Book details
The Annotated Hans Christian Andersen
Description
In her most ambitious annotated work to date, Maria Tatar celebrates the stories told by Denmark's "perfect wizard" and re-envisions Hans Christian Andersen as a writer who casts his spell on both children and adults. Andersen's most beloved tales, such as "The Emperor's New Clothes," "The Ugly Duckling," and "The Little Mermaid," are now joined by "The Shadow" and "Story of a Mother," mature stories that reveal his literary range and depth. Tatar captures the tales' unrivaled dramatic and visual power, showing exactly how Andersen became one of the world's ten most translated authors, along with Shakespeare, Dickens, and Marx. Lushly illustrated with more than one hundred fifty rare images, many in full color, by artists such as Arthur Rackham and Edmund Dulac, The Annotated Hans Christian Andersen will captivate readers with annotations that explore the rich social and cultural dimensions of the nineteenth century and construct a compelling portrait of a writer whose stories still fascinate us today.
Age
11-12
Text complexity
proficient
Length
449 pages
Book in series
#1
Why to read
- Enhanced Understanding: The annotations provide historical context, cultural references, and explanations of language that can deepen the reader's understanding of Andersen's fairy tales, which might otherwise be lost in translation or due to the passage of time.
- Cultural Significance: Hans Christian Andersen's works are an integral part of world literature, and reading them with annotations helps to appreciate their impact on not just Western culture but also their influence on storytelling, children's literature, and the fairy tale genre globally.
- Biographical Insights: The annotated edition often includes insights into Andersen's life, his inspirations, and the personal experiences that shaped his storytelling, offering a more comprehensive view of the author behind the classic tales.
- Academic Resource: For students and scholars, the annotated edition is a valuable resource for academic study, providing critical analysis and commentary that can support coursework, research, and a deeper appreciation of Andersen's literary contributions.