Synopses & Reviews
This new collection -- returning faithfully to the original Danish -- takes Andersen out of the nursery and places him squarely in the literary pantheon.
While Hans Christian Andersen's tales continue to seize the imagination with their singular blend of simplicity, eccentricity, and charm, readers have had to content themselves with inaccurate retellings and inadequate translations. Now Diana Crone Frank, a Danish novelist and linguist, and Jeffrey Frank, a novelist and editor at The New Yorker, offer a much-needed modern translation, brought out by Andersen's original American publisher.
In this collection are twenty-two tales that best represent Andersen's literary legacy. Here are the classics: "The Little Mermaid," "The Ugly Duckling," "Thumbelisa," and "The Princess on the Pea" among them, as well as largely unfamiliar stories like "By the Outermost Sea." Illuminating notes clarify references in the stories. And in an extended introductory essay, the Franks explore the writer and his times, placing the enigmatic and often bizarre figure of Andersen among his literary contemporaries, such as Charles Dickens and Srren Kierkegaard, with whom he crossed paths. Illustrated with the delicate and beautiful drawings that accompanied the original Danish publication, The Stories of Hans Christian Andersen is sure to delight readers of all ages.
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perpetual traveller and guest who left behind only this work, and here at last
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"A beautiful new translation."
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"A superb book of Andersen's tales . . . it will be difficult for other commemorative editions to match this publication." --Jack Zipes
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"This is the real Andersen, restored to life, in the flavor of Danish. . .here at last you will find him." --Garrison Keillor
"The Franks edition finally sets the stories straight and . . . clarifies the tale most often told wrongAndersens own life story." --Elise Soukup Newsweek
"Adults and children alike need the actual Andersen, here made brilliantly available by the Franks." --Harold Bloom, editor of Stories and Poems for Extremely Intelligent Children of All Ages.
"A beautiful new translation." Vogue
"[The Franks] have stripped away the florid Victorianism of the previous translations...[and] have widened the scope of Andersen's oeuvre." --Heather Caldwell, Bookforum
"A superb book of Andersen's tales . . . it will be difficult for other commemorative editions to match this publication.” --Jack Zipes Minneapolis Star-Tribune
"This beautiful and useful volume combines new translations of the canonical stories with some of the original illustrations." The New York Times Book Review
Synopsis
Includes bibliograhical references (p. [287]-293).
About the Author
Jeffrey Frank is a senior editor at The New Yorker and was formerly an editor and writer at the Washington Post and the Washington Star. He is the author of the novel The Columnist.Diana Crone Frank has a Ph.D. in linguistics and works at ABC News.
Table of Contents
CONTENTS ABOUT THE TRANSLATION / vii ABOUT THE ARTISTS / vii Introduction: The Real H. C. Andersen 1 The Tinderbox Fyrtrjet, 1835 39 Little Claus and Big Claus Lille Claus og store Claus, 1835 47 The Princess on the Pea Prinsessen paa Crten, 1835 61 Thumbelisa Tommelise, 1835 64 The Little Mermaid Den lille Havfrue, 1837 78 The Emperors New Clothes Kejserens nye Klcder, 1837 105 The Wild Swans De vilde Svaner, 1838 111 The Swineherd Svinedrengen, 1842 131 The Nightingale Nattergalen, 1844 139 The Sweethearts Kcrestefolkene, 1844 152 The Ugly Duckling Den grimme Clling, 1844 156 The Snow Queen Snedronningen, 1845 169 The Red Shoes De rrde Sko, 1845 207 The Little Match Girl Den lille Pige med Svovlstikkerne, 1845 215 The Happy Family Den lykkelige Familie, 1847 220 The Shadow Skyggen, 1847 225 By the Outermost Sea Ved det yderste Hav, 1855 240 Hopeless Hans Klods-Hans, 1855 244 Kids Talk Brrnesnak, 1859 250 Fathers Always Right Hvad Fatter grr, det er altid det Rigtige, 1861 254 The Gardener and the Aristocrats Gartneren og Herskabet, 1872 260 Auntie Toothache Tante Tandpine, 1872 269 Acknowledgments / 285 Bibliography / 287