The Stories Of Hans Christian Andersen

This new collection -- returning faithfully to the original Danish -- takes Andersen out of the nursery and places him squarely in the literary pantheon.
While Hans Christian Andersen's tales continue to seize the imagination with their singular blend of simplicity, eccentricity, and charm, readers have had to content themselves with inaccurate retellings and inadequate translations. Now Diana Crone Frank, a Danish novelist and linguist, and Jeffrey Frank, a novelist and editor at The New Yorker, offer a much-needed modern translation, brought out by Andersen's original American publisher.
In this collection are twenty-two tales that best represent Andersen's literary legacy. Here are the classics: "The Little Mermaid," "The Ugly Duckling," "Thumbelisa," and "The Princess on the Pea" among them, as well as largely unfamiliar stories like "By the Outermost Sea." Illuminating notes clarify references in the stories. And in an extended introductory essay, the Franks explore the writer and his times, placing the enigmatic and often bizarre figure of Andersen among his literary contemporaries, such as Charles Dickens and Srren Kierkegaard, with whom he crossed paths. Illustrated with the delicate and beautiful drawings that accompanied the original Danish publication, The Stories of Hans Christian Andersen is sure to delight readers of all ages.

"This is the real Andersen, restored to life, in the flavor of Danish. . .here at last you will find him." --Garrison Keillor

"The Franks’ edition finally sets the stories straight and . . . clarifies the tale most often told wrong—Andersen’s own life story." --Elise Soukup Newsweek

"Adults and children alike need the actual Andersen, here made brilliantly available by the Franks." --Harold Bloom, editor of Stories and Poems for Extremely Intelligent Children of All Ages.

"A beautiful new translation." Vogue

"[The Franks] have stripped away the florid Victorianism of the previous translations...[and] have widened the scope of Andersen's oeuvre." --Heather Caldwell, Bookforum

"A superb book of Andersen's tales . . . it will be difficult for other commemorative editions to match this publication.” --Jack Zipes Minneapolis Star-Tribune

"This beautiful and useful volume combines new translations of the canonical stories with some of the original illustrations." The New York Times Book Review