmatic but the real impetus to read the story came from another piece of fiction in which the main character's favourite story is 'The Little Mermaid' and even though I don't remember the book or the character's name the seed of that idea took root and here we are.
This book has seventeen stories and since I bought the book without knowing what the other stories in this book were it was a pleasant surprise to learn that I was more familiar with the author's work than I had thought.
This anthology has 'Thumbelina', 'The Princess and the Pea', 'The Emperor's New Clothes' and 'The Ugly Duckling', all stories I had read one version or the other of and was familiar with. I was also delighted to learn that the Snow Queen which was the inspiration for Frozen was also included in this book and I couldn't wait to get started.
1. The Little Mermaid
The first story in the book is the titular one and it was a revelation because apparently, not all fairy tales have a happily ever after. I was stunned with the direction this story took and how it ended which in hindsight is probably praiseworthy. In a way, this story tells you that even when you pursue something whole-heartedly and with a lot of determination and effort you might still never get it which is a rather sad lesson but put it another way and we are left to question what it is that the Little Mermaid wants and if in a roundabout way she got what she wanted.
Also, apparently, the Little Mermaid is not called Ariel and I had the hardest time not referring to her as such while writing up this review. If someone didn't know about the influence of Disney before now you do.
2. Thumbelina
This was just weird. It was disconcerting to read this one because I remember reading it when I was young but reading this version of it made it seem like a whole new story. Also, it's fascinating how I equated being married to HEA when that is so not the case. Also, you can't help but perceive the fickleness of the people getting married. Fairy tales really capitalise on the possibility of love at first sight and with age, you realise how improbable if not downright impossible that must be. The beauty and delight of these stories seems to evaporate along with that understanding leaving behind the harsh realities of the character's life which makes the whole concept of fairy tales rather grim.
3. The Snow Queen
This is nothing like Frozen. The story is so, so different that when a similarity would come up it would bowl me over. I liked how the story starts with the myth of the mirror because that was one interesting detail but otherwise this story was just about average, though some of the details woven into the story are quite nice and have definitely been used in other stories.
4. Elfin-mount
I fail to understand what this story was trying to convey unless of course, it was about the miracles of story-telling.
5. The Marsh King's Daughter
Another story with interesting elements that have definitely been used to weave other stories but as a whole, this story is way too obsessed with Christianity and at times read like straight-up propaganda.
6. The Storks
Are storks known as Peter? Because otherwise, this story has no point.
7. The Nightingale
This story almost made a point and I feel like it would have been wonderful if it actually had.
8. The Wild Swans
This was an interesting story and I actually quite enjoyed it.
9. The Princess and the Pea
This is my favourite story from the anthology. It was exactly like I remembered it to be and that made me happier than I could have ever expected. Though apparently, it isn't a pea.
10. The Red Shoes
This is a straight-up horror story about the downfalls of pride with a Christian twist. I'm coming to realise that the author might have had some sort of an agenda when he wrote these stories.
11. The Emperoro's New Clothes
This story was in my curriculum at school. I have studied it and somehow despite all that I still didn't know it was written by Hans Christian Andersen. Though the version I read was different from the one in this book. The differences lay in more than creative liberties that may be taken during translation, entire events were different which made this old story feel new. Also, this story as always is very thought-provoking.
12. The Swineherd
This one has me stumped and I can't elaborate just how much I loathe that stupid prince, though in hindsight it paints a rather severe but accurate image of women growing up in patriarchal and male-dominated societies.
13. The Flying Trunk
I fail to understand this story, why the hell could he not just walk to the Princess? (I might have accidentally hit the nail with that line.)
14. The Leaping Match
This is actually a pretty good story based on a concept that has been replicated in other stories far too often so this one didn't feel quite as novel. Though the idea of a woman being married off to an animal which happens quite often in this anthology makes me think of things like misogyny.
15. The Shepherdess and the Chimney-Sweep
It was a quick read though I failed to understand the point of it.
16. The Ugly Duckling
I have read a version of this story before and I love the version of this story that lives in my head which is all about how even an ugly duckling can be a beautiful swan, how even if you don't fit in with the norm you can still be beautiful in ways other people can't perceive but this version of the story completely disabused that notion I had in my head. It was all about how if you are born a swan you are a swan and it shifted the entire narrative focus on what we are born with instead of who we transform into and all things considered, I like my version better.
17. The Naughty Boy
I feel like this is a sarcastic tale about love. Let me know if I'm right.
So, I feel like I really hit the nail on the head when I described this anthology as WACKY and I rest my case.
October 14, 2019
Kaum werden die Tage etwas kürzer, kommt in mir die Lust auf, zu Märchen zurückzugreifen. Dabei muss ich allerdings vermerken, das dies bisher fast ausschließlich mit Filmen geschah. Die guten alten Klassiker hatte ich bis dato entweder vergessen oder sogar noch nie gelesen.
Der Coppenrath Verlag ermöglichte es mir schließlich dies nachzuholen und das auch noch mit einer wunderschönen Ausgabe, die neben tollen Illustrationen auch noch kleine Spielereien bot.
Das mich die Aufmachung noch immer fasziniert brauche ich wohl nicht zu erwähnen. Die satten Farben im Spiel mit dem glänzenden Gold sind eine Augenweide und ziehen sofort die Blicke auf das Buch. Diese Liebe zum Detail wurde zum Glück auch ins Innere übernommen. Besonders gelungen fand ich die Einbindung von Elementen aus dem Märchen in die jeweiligen Seitenzahlen. Genau so wird aus einem Buch ein Schatz.
Da ich viele der Märchen nicht kannte oder nur deren kinderfreundliche Version gesehen hatte, war ich dann doch überrascht, wie teils brutal diese waren. Schon "Die kleine Meerjungfrau" überraschte mich mit einem deutlich traurigeren Ende, als ich angenommen hatte. Um es kurzzufassen, der Tod war ein ständiger Begleiter.
Dies hat auch einen Grund, denn eigentlich waren diese Erzählungen nicht vorwiegend für Kinder gedacht, sondern für Erwachsene. Wenn man mit diesem Hintergrundwissen an das Buch geht, ist es deutlich angenehmer.
Trotz der doch sehr gewaltbereiten Geschichten, konnte ich diese nicht weglegen. Innerhalb von 2 Tagen las ich alle Märchen und kann nur sagen, das ich eindeutig froh darüber bin, sie nun zu kennen. Sie sind einfach ein Stück Geschichte, das nicht vergessen sollte. Einem Kind würde ich die Erzählungen trotzdem nicht unbedingt vorlesen.
Diese Ausgabe mit Märchen von Hans Christian Andersen war trotz der überraschend blutrünstigen Erzählungen ein absolutes Highlight. Dafür sorgte besonders die Aufmachung, welche mit ihren leuchtenden Farben einfach alle Blicke auf sich zog. Zusammen mit den kleinen Spielereien im Inneren hat dieses Buch den Titel "Schatz" wohlwollend verdient.
Der Coppenrath Verlag ermöglichte es mir schließlich dies nachzuholen und das auch noch mit einer wunderschönen Ausgabe, die neben tollen Illustrationen auch noch kleine Spielereien bot.
Das mich die Aufmachung noch immer fasziniert brauche ich wohl nicht zu erwähnen. Die satten Farben im Spiel mit dem glänzenden Gold sind eine Augenweide und ziehen sofort die Blicke auf das Buch. Diese Liebe zum Detail wurde zum Glück auch ins Innere übernommen. Besonders gelungen fand ich die Einbindung von Elementen aus dem Märchen in die jeweiligen Seitenzahlen. Genau so wird aus einem Buch ein Schatz.
Da ich viele der Märchen nicht kannte oder nur deren kinderfreundliche Version gesehen hatte, war ich dann doch überrascht, wie teils brutal diese waren. Schon "Die kleine Meerjungfrau" überraschte mich mit einem deutlich traurigeren Ende, als ich angenommen hatte. Um es kurzzufassen, der Tod war ein ständiger Begleiter.
Dies hat auch einen Grund, denn eigentlich waren diese Erzählungen nicht vorwiegend für Kinder gedacht, sondern für Erwachsene. Wenn man mit diesem Hintergrundwissen an das Buch geht, ist es deutlich angenehmer.
Trotz der doch sehr gewaltbereiten Geschichten, konnte ich diese nicht weglegen. Innerhalb von 2 Tagen las ich alle Märchen und kann nur sagen, das ich eindeutig froh darüber bin, sie nun zu kennen. Sie sind einfach ein Stück Geschichte, das nicht vergessen sollte. Einem Kind würde ich die Erzählungen trotzdem nicht unbedingt vorlesen.
Diese Ausgabe mit Märchen von Hans Christian Andersen war trotz der überraschend blutrünstigen Erzählungen ein absolutes Highlight. Dafür sorgte besonders die Aufmachung, welche mit ihren leuchtenden Farben einfach alle Blicke auf sich zog. Zusammen mit den kleinen Spielereien im Inneren hat dieses Buch den Titel "Schatz" wohlwollend verdient.
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