Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Andersen - Illustrated by Honor C. Appleton

This collection, ‘The Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen – with Honor Appleton illustrations’ is decorated with the magnificent colour and black-and-white artwork of Honor C. Appleton. It contains some of Andersen’s best stories, including such well-known and loved tales as ‘The Little Mermaid, ‘The Steadfast Tin Soldier’, ‘The Ugly Duckling’, ‘The Snow Queen’, ‘The Little Match Girl’ and ‘The Red Shoes’.

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 spoke language in a manner previously unseen in Danish literature. Though simple at first glance, Andersen’s stories often convey sophisticated moral teachings, in equal measure heart-breaking and heart-warming.

The stories are accompanied by the dazzling illustrations of Honor C. Appleton (1879 – 1951). Appleton illustrated over one-hundred-and-fifty books during the course of her career, with her most famous works including Our Nursery Rhyme Book (1912), and Charles Perrault’s Fairy Tales (1919). As her career progressed, she began producing bolder images for literary classics – but her best-loved drawings remain those for the children’s market. Presented alongside the text, the Honor Appleton illustrations further refine and elucidate Andersen’s captivating narratives.

Pook Press celebrates the great ‘Golden Age of Illustration‘ in children’s classics and fairy tales – a period of unparalleled excellence in book illustration. We publish rare and vintage Golden Age illustrated books, in high-quality colour editions, so that the masterful artwork and story-telling can continue to delight both young and old.