Coppelia

by Margot Fonteyn, Steve Johnson (Illustrator), Lou Fancher (Illustrator)

Prima ballerina Margot Fonteyn gives one last gift to the world of dance with this enchanting retelling of a classic ballet. With the vivacity and effortless grace that marked her performances, Dame Margot Fonteyn retells the story of Coppélia, a doll so lifelike and beautiful she captures the heart of a young villager--and the jealous attention of his fiancée. Completed shortly before her death in 1991, Dame Margot's Coppélia is masterfully staged by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher, whose vibrant, richly textured paintings bring to life this tale of love and the power of imagination.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Classics

48 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Stephanie Sun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahh.....I remember this story from my childhood ^^

spoiler alert:

in my opinion, Swanhilda should have just dropped Franz-he was in love with her one day, in love with a doll later that day, and in love with Swanhilda again after that. Sounds pretty flighty to me....


anyways, i like this story

[Joy Gerbode · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a bit of a weird story, but it is enjoyable and worth the read.

[Mir · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny how so many ballet stories make so little sense when written out. Even though this is based on a story by E.T.A. Hoffman of Nutcracker fame, it seemed both flat and implausible on the page. A young man sees a beautiful doll at a window and, mistaking her for a real girl, falls in love with her. His fiancee and her friends sneak into the doll-maker's house and trash stuff. The fiancee dresses up in the doll's clothes and dances, and her fiance doesn't recognize her. When he realizes his mistake they get married the next day. The implausibly generous lord pays the doll-maker for the damage the girls did.

The paintings by Steve Johnson were nice but I'd imagine the audience for this to be mainly kids who were already into ballet.

[Linda Lipko · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a lonely man who creates animated dolls becomes obsessed with his latest creation, he goes too far in his pursuit to make her alive and real.

Prominently displaying the lovely doll in his front window, the doll looks so life like that a townsman becomes infatuated. Already betrothed to a pretty young lady, she watches as he walks past the window blowing kisses to the doll.

Upset, she enters the doll makers house when he is not home. Hiding, she observes the dool maker attempt to drain life from her finance to empower the doll.

Rescued by his finance, the trace is broken. The doll maker learns a valuable lesson.

The illustrations are lovely.

Based on a play performed in France, this is a lovely book

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely story to revisit. Since retiring from the profession of ballet it was a joy to be reminded of the simple stories that ballets portray and that I use to be a part of. I still feel a part of the stories and its nice to read the way Margot Fonteyn narrated it. The illustrations were active enough to help a child imagine. They are not too elaborate, but just enough to tell the story on their own if need be.

[Magda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Better as a ballet.

[Relyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

The art in this book is wonderful, really great. The story is fine. Not wonderful, but fine. A nice vehicle for the artist.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful art work. Originally a French ballet.

[Garland · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed having a storybook version for my kids to read them along with showing the ballet, however I did not greatly enjoy the style of illustrations. just my personal preference.

[Jacquie · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite ballets ever!

[kaitlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is my favorite book. now