The Snow Queen (Illustrated)

First, some housekeeping. There are a lot of editions and versions of "The Snow Queen" available. Many versions, including this one, use the H.B. Paull translation that was first published by Scribner and Co. in 1867 and is now, I believe, in the public domain. I particularly like the H.B. Paull translation, but appreciate the fact that this volume also features illustrations by T. Pym. These drawings are loaded with Victorian charm, but aren't as compelling as some other illustrators' versions. That said, the publisher claims that the book has been especially formatted for the Kindle Fire HD. I have a black and white Kindle Touch, and I can report that the book displayed well on that.So, you can download this Kindle freebie or step up to a classically illustrated version for a few dollars. Either way you will be well pleased.The Paull translation of this story has an elegant old-world sort of feel to it. It is not so old fashioned that it is hard to follow, but it is not like some of the modern versions that are inclined toward glibness in the service of action and narrative drive. The story line is clear enough, but the execution is dreamy and intentionally artificial. It can be too "weird" or ambiguous for some tastes, which is understandable, and the fairy tale/fable quest can be read as a simple adventure story or a parable crammed full of symbolism and deeper meaning. (This is very similar to how one reacts to books like "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe", which coincidentally, or perhaps not so coincidentally, also features a white witch and a snow covered land.)However you look at it, this is an inventive and imaginative tale that will entertain youngsters and invoke fond memories for many adult readers. (It's also a story that has been reworked in innumerable popular books, movies and and other forms, so it doesn't hurt to be familiar with it.) I have to admit I turned to it because it is a "classic" and because it was free, and I am very happy I acted on the temptation to download it.Please note that I found this book while browsing Amazon Kindle freebies. I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.

Superb edition having 3 dozen illustrations with numerous images of small children swinging, dancing, in a parade line, dressing up and more which ought to appeal to both youngsters and the young at heart. Last I checked this was the next best thing to free (99 cents) making it a great buy if all you want is this single tale.I've also included reviews for the "Stories from Hans Andersen" version (Part 1) "Andersen Fairy Tales illustrated by Edmund Dulac" version (Part 2) , and "A Tale in Seven Stories" version (Part 3).From this Thanksgiving to Christmastime I will only be reviewing Holiday books for your reading pleasure before drastically scaling back my reviews, so until such a time have a very, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

I'm well aware that this is widely considered Hans Christian Andersen's best story. I'm well aware that my taste regularly differs from that of the average American (insert your own "Goddamn!" if it makes you feel complete). I am well aware that the wildly popular Disney movie, Frozen, is only loosely based on this tale, and I didn't go into this book hoping to read, essentially, the "original Frozen script" or some such nonsense.However... This story is a creepy piece of junk. What the Heck was Hans smoking? If you told me the man was addicted to a bong made from a little wooden shoe, I'd believe every word, after reading this. Let's break it down.First, the illustrations are beautiful, and they're absolutely the best thing about this edition. I *do* highly recommend this particular edition for the illustrations, alone. They're just gorgeous.However, someone sadly saw fit to include the text of this story along with the illustrations, and that ruined it for me.For one thing, this story is too damn long. It goes on forever, and you can personally feel the burden of time as Gerda faces the challenges of trying to rescue Kay.For another, what's the point of using the mirror as a plot device? It is, I suppose, one way of avoiding--in a children's story--the awkwardness of the Snow Queen seducing young Kay. It's purpose here is not unlike the Turkish Delight in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe--presumably, Lewis's "veddy English" alternative. But it's such an artifice! I imagine that HCA wrote the story without it, and some reading-circle friend said, "Oy, mate, no good little boy is going to just get into the sled with the freakin' Snow Queen!" and thus was born the mirror. Don't get me wrong: it's easily the most interesting thing in this tale, and a story--virtually any story--which anthropomorphized the mirror would have been less boring than this.Then there's how HCA introduces these kids to us. It feels really awkward and creepy to tell us explicitly that they're not brother and sister, but that they love each other as much as if they were. What's the point of this? Are they going to do something totally inappropriate to a children's tale, so heaven forbid we not be clear that they're not close blood? No. There is, need I say it, no "getting together" in Hans Christian Andersen. As the tale progresses, you might well find yourself obsessing, "Ok, maybe this next bit will make it critically important that they're not related... Well, no, maybe this next bit..." and you will think that until the very end. It would make for a fabulous action film, in which the Snow Queen attacks and steals Kay away and his One True Love (played by Lucy Liu, natch) searches, travails, triumphs, and eventually destroys the Snow Queen in hand-to-magic combat, during which the Snow Queen--but also Kay--is killed, and the curse that possessed the Snow Queen takes over Lucy Liu and the whole damn thing starts all over again.But, no.Then there's the unevenness of the tale. In the second story, the Snow Queen refuses to keep kissing Kay for fear that she freeze him to death. Yet we find him freezing to death in her castle in the seventh story. There's no clear message that the Snow Queen is wicked--we have a sprite and a shattered mirror for that, after all--and even when she leaves Kay alone in her castle, there's no malevolence present as she goes off to "dust" the regions where snow "should be." So, what's the deal? If she wants him dead, kiss the kid and save us all a lot of nonsense. If she wants him alive, don't let him freeze to death in your castle.Personally, as beautiful but boring as Kay is, I can imagine wanting to have him around (no kissing!) and then eventually thinking, "You know, I'm just going to go over here and dust some white on the Great Cauldrons, you know, just doin' my job, and you go ahead and wait here."Enough is enough. I just hated this story. Give me virtually anything else by HCA--at least everything else is shorter.

I felt the need to read this after seeing the, much suspected, bastardized, Disney movie, Frozen. However, I must say that I enjoyed both versions. I have long been a fan of Hans Christian Andersen stories and appreciate his creative genius that has been reworked over and over in our modern cinema. I do enjoy reading tales of times past, when story telling was used for instruction as well as entertainment.This is the story of Kay and Gerda. It is an adventure and tells of all the creatures they meet along the way and how Gerda is assisted on her quest to find Kay. The translation is clear and paints a beautiful picture of the world. It also has an ending that is not typical of H.C. Andersen.

Really can't get past the first few pages. The layout means it doesn't fit my screen and zooms in and out randomly

Wonderful story telling. Can't believe Frozen the movie was supposed to be based on this. This has a much more realistic heroine whom any woman today should be glad to have a role model

Excellent

This was the perfect gift. Thank you.

Great read!!!