Synopses & Reviews
"The Fir Tree" by Hans Christian Andersen, published originally in 1845, follows the life of a young fir tree living in the woods (of all places). Compared to the other trees around him, he feels small, spindly and short, and he constantly utters complaint to any and all woodland creatures within ear shot. Most pointedly, he wonders "when will he truly be alive?" When he sees humans cut down some beautiful trees nearby and then drag them across the snow, he asks the swallows, "Where are they going?" In answer they tell him of all Christmas's splendor and beauty of which those lucky trees will soon be a part. Yet when the time comes for our little fir tree to have his turn, he's taught an unexpected and irreversible lesson.
No one is better suited to adapt this sweet and sorrowful tale than Lilli Carre. Creator of The Tales of Woodland Pete and The Lagoon, her sensibility will graft beautifully over the antiquated yet quirky tale by the great master Hans Christian Andersen.
Synopsis
A young fir-tree wants only to grow tall. It pays no mind to the air and the sunlight. It does not rejoice with its forest companions for want of being stately and old. When it finally grows into a beautiful tree, it's taken from the forest as a Christmas tree Surrounded by unimaginable sights and sounds, it wonders, will it ever return to the forest? Its story unfolds in this beautiful adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's The Fir-Tree.
About the Author
Lilli Carré is an artist and animator living in Chicago. She has created three books,
The Lagoon,
Tales of Woodsman Pete, and
Nine Ways to Disappear. Her work has appeared on the covers and in the pages of
The Best American Comics and Mome.
Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) was born in Odense, Denmark to a poor family. He left home as a 14-year-old to seek his fortune at the theatre in Copenhagen. Andersen began writing plays and poetry before he left for Copenhagen, but it was not until 1835 that he published the first of the fairytales that would bring him international renown. Since then, his over 200 fairytales have enjoyed undiminished popularity, providing the basis for favorite American interpretations such as Disneys The Little Mermaid.