Book description
2005 is the bicentenary of Hans Christian Andersen's birth. His stories
have timeless themes - love, death, coming to terms with all that life
offers. This collection of ten stories weaves those essential themes of
beauty and cruelty into contemporary takes on life. "The Steadfast
Tin Solder" becomes "The Flames of Love", "The Ugly
Duckling" is retold as "Swan" and "The Emperor's New
Clothes", retold as "The King of Cool", has new relevance
as the story of a boy obsessed with branded clothing. All are memorable
for the shock value of many of Andersen's most painful images: the
shards of a broken mirror; the piercing of a broken heart. "The
Swineherd" ("Princess), "The Snow Queen" ("The
Shattered Mirror"), "The Wild Swans"("The Wild
Swanns"), "The Princess and the Pea" ("Mother Knows
Best"), "The Little Match Girl" ("A Little
Flame"), "The Ugly Duckling" ("Swan) and "The
Little Mermaid" ("Coming Up for Air") are all also recast
for the 21st century. As well as being a widely published author, Kate
Petty has worked in publishing for many years. She is currently
responsible for the children's books published by the Eden Project and
divides her time between Altarnun, St Austell and Truro in Cornwall and
her London home. Caroline Castle is the author of several picture book
texts as well as two novels for older children. She has also illustrated
two picture books for Piccadilly Press. She lives in Camden, North
London.
