The Brave Tin Soldier & Other Fairy Tales

Hans Christian Andersen

Aug 2011 · BBC Digital Audio · Narrated by Anne-Marie Duff, David Tennant, Derek Jacobi, and Penelope Wilton

About this audiobook

Here are four of Hans Christian Andersen's best-loved short stories, specially adapted for young children and read by some of Britain's most well-known actors. In 'The Brave Tin Soldier', read by David Tennant, a one-legged toy soldier falls in love with a paper ballerina. In 'Thumbelina', read by Anne-Marie Duff, a tiny but beautiful girl grows from a barleycorn which has been enchanted by a witch. In 'The Nightingale', read by Sir Derek Jacobi, an emperor prefers a sparkling mechanical bird to the song of a real nightingale. And in 'The Ugly Duckling', read by Penelope Wilton, a little bird is called ugly by others until he matures into a beautiful swan.

Ratings and reviews

Absolutely charming and perfectly read. I have trial listened to almost all audiobooks by H C Andersen available and this one is among very best few. It's beauty is in the voices of its narrators. And here you can hear well theatre trained and rehearsed voices of highly proffesional actors and actresses. This is a perfect H C Andersen audiobook in English. Unfortunately most of the other audiobooks are read by untrained voices and almost impossible to be listened to especially by listeners who are not native speakers and who wish to learn or improve their English. RR

About the author

Hans Christian Andersen (April 2, 1805 - August 4, 1875) was a Danish author and poet, most famous for his fairy tales. Among his best-known stories are The Snow Queen, The Little Mermaid, Thumbelina, The Little Match Girl, The Ugly Duckling and The Red Shoes. During Andersen's lifetime he was feted by royalty and acclaimed for having brought joy to children across Europe. His fairy tales have been translated into over 150 languages and continue to be published in millions of copies all over the world.