Maria Tatar's The Annotated Hans Christian Andersen presents the classic stories of the great Danish author and celebrates his enduring appeal to children and their parents. The volume includes twenty-four of Andersen's most cherished fairytales:

The Little Mermaid • The Snow Queen • The Emperor's New Clothes • Thumbelina • The Red Shoes • The Ugly Duckling • The Nightingale • The Little Match Girl • The Princess and the Pea • and many more!

"Maria Tatar has created a marvelously illustrated, admirably annotated anthology of Andersen's most memorable stories. Forget about witchcraft and Harry Potter. Put aside Oz and Wonderland. Explore the beauty, sadness, and philosophical depths of Denmark's immortal wonder tales." —Martin Gardner, author of The Annotated Alice

The Annotated Hans Christian Andersen includes:

Hundreds of annotations drawing on original sources and the newest scholarship to explore the literary, historical, and psychological importance of the stories and illuminate the rich historical context of the nineteenth century.

All new translations of Andersen's greatest works by Maria Tatar and Julie K. Allen.

A "Tales for Children" section followed by "Tales for Adults," a collection of rarely seen Andersen stories that are almost wholly unknown to the general public.

Critical essays by Maria Tatar on Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875), the early reactions to the tales and their historical importance, as well as biographies of Andersen and his illustrators and a full bibliography.

Over 150 paintings and illustrations from such beloved illustrators as Kay Nielsen, Edmund Dulac, and Arthur Rackham. 

From the back of the book