Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Andersen - Illustrated by Arthur Rackham

This collection, Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Andersen was originally published in 1932. It contains many of Hans Christian’s best-loved tales, and is illustrated by the charming colour plates and black and white drawings of Arthur Rackham. The stories include: ‘The Ugly Duckling’, ‘The Snow Queen’, ‘The Steadfast Tin Soldier’, ‘The Emperor’s New Clothes’, ‘Thumbelina’, ‘The Princess and the Pea’, ‘The Little Match Girl’, ‘The Little Mermaid’, and many more.

Hans Christian Andersen (1805 – 1875) was a Danish poet and author celebrated for his children’s stories but perhaps best known for his fables and fairy tales – meant for both adults and children. They were frequently written in a colloquial style, using idioms and spoken language in a manner previously unseen in Danish literature. Though simple at first glance, the ‘Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Andersen’ often convey sophisticated moral teachings; in equal measure heart-breaking and heart-warming.

It is also accompanied by a series of dazzling illustrations by Arthur Rackham (1867-1939). One of the most celebrated painters of the British Golden Age of Illustration (which encompassed the years from 1850 until the start of the First World War), Rackham’s artistry is quite simply, unparalleled. Throughout his career, he developed a unique style, combining haunting humour with dream-like romance. Presented alongside the text, his illustrations further refine and elucidate Andersen’s masterful storytelling.