Hans Christian Andersen's Fables & Fairy Tales

Title

en_US Hans Christian Andersen's Fables & Fairy Tales

Description

en_US This is a hardbound book (hard cover)

en_US First printing

en_US With Nine Wood Engravings by Michael McCurdy

Creator

en_US Adams, Michael See all items with this value

Contributor

en_US Adams, Michael

Date

2016-01-25T19:02:09Z

en_US 2000-07

en_US 1993

Date Available

2016-01-25T19:02:09Z

Date Issued

en_US 1993

Abstract

en_US I was attracted to this book because of the mention of fables in the title. After looking at it, I am surprised to say that two of the stories here may actually qualify as fables. I am referring not to the first three Andersen stories: Thumbelina, The Little Mermaid, and The Wild Swans. In these magic and sentiment predominate, I believe. The Nightingale strikes me differently. Though there is strong sentiment here, I think we have a simple narrative that invites perception. The natural nightingale is disregarded when the mechanical nightingale makes its appearance. Even the second phase of the story, in which the nightingale later returns to revive the dying emperor, fits into this simple narrative. Perhaps that phase of the story is overdeveloped here, with Death taking away and then, at the nightingale's sung bequest, returning the emperor's crown and sword. The Ugly Duckling now also seems to me to qualify as a fable. This simple story plays, as fables often do, with questions of time, appearance, rejection, and contentment. The illustrations seem to me strong on sentiment and immediate impact. The best might be the simple views of a natural scene, like the first for The Nightingale and the last for The Ugly Duckling.

Identifier

en_US 3977 (Access ID)

uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10504/79317

Language

en_US eng

Publisher

en_US The Unicorn Publishing House, Inc.

en_US Morris Plains, NJ

Subject

en_US PZ8.A542 Han 1993 See all items with this value

en_US Hans Christian Andersen See all items with this value

en_US Title Page Scanned See all items with this value

Type

en_US Book, Whole