Lisbeth Zwerger

The Little Mermaid, illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger.

Lisbeth Zwerger, that fairy-tale illustrator par excellence, whose numerous interpretations of the work of Hans Christian Andersen - from individual tales like Thumbeline, The Swineherd, and The Nightingale, to collections such as Andersen's Fairy Tales - have all won accolades, turns her attention to the tale of The Little Mermaid in this 2004 picture-book.

The visual effect is delightful, with Zwerger's colorful, idiosyncratic illustrations show more affording the reader enchanting vistas, both above and below sea. I liked many of the smaller details, from the little mermaid's splayed out hair, as she gazes out the palace window, dreaming of the world above, to the way in which the mermaid sisters' hair spreads out on the water, as they swim before the prince's castle. I also appreciated the fact that the not inconsiderable text is broken up by sentences printed in blue and green inks. This edition may not be beautiful, in the manner of the Charles Santore retelling, nor pretty like the Katie Thamer Treherne, but it does have a charm all its own: playful and self-assured. Lisbeth Zwerger fans will rejoice to find it, even those (like myself) who don't especially care for this tale!

Addendum: readers should note that the highly moralistic ending, which P.L. Travers once described as "blackmail," is firmly in place here, thanks (or not, as the case may be) to Anthea Bell's scrupulous translation. show less

I'm a fan of Lisbeth Zwerger and her beautiful illustrations. Partly, I think, because they hark back to those of Arthur Rackham and possibly also Edmund Dulac...and I grew up on these stories ...fascinated by the pictures. Maybe it is underselling the contribution s by Lisbeth Zwerger because her own work is original and she has a lovely sense of dramatic perspective that the older artists never used. And some of her work (Such as Alice in Wonderland is totally unique.....then again, I show more don't like this so much).
Suffice to say, for me, the story here of Little Red Cap is totally subsidiary to the illustrations. It's not exactly the classic "Little Red Riding Hood" ....but very close to it. Reading the story again, I can't help but be surprised that the woodsman can blithely take a pair of scissors and cut the wolf open without the wolf walking up......but, that's a fairy story! And I'm now at the stage with so many books that I find that I have two copies of this book: this one a paperback which I shall donate to charity and the other a hardback, which I shall keep.
But a lovely little book. Warrants five stars. show less

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I grew up with Disney movies and my favourite one was the one with the mermaid that has long red hair, and I loved her love story, and also enjoyed watching the rest of the movie series that followed years later.

And while loving Ariel for so long, I have never actually read the original story. So a few weeks ago, I decided to cherish it properly, as a true childhood love deserves to be cherished.

And I was left with my jaw dropped and my mouth show more open, unable to sleep. I can’t say this book crushed my childhood love, but it definitely shook me quite hard.

If you are expecting to read about the little mermaid, and her adventures in the water, and how she would give anything to see how people live on Earth, and fall in love with a prince – you will get all that. In fact – the book description is far better compared to the movie. Incomparable, actually. The book glows with bright colourful descriptions of the world under the sea, and it is so vividly enchantingly explained.

But if you are expecting to read about the adorable love story of Ariel and the prince, and their happily ever after – that is not happening. Because things go wrong. Horribly wrong. With a crushing, terrible end, that will torture you in your dreams.

It wasn’t my intention to make this review so dark. The story is still wonderful, and full of life. However, there is no happy ending, and that, for me, was crucial to not enjoy it.

And I am not usually upset with unhappy endings. It happens so often. But this one was so brutal and cruel, that it felt so disturbing. Maybe, because it is my favorite childhood movie. Maybe, because I knew this to be a happy story. Maybe, because I didn’t expect this at all.

Hans Christian Andersen is an amazing writer. I have read many of his stories, and enjoyed them greatly. I honestly don’t know what was going on in his life when he was writing this, but wow. Just wow.

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Whenever I re-read a fairytale from my childhood, I am always surprised at how different it is from my memory of it. This one, of course, suffered from the innumerable times I was forced to watch the Disney version with the grandchildren.

Andersen was the quintessential moral story teller, with many lessons to be carried away by both children and adults. The obvious ones of not longing for things that you cannot have and measure the cost carefully before you make the deal, but on the flip show more side, nothing exceeds love for virtue and you might get unexpected rewards for good deeds done.

I was interested in the religious overtones regarding the soul, for that was what the little mermaid was seeking, the chance to be human and have a soul that would live beyond the grave. show less