More than 200 years ago, two brothers from Kassel, Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, published the first volume of their collection of German folktales. Over time the stories in their collection grew until finally they numbered 200 fairy tales and ten legends. What was initially an attempt to preserve German traditions for posterity is today the most widely read collection of stories after the Bible. From Snow White to Cinderella and Rapunzel to Rumpelstiltskin, the Brothers Grimm left behind a canon of fairy tales that have become classics of childrens literature, part of the UNESCO world heritage, and an indispensable piece of our history and culture.Hans Christian Andersens own life seemed to be out of a fairy taleCharles Dickens was among his friends and admirers, and European princes held him in high regard. Through determination, talent, many a fortunate coincidence, and an exuberant imagination, he came out of impoverished circumstances to write himself into world literature. A fairytale kingdom without Andersen would be very impoverished itself and would have to do without characters such as the Snow Queen, the Princess and the Pea, Thumbelina or the Little Match Girl, but also many previously inanimate items which Andersen brought to life: silver shillings and darning needles, and especially his Steadfast Tin Soldier.The Grimms and Andersens tales have inspired generations of artists, and each fairy tale in this volume is colorfully interpreted by a famous illustrator: legends such as Kay Nielsen (a leading exponent of the Golden Age of Illustration that ended in the 1920s), the Arts and Crafts master Walter Crane, Arthur Rackham, and the Swiss commercial artist Herbert Leupin. Alongside are silhouettes from historical publications as well as new vignettes that were made especially for this edition, which dance across the pages in an intricate shadow play. Introductory essays, on the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm as reflected in art and on Andersen as the heart and soul of the modern fairy tale, complement these flights of fancy, as do the short summaries on each fairy tale and artists biographies.This double-sided book contains the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm on one side and Hans Christian Andersens tales on the other, each with its own cover. The following fairy tales are included:The Brothers Grimm:The Frog Prince, The Wolf and the Seven Little Goats, Rapunzel, Hansel and Gretel, The Brave Little Tailor, Cinderella, Mother Holle, Little Red Riding Hood, The Bremen Town Musicians, The Shoemaker and the Elves, Tom Thumbs Travels, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Rumpelstiltskin, The Three Feathers, The Golden Goose, The Goose Girl, The Twelve Dancing Princesses, The Star Coins, The Hare and the Hedgehog, Puss n BootsHans Christian Andersen:The Princess and the Pea, The Nightingale, The Swineherd, The Emperors New Clothes, Twelve by Mail Coach, The Steadfast Tin Soldier, The Snow Queen, Ole Shut-Eye, The Ugly Duckling, Little Idas Flowers, The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep, The Flying Trunk, The Little Match Girl, The TinderboxAbout the seriesTASCHEN is 40! Since we started our work as cultural archaeologists in 1980, TASCHEN has become synonymous with accessible publishing, helping bookworms around the world curate their own library of art, anthropology, and aphrodisia at an unbeatable price. Today we celebrate 40 years of incredible books by staying true to our company credo. The 40 series presents new editions of some of the stars of our programnow more compact, friendly in price, and still realized with the same commitment to impeccable production.
This book has been graded for interest at 10-13 years.
There are 512 pages in this book. This book was published in 2020 by Taschen GmbH .
Noel Daniel is a graduate of Princeton University and a former Fulbright Scholar to Berlin. She earned an MA in London and was director of a photography gallery before editing books. Her TASCHEN publications include Kay Nielsen's A Thousand and One Nights and East of the Sun and West of the Moon, The Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm, The Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen, Wintertime Tales, Magic, and The Circus. 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". The Brothers Grimm, Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, were German professors whose collections of folk tales and fairy tales have been loved for generations.
This book contains the following story:
The Steadfast Tin Soldier
"The Steadfast Tin Soldier" is a fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, first published in 1838. The story is about a tin soldier with one leg who falls in love with a paper ballerina. Here is a summary of the tale:
The story begins with a young boy receiving a set of toy soldiers for his birthday. All the soldiers are exactly alike except for one, who is missing a leg. Despite his imperfection, the tin soldier stands steadfastly at attention and catches the eye of a beautiful paper ballerina in the boy's room. The soldier is captivated by her grace and beauty.
One day, a strong gust of wind blows the window open, and the paper ballerina is knocked off the table and falls into the street below. The tin soldier, without hesitation, jumps after her. Thus begins a series of perilous adventures for the steadfast tin soldier. He encounters various challenges, including a storm drain, a fish, and even a dangerous encounter with a boy who throws him into the fire. Through it all, the tin soldier remains unwavering and courageous.
Eventually, the tin soldier is swallowed by a fish. Inside the fish, he finds the paper ballerina, who has also been swallowed. In this confined space, the tin soldier and the ballerina declare their love for each other.
The fish is caught by a fisherman, and when he cuts it open, he finds the tin soldier and the ballerina. However, a series of events, including a jealous goblin and a final adventure in a paper boat, lead to a tragic end for the tin soldier. In the end, the tin soldier is consumed by fire, but his love for the ballerina remains unshaken.
"The Steadfast Tin Soldier" is a tale of love, bravery, and unwavering devotion. It reflects themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and the enduring power of love even in the face of adversity.
