For more than 150 years, Hans Christian Andersen s beloved fairy tales have charmed and entertained audiences around the world. Blending old folk tales with fantasy, the Danish bard s stories are rich in humor and sharp with irony. The forty-seven fables in this beautifully translated collection tell of kings and princesses, of farm boys and mermaids, of witches and ogres. Some of the tales like "The Little Match Girl" and "The Emperor s New" "Clothes" we know by heart. Others like "The Jumpers" and "The Flying Trunk" are sure to become instant favorites. Packed with memorable characters (who could forget the Ugly Duckling or the Little Mermaid?), Andersen s fairy tales have withstood the test of time, delighting generation after generation of children and adults and they promise to remain bedtime favorites for centuries to come Translated by Pat Shaw IversenWith a New IntroductionAnd an Afterword by Joanne GreenbergIllustrated with line drawings"