Hans Brinker, or the Silver Skates

Hans Brinker, or the Silver Skates was written by Mary Mapes Dodge in 1865. It is the story of a Dutch boy and his family and friends as they strive to overcome economic and personal hardships in early 19th Century Netherlands. The novel’s title refers to the silver skates to be awarded to winner of the ice-skating race Hans is determined to enter.This eBook edition is illustrated by French illustrator Théophile Schuler (1821-1878). His etchings were used to illustrate the 1899 edition. Mary Mapes Dodge was born in 1831 in New York City. In 1859, after the death of her husband she started writing and editing two magazines “Working Farmer” and the “United States Journal”. She published a collection of short stories “The Irvington Stories” in 1864. A year later, she completed Hans Brinker, or the Silver Skates which became an instant bestseller. She died in 1905.