Sunday, November 16, 2008

Hans Christian Andersen: The Complete Stories

Translated by: Erik Cristian Haugaard

First line: A soldier came marching down the road: Left...right! Left...right!

Why you should read this book: Andersen wrote his fanciful tales with an idiosyncratic mix of Christian morality and magical pagan whimsy. Love features prominently as the major theme of these complex and detailed stories, where animals, inanimate objects, and forces of nature are just as likely as human beings to experience intense emotions and sacrifice themselves for others. Classic tales for perceptive children, provided they have decent attention spans and the ability to follow Andersen's sometimes convoluted style.

Why you shouldn't read this book: You haven't taught your children about Christianity and you don't want to start now.

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