Synopses & Reviews
Rediscover thirteen of Andersen's best-loved tales in this definitive edition — highlighted with introductions by an esteemed translator and illuminated with fanciful artwork from an acclaimed illustrator.Open the pages of this magnificent volume and enter the fairy-tale realm of Hans Christian Andersen! In a playful design that echoes Andersen's passion for miniature theaters, artist Joel Stewart depicts such well-known characters as the pea-sensitive Princess and the unclothed Emperor as actors on a timeless stage. Expert commentary by Naomi Lewis offers historical and biographical points of interest, revealing that "The Steadfast Tin Soldier" is the first fairy tale ever to feature a nonhuman hero (now a hallmark of children¹s literature) and that "The Ugly Duckling," considered Andersen's autobiography, is a tale he especially loved to read aloud. In thirteen of his most enduring tales, savor the singular voice of this literary giant — the "washerwoman's crazy son" who became one of the best-known storytellers of all time.
About the Author
Naomi Lewis is a leading authority on the works of Hans Christian Andersen, several of whose works she has translated, including THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES and THE SNOW QUEEN, both illustrated by Angela Barrett. A fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, she has won the Eleanor Farjeon Award for services to children's literature. Naomi Lewis lives in London.
Joel Stewart studied at Falmouth College of Art, graduating with a degree in illustration. He is the illustrator of the highly acclaimed picture books JABBERWOCKY and THE ADVENTURES OF A NOSE. Joel Stewart lives in Cornwall, England.