E.T.A. Hoffmann

Janet Schulman

Each December, generations of children delight in the ballet version of the quintessential Christmas story The Nutcracker. But few have had the opportunity to revel in the richly detailed original tale. Now, in this glorious new edition, acclaimed children's book author and editor Janet Schulman returns to the source'E.T.A. Hoffmann's “The Nutcracker and the King of Mice.” Here we meet Marie, her Nutcracker, the Sugar Plum Fairy, and all the other delightful characters, and we discover the answers to questions left unanswered by the ballet, like why the Nutcracker and the King of Mice were enemies. Artist Renée Graef adds her own enchantment with stunning, jewellike paintings that bring the story thrillingly to life. As an added bonus, this must-have Christmas gift also includes a free audio CD with Tchaikovsky's inimitable musical score and a reading of the complete story by actress Claire Bloom.

The Nutcracker

E. T. A.. ANDERSEN HOFFMANN (HANS CHRISTIAN.)

Hoffmann's classic Christmas fairy tale, immortalised by Tchaikovsky's ballet, is brought to life by the gorgeous contemporary artwork of Finnish illustrator, Sanna Annuka. On Christmas Eve, Fritz and Marie excitedly await the arrival of Godfather Drosselmeier and the marvellous gifts he brings for them every year. When Marie discovers a rather curious nutcracker doll amongst the presents, she suddenly finds herself caught up in an age-old battle and ultimately transported to a magical world of sugar-frosted castles, chocolate kings, and true love. Sanna Annukka is familiar to many from her collaborations with Marimekko and her artwork for Keane's album, Under the Iron Sea. The Nutcracker is her third book project. This cloth-bound edition combines the charm of Hoffmann's original nineteenth-century tale with the freshness of Sanna Annuka's gorgeous illustrations. A beautiful gift to give and receive.

Nour Bassiouny

I don't think any fairytale can be compared to this

Grace O'Callaghan

I can see why some people might not like this story. I think a lot of it does come down to the translation though. I have an edition that’s translated by Mrs St. Simon and it was completely magical. 

It just feels like the perfect amount of fantastical and weird to me mixed in with reality. It just invites you to imagine the the Marchpane Castle and the Christmas Wood with its lush descriptions.

It would honestly be the perfect story to curl up with next to the fire on Christmas Eve.

After hearing how her toy nutcracker got his ugly face, a little girl helps break the spell and changes him into a handsome prince.

Nutcracker

Samantha Donovan

E. T. A. Hoffmann

Daniel Walden

Relates the story of the popular ballet in which a little girl's love for the Nutcracker brings him to life.

Aleena Korell

"If you love something very much it is always alive."
Beautifully illustrated, magical version of the classic tale :)

One of five beloved Christmas classics Written in 1816 by one of the leaders of German Romanticism for his children, nephews, and nieces, The Nutcracker captures better than any other story a child’s wonder at Christmas. The gift of a handsomely decorated nutcracker from a mysterious uncle sets the stage for a Christmas Eve like no other for the little girl Marie. That night, Marie’s extraordinary present comes to life, defends her from the taunting Mouse King, and whisks her off to the Kingdom of Dolls. The inspiration for the classic ballet, E. T. A. Hoffmann’s irresistible tale of magic and childhood adventure continues to captivate readers of all ages. Today, many of the most enchanting symbols of Christmas, from nutcrackers to sugar plums to mistletoe, are still imbued with the power of this story. Penguin Christmas Classics Give the gift of literature this Christmas. Penguin Christmas Classics honor the power of literature to keep on giving through the ages. The five volumes in the series are not only our most beloved Christmas tales, they also have given us much of what we love about the holiday itself. A Christmas Carol revived in Victorian England such Christmas hallmarks as the Christmas tree, holiday cards, and caroling. The Yuletide yarns of Anthony Trollope popularized throughout the British Empire and around the world the trappings of Christmas in London. The holiday tales of Louisa May Alcott shaped the ideal of an American Christmas. The Night Before Christmas brought forth some of our earliest Christmas traditions as passed down through folk tales. And The Nutcracker inspired the most famous ballet in history, one seen by millions in the twilight of every year. Collect all five Penguin Christmas Classics: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens Christmas at Thompson Hall: And Other Christmas Stories by Anthony Trollope A Merry Christmas: And Other Christmas Stories by Louisa May Alcott The Night Before Christmas by Nikolai Gogol The Nutcracker by E. T. A. Hoffmann

karissa 

Lindsy Rice

Caitlin Bohannon

Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann

After hearing how her toy nutcracker got his ugly face, a little girl helps break the spell and watches him change into a handsome prince.

Kitti Horváth

Lily

Merry

Roksolana Kaziuk

Kay Chorao

After hearing how her toy nutcracker got his ugly face, a little girl helps break the spell he is under and watches him change into a handsome prince.

ghost girl in satin

Kiya Robinson

Cheryl Hedlund

Diana 

Michael Chen

Alice Foster

Cora Sicard

It is Christmas Eve and little Marie has tired of her new presents, happily playing with a nutcracker instead. So when her brother Fritz breaks it, she is horrified, tenderly bandaging the little nutcracker with her ribbon and putting him to bed. When the clock strikes midnight, Marie is stunned to see an army of mice advancing, led by a seven-headed Mouse King. Her very own nutcracker leads the dolls and toys against the mouse army and a violent battle ensues. Just as the nutcracker looks like he might lose, Marie throws her shoe at the mice, and injures herself as she falls over. When she wakes up, her arm is bandaged but nobody will believe her unlikely tale. Soon after, her godfather comes for a visit and tells her the story of the nutcracker. As the tale unfolds, Marie learns about the ongoing feud between the mice and their enemy Princess Pirlipat. It sounds fanciful, but could it be true? And if the fairy tale is true, shouldn't there be a Prince Charming in the offing for Marie?

Tori

Anthea Bell

Lisbeth Zwerger

In this retelling of the original 1816 German story, Godfather Drosselmeier gives young Marie a nutcracker for Christmas, and she finds herself in a magical realm where she saves a boy from an evil curse.

The Nutcracker

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