Hans Christian Andersen's Fairy Tales

Judi Dench's delivery is extremely polished, and her British accent gives these stories a unique flavor. Dench reads a selection of the most popular Andersen tales: "The Ugly Duckling," "The Little Mermaid," "The Emperor's New Clothes," and so on. She has fun with the evil characters, best showcased in a memorable dialogue between the witch and the soldier in "The Tinderbox." D.B. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine


Listeners will be fascinated by these original stories from Hans Christian Andersen--no Disney adaptations here. They're richly voiced by F. Murray Abraham and enlivened by a cast of acclaimed narrators who add playful differentiation to the many characters. The tales range from the familiar "Thumbelina," "The Little Mermaid," and "The Princess and the Pea" to those less well known like "The Rags" and "Luck Can Be Found on a Stick." They're filled with surprises for those acquainted only with the sanitized versions, with many missing the happy endings we're used to hearing. Abraham's elegant narration and measured pacing provide the perfect foil to the more whimsical style of those portraying the characters in this engaging production. S.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award � AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine