THUMBELINA AND OTHER FAIRY TALES

Hans Christian Andersen’s body of fairy tales is large. This recording includes several of the oft-told, such as “The Nightingale,” “The Brave Tin Soldier,” and the title story, as well as the less familiar “Metal Pig,” set in Florence, and the whimsical “Flea and the Professor.” No matter what the tale, Andersen’s attention to nature’s detail and his reflection on the sorrow and hardship life brings are ever present and beckon the listener back again and again. Each narrator is suited to his or her tale. Thumbelina’s voice comes through as sensitive and delicate. The emperor’s is pompous, but then contrite at the point when the nightingale’s wisdom is understood. Enjoy reconnecting with Andersen’s stories and sampling the freshness of promising new narrators. A.R. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/SEP 05]