Die wilden Schwäne

by Hans Christian Andersen, Günther Jakobs (Illustrator)

book data

172 ratings, 4.12 average rating, 21 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		40%
4		34%
3		20%
2		3%
1		0%

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published

July 1st 2007 by Thienemann Verlag (first published 1838)

details

Gebundene Ausgabe, 32 pages

isbn

3522435435 (isbn13: 9783522435437)

description

Eleven brothers, turned into wild swans by an evil stepmother, are saved by the sacrifices of their beautiful sister, Elisa.

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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 211)

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May 06, 2009

Kathryn rated it:

(review of isbn 0803793812)

Read in May, 2009

NOTE: Find Anne Yvonne Gilbert illustations!

JEFFERS VERSION
This is the first time I've read the tale of the wild swans, so I cannot say whether this is a faithful retelling. However, I enjoyed the tale; it was nice to see the beautiful heroine working selflessly for the brothers she loves so dearly; and that they are truly appreciative of her efforts and work to save her in return. The tale is a bit long, and the illustrations are nice without being especially memorable (the...more

Like this review? yes (4 people liked it)

3 comments

Oct 01, 2009

Abigail rated it:

(review of isbn 0803793812)

bookshelves: andersen, fairy-tales, folklore-mythology, picture-books, sweet-youth

recommends it for: Fairy-Tale Lovers / Susan Jeffers Fans

The Wild Swans, illustrated by Susan Jeffers.

Originally published in 1838, Andersen's The Wild Swans - in which a beautiful and virtuous young princess must endure many hardships in order to restore her eleven brothers to their human form, after their wicked stepmother's curse transforms them into swans - has its origins in the Danish folk tradition, rather than its author's fertile imagination. Taken from Matthias Winther's 1823 Danske folkeeventyr (which seems, sadly, never to have...more

Like this review? yes (2 people liked it)

2 comments

Oct 28, 2009

Abigail rated it:

(review of isbn 0517135205)

bookshelves: andersen, fairy-tales, folklore-mythology, picture-books

recommends it for: Fairy-Tale Lovers / Marcia Brown Fans

The Wild Swans, illustrated by Marcia Brown.

I've been struggling to recall, since beginning this Hans Christian Andersen project of mine, just when it was that I first read The Wild Swans, when it was I decided that it was one of my favorite fairy-tales, and what edition I owned at the time. I do remember that we had a massive, two-volume complete edition of Andersen in the house, from the time I was very young, but I also have this vague memory of a picture-book version. A picture-b...more

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Oct 28, 2009

Abigail rated it:

(review of isbn 091174536X)

bookshelves: andersen, fairy-tales, folklore-mythology, picture-books

Read in October, 2009

recommends it for: Fairy-Tale Lovers / Angela Barrett Fans

The Wild Swans, illustrated by Angela Barrett.

Adapted from a traditional Danish folktale, De vilde svaner has always been one of my favorite stories from Hans Christian Andersen, and I have vivid memories of reading it over and over again, as a girl. So when I discovered that Angela Barrett - the illustrator responsible for my favorite edition of Snow White - had also done an edition of The Wild Swans, back in the early 1980s, I was immensely excited. When I learned that the translat...more

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Oct 01, 2009

Abigail rated it:

(review of isbn 1841481181)

bookshelves: andersen, fairy-tales, folklore-mythology, picture-books

recommends it for: Anyone Who Loves Beautifully-Illustrated Books!

The Wild Swans, illustrated by Anne Yvonne Gilbert.

Since the time I was a child, I have always had a deep and abiding love of folk and fairy-tales, and have taken great pleasure over the years, as both a reader and collector, in comparing the different artistic approaches used by various illustrators, when undertaking to interpret the same stories. Sometimes - as with the Isadora, Archipowa and Pinkney versions of The Little Match Girl - I find that a number of different editions all...more The Wild Swans, illustrated by Anne Yvonne Gilbert.

Since the time I was a child, I have always had a deep and abiding love of folk and fairy-tales, and have taken great pleasure over the years, as both a reader and collector, in comparing the different artistic approaches used by various illustrators, when undertaking to interpret the same stories. Sometimes - as with the Isadora, Archipowa and Pinkney versions of The Little Match Girl - I find that a number of different editions all have equal appeal for me. At other times - with Edward Gorey's Rumpelstiltskin, for instance, or Evelyn Andreas' Cinderella - the edition of my youth retains its hold on my imagination, always coming first in my affections. And at still other times - as with Angela Barrett's Snow White - I have stumbled, as an adult, across some new edition that has become my favorite.

But although I have read countless folk and fairy-tale retellings, and keep an ever-growing list of artists whose work in this vein I admire, I do not think - with the exception of Vladyslav Yerko's superb The Snow Queen - that I have ever come across a book which so perfectly captures the wonder and terror, the beauty and cruelty, and the dream-like vividness of the fairy-tale world, as this edition of Hans Christian Andersen's The Wild Swans, retold by Naomi Lewis and illustrated by Anne Yvonne Gilbert, has done.

The narrative flows smoothly, but it is the artwork - Gilbert's beautiful artwork, by turns dreamy and sharp, so poignantly expressive and tender - that make this a fairy-tale masterpiece! The portrait of the wicked stepmother whispering her falsehoods in the king's ear, or kissing the poisoned toads she intends to use against the heroine, evoke true anxiety in the reader, who immediately recognizes that evil is afoot. The beautiful depiction of Elisa reunited with her brothers - all gathered in a group, and lovingly touching one another, as if to make sure that they are truly together again - has the power to move anyone who has ever loved brother or sister. The moment in which the king secretly watches Elisa, wanting to believe no wrong, but beginning to fear the worst, will have the reader wishing that she could but speak! And of course, the scenes in which Elisa goes to meet her death, surrounded by an angry mob, only to find salvation at the last (through speech!) will send shivers down the spine of any person who knows - as we all do, on some level - that justice is not always done.

It is difficult to imagine a more pitch-perfect interpretation of the story, with all its cruelty and injustice, loyalty and love. There is power here, and Anne Yvonne Gilbert had tapped into the heart of it, transforming us from mere readers to witnesses. For that, all true fairy-tale lovers owe her a debt of gratitude. (less)

Like this review? yes (4 people liked it)

3 comments

Oct 27, 2009

Abigail rated it:

(review of isbn 067983446X)

bookshelves: andersen, fairy-tales, folklore-mythology, picture-books

Read in October, 2009

recommends it for: Fairy-Tale Lovers / Kaarina Kaila Fans

The Wild Swans, illustrated by Kaarina Kaila.

As mentioned in my review of Susan Jeffers' interpretation of The Wild Swans, the strong folkloric associations of this tale make for an especially powerful story, one that has always been a particularly beloved favorite, amongst Andersen's many brilliant works. I was consequently quite pleased to discover this lovely edition, previously unknown to me. Adapted by Deborah Hautzig, and illustrated by Finnish artist Kaarina Kaila - whose only...more

Like this review? yes (1 person liked it)

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Jun 11, 2007

Emily rated it:

(review of isbn 080379391X)

bookshelves: picturebooks

Read in January, 1990

The story is Hans Christian Anderson, the pictures are Susan Jeffers, and both are beautiful. It's a very haunting story and it was one of my favorites when I was little.

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Nov 13, 2009

Sam Grace rated it:

(review of isbn 1841481181)

bookshelves: childrens-ya, fiction, geeky-mythic-stuff, pretty-pictures

Read in November, 2009

recommended to Sam by: Abigail

Barefoot Books strikes again. I have yet to disappointed with something by these publishers.

The story is, of course, wonderful, and I enjoyed the beautiful artwork.

Like this review? yes

4 comments

Mar 20, 2009

carissa rated it:

(review of isbn 1841481181)

bookshelves: juv-folktales

modern fairytale
transformation

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Mar 31, 2009

Elizabeth rated it:

(review of isbn 1841481181)

bookshelves: fairytale, picture-books

Read in March, 2009

Love the illustrations!

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Jun 20, 2007

علی rated it:

(review of isbn 1841481181)

bookshelves: children-books

I could never imagine that there comes a day in my life when I read H.C.Andersen in his own language! As I nver dreamed about living in Denmark. But all these happened, and I tried to read some of Andersen's works in Danish, well, let's say Old Danish, which is different. Now I know a bit about Danish culture as well, so I would say Andersen has more dimensions than I imagined him in Persian.

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Sep 03, 2009

Cana rated it:

(review of isbn 0525479147)

Read in September, 2009

Mommy says: Kept both kids rapt for the whole book. However, typical Hans Christian Anderson (this is s aretelling of his original); there is some violence.

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Feb 10, 2009

The Library Lady rated it:

(review of isbn 0525479147)

Like all of the books that have been retold by Amy Ehrlich and illustrated by Susan Jeffers, this is beautiful in both words and pictures. This faithful retelling of the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale is not a little kids book any more than they would the original REAL "Little Mermaid". But older children and adults will find it wonderful.

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Oct 09, 2007

Ida rated it:

(review of isbn 1841481181)

not the same illustrated version I have (mine is by Susan Jeffers circa early 80s and outrageously beautiful) but I love this fairy tale. I really return to it as a center of personal mythology over and over again especially in my work. xoxoxo

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Jun 19, 2008

Rebecca Olson rated it:

(review of isbn 080379391X)

This looked better than it was. But I love books that involve fantasy and I am a fan when they tie swans into the mix. This will be a great part of my collection.

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