Rediscover thirteen of Andersen's best-loved tales in this definitive edition—highlighted with introductions by an esteemed translator and illuminated with fanciful artwork from an acclaimed illustrator. Open the pages of this magnificent volume and enter the fairy-tale realm of Hans Christian Andersen! In a playful design that echoes Andersen's passion for miniature theaters, artist Joel Stewart depicts such well-known characters as the pea-sensitive Princess and the unclothed Emperor as actors on a timeless stage. Expert commentary by Naomi Lewis offers historical and biographical points of interest, revealing that "The Steadfast Tin Soldier" is the first fairy tale ever to feature a nonhuman hero (now a hallmark of childrens literature) and that "The Ugly Duckling," considered Andersen's autobiography, is a tale he especially loved to read aloud. In thirteen of his most enduring tales, savor the singular voice of this literary giant—the "washerwoman's crazy son" who became one of the best-known storytellers of all time.