The Little Mermaid' is one of the most haunting stories ever written. Its author, Hans Christian Andersen, made the literary fairy tale so much his own that even today no writer has surpassed him. This collection - with sparkling new renderings of the tales by Neil Philip - includes not just 'The Little Mermaid' but also such favourites as 'The Tinderbox', 'The Emperor's New Clothes', 'The Steadfast Tin Soldier' and 'The Little Match Girl'. Also included are some lesser-known tales that reflect different facets of Andersen's genius, such as the tall tale 'The Flying Trunk', with its witty story-within-a-story, and the comic fable 'The Collar', and a story about the magic of everyday reality, 'The Gardener and His Master'.The book is illustrated throughout by Isabelle Brent's magical water-colours, lavishly embellished with gold leaf, making this handsome volume a book the whole family will treasure.
There are 144 pages in this book. This book was published in 1998 by Little, Brown & Company .
Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) was a Danish author and poet, most famous for his writing down of many timeless, classic fairy tales. He is Denmark's most famous author and his birthday is celebrated every year with a part called "Odin Story Day". Neil Philip is a writer and a critic with an interest in the fairy tale. Isabelle Brent is one of the most highly-regarded illustrators working today.
This book contains the following story:
The Little Mermaid
Deep, deep down in the sea lived the sea king and queen and their brood of mermaid daughters. When each child turned sixteen she was allowed to visit the surface of the sea and look out upon the human world. One by one each girl came of age, but having satisfied their curiosity, each agreed that their sea world was more enchanting than the world above the sea. Until the time came for the youngest princess to visit the sea’s surface, whereupon she saw a ship filled with beautiful people having a party and gazed upon the most handsome of all, a young prince. The youngest mermaid watched all day but then as evening drew in, a storm erupted tossing the ship this way and that. The handsome young prince was thrown into the sea and would have drowned but for the plucky young mermaid who rescued him. Scared of being discovered, the little mermaid left the unconscious prince on the beach where he was found by a lovely young woman. The prince believed that it was the young woman who had rescued
