The original stories behind everyone's favorite Christmas ballet It wasn't until the 1950s that seeing "The Nutcracker" at Christmastime became an American tradition. But the story itself is much older and its original intent more complex. This eye-opening new volume presents two of the tale's earliest versions, both in new translations: E.T.A. Hoffmann's "Nutcracker and Mouse King" (1816), in which a young girl is whisked away to the Land of Toys to help her animated nutcracker defeat the Mouse King, and Alexandre Dumas's 1845 adaptation, "The Tale of the Nutcracker," based on Hoffmann's popular work. Irresistible tales of magic, mystery, and childhood adventure, these timeless delights and fresh interpretations about the importance of imagination will captivate readers of all ages.
The original stories behind everyone's favorite Christmas ballet It wasn't until the 1950s that seeing "The Nutcracker" at Christmastime became an American tradition. But the story itself is much older and its original intent more complex. This eye-opening new volume presents two of the tale's earliest versions, both in new translations: E.T.A. Hoffmann's "Nutcracker and Mouse King" (1816), in which a young girl is whisked away to the Land of Toys to help her animated nutcracker defeat the Mouse King, and Alexandre Dumas's 1845 adaptation, "The Tale of the Nutcracker," based on Hoffmann's popular work. Irresistible tales of magic, mystery, and childhood adventure, these timeless delights and fresh interpretations about the importance of imagination will captivate readers of all ages.
The original stories behind everyone's favourite Christmas ballet
For the little girl Marie, the gift of a handsomely decorated nutcracker from a mysterious uncle sets the stage for a Christmas Eve like no other. That night, her extraordinary present comes to life, defends her from the taunting Mouse King, and whisks her off to the Kingdom of Dolls.
This volume features two of the earliest versions of what has become a Christmas classic- Nutcracker and Mouse King (1816), by E.T.A. Hoffmann, and Alexandre Dumas's 1845 reimagining, The Tale of the Nutcracker. Irresistible tales of magic and childhood adventure, they continue to captivate of all ages.
Introduction by JACK ZIPES
Alexandre Dumas was a French playwright, historian and prolific novelist, penning a string of successful books including The Three Musketeers (1844), The Count of Monte Cristo (1845), and Twenty Years After(1845). His novels have been translated into a hundred different languages and inspired over two hundred films. In his day Dumas was as famous for his financial irresponsibility and flamboyant lifestyle as for his writing. Dumas died in 1870.
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