Tales Of Beauty And Cruelty

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.

Promotion info

A clever collection of short stories to celebrate Hans Christian Andersen's bicentenary. A tribute to a great storyteller. Accomplished storytelling for 10+ girls. Both authors have great track records for aspiring girly reads - they know their market and they know girls. The grand themes of life are all entirely relevant to contemporary teen life.

Reviews

'Every season, there is usually one book that surprises me and discovering it is like receiving an unexpected present. This is it. A superb collection of ten Hans Christian Andersen stories re-worked in a contemporary setting. A fresh, original collection that I know I'll re-read again and again' -- Annie Everall THE BOOKSELLER 'Love, hate, jealousy, greed, vanity and pity are woven into the tales that will keep you gripped.' FUNDAY TIMES 'One for teenagers and preteens' -- Jennifer Taylor CHILDREN'S BOOKSELLER (AUG 05) 'Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tales are given a modern twist in this riveting book... will be enjoyed by teenagers everywhere.' -- Zoe Bennell, aged 12 WOMAN 'The fairy story origins create interesting conjuctions of style where loyalty and goodness meet cynicism... Arresting openings make the moral ground clear... Endings mix hope and pathos that has the simplicity of song... these are modern stories with a reassuring belief in goodness and the underlying power of love.' -- David Buckley TES 'the timeless themes of love, hate, jealousy, greed, vanity and pity re-worked into credible stories of today's world... a very enjoyable and original collection of stories for all teenagers.' -- Linda Banner SCHOOL LIBRARIAN 'amazing: very well written and makes you understand the real sense of life.' TEEN TITLES

Author description

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. 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.