Synopses & Reviews
One Christmas, the toys of Marie and Fritz come to life, leading to a series of amazing adventures. With its festive setting and magical atmosphere, The Nutcracker has become closely associated with Christmas -- its fame further enhanced by the Tchaikovsky balled based upon it. James Mayhew's richly evocative illustrations, combined with David Clement-Davies' lively retelling, capture all the energy, the excitement, and the fantasy of the original, making The Nutcracker vividly accessible for all ages. Photographs and historical facts place the story firmly in context, allowing readers to enter fully into the story's dreamlike world.
Review
Exceptional, high-quality titlesÖ Both for the audio quality and textual presentation, these are outstanding selections. (Booklist)
Review
It's hard to imagine a better companion or preparation for this seasonal event. (NAPRA ReView, November/December 1999)
Review
The always big and jolly DK Publishing presents a host of kids' yule books, including the lavishly decorated and annotated The Nutcracker... (Indianapolis Star, Nov. 28, 1999)
Review
DK does its usual good job of putting a classic in context... this version would be of value to families to read together. (Richmond-Times Dispatch, Dec. 12, 1999)
Review
A new addition to the Eyewitness Classics series, THE NUTCRACKER supplements E.T.A. Hoffmann's story with period photographs and illustrations that shed light on the background of the tale, it's 19th-century setting, and author, and on the story's transition to Tchaikovsky's famous ballet. (Publishers Weekly, September 27, 1999)
Synopsis
DK is rapidly building up a highly successful series of Classics for today's children
-- Abridgments of the authors' own words and expert retellings make the great books of the past really accessible
-- Narrative artwork by well-known illustrators tells each story in pictures
-- Photographs and factual information bring the world of the Classic vividly to life
-- The series features "golden age" children's literature, classic adventure stories, and legends from the oral tradition
-- Specially designed for readers aged eight and older, but can be read aloud to younger children
-- Beautiful production makes Eyewitness Classics excellent gifts
About the Author
E.T.A. Hoffmann (1776-1822), the German writer, composer, diplomat, soldier, and painter, achieved lasting fame with his wonderful tales, which combine magical flights of fancy with dark insights into human nature. Written in 1816, The Nutcracker is not only Hoffmann's best-loved story but a window on his extraordinary life. He based Marie and Fritz, the children whose toys come to life on Christmas Eve, on the children of friends, and the character of the sinister toymaker, Godpapa Drosselmeier, on himself.