The Emperor and the Nightingale

by Eva Le Gallienne (Adaptation), Hans Christian Andersen, Robert Van Nutt (Illustrator)

Manches auf der Welt ist klein und unscheinbar und rührt doch die Herzen der ganz Großen. Eben dazu gehört die kleine Nachtigall, die in den Wäldern des Kaisers von China haust und mit ihrem Gesang den einfachen Menschen Hoffnung und Trost spendet, bis eines Tages der Kaiser ihre Sangeskunst für sich beansprucht. Bereitwillig fügt sie sich seinem Willen, wird aber bald durch eine mechanische Spieluhr ersetzt. Erst als der Kaiser todkrank im Sterben liegt, kehrt sie zurück und rettet ihm das Leben.
Hans Christian Andersens berühmtes Märchen in einer neuen Fassung, meisterlich illustriert von Dong-Seong Kim, der in seinen Bildern die Tradition fernöstlicher Zeichenkunst einfängt, zugleich moderne karikaturhafte Figuren schafft, deren ulkige Grimassen nicht nur Kinder amüsieren.

Genres: Picture Books

Paperback

First published August 31, 2000

About the author

Eva Le Gallienne (1899-1991) was a British-born American stage actress, producer, director, translator, and author. A Broadway star by age 21, in 1926 she left Broadway behind to found the Civic Repertory Theatre.

Reviews

[Dawn Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHAT a delightful, charming and completely captivating little book. I had never heard of this when the 8yr old said she "NEEDED a copy of this at Auntie's house" and so it was ordered and I am totally in love with the story and the pictures [what a gorgeously illustrated book] and cannot wait to read it again with the little girlie. I can see why she and her sisters love this book!

[Ashley B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Emperor had a beautiful empire. Other people from around the world would rave about the beauty of the Emperor's house and kingdom. One day, though, he heard about a bird that sounded so gorgeous everyone would stop and listen to it sing. This bird was a nightingale and sang its song whenever it felt the need to do so. The Emperor, being greedy, wanted the bird for himself, so he ordered for the bird to be captured and brought before him. The bird was found and brought to the palace. There the bird was given a special perch to sing its beautiful songs. The Emperor decided to keep the bird, the bird was trapped inside the palace. The bird was eventually replaced by a wind up bird that sang the sweet tune the nightingale did. The mechanical bird worked for awhile, but it's pieces began to wear down due to the Emperor playing it so much. The Emperor learned how animals need to stay free and be able to share its music with everyone and not just one person. Sharing the beauty and the love.

[Hannah]

This is the story about the rich emperor of china and his beautiful palace. In the palace garden lives a beautiful singing nightingale. The emperor wanted to listen to the nightingale sing so he sent people to go and fetch her. They keep her in the palace before a fake nightingale is made that sings even more beautiful than her. Eventually the mechanical bird broke and could be used only once a year. The emperor got very sick and wanted to hear music. The mechanical bird wouldn't sing but the real nightingale came back just in time to save the emperor.

[Billy Noecker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This timeless classic about an emperor and the beautiful music of the nightingale. However, time goes by and he becomes bored with the bird, and soon the bird retires back to the woods. He is soon enamored with a fake trinket bird until he grows gravely ill. Upon hearing of the emperors fate, the nightingale returns and sing for the king. Being so moved by the song, Death decides to let the emperor live.

[Ender · Rating 5 out of 5]

The illustrations in this book are both stunning and subdued. While the story is long, it builds well upon each preceding part. I enjoyed the mix of ancient Chinese culture and references to Japan as well. I would highly recommend this classic Danish tale that seems to capture the spirit of Eastern art and culture well.

[James Biser · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of how men fail to produce something as beautiful and magical as a nightingale and its song.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though I'm not a child anymore and many would say I'm too old to love a picture book, I say there is still much that can be felt and learned from children's stories at any age. Granted, not all picture books and children's stories are of the same value.

But there are some that hit a special chord in the heart. You want to keep coming back to them over and over again. They bless you with greater wisdom, uplift your thoughts, and make your heart happy.

This book resonated with me on a deeper level than just being a nice legend about an emperor and a nightingale. It was very personal to me. I want to read it again and think about it more. Maybe I'll even seek out more information about this legend and its origins.

This book had beautiful illustrations and a wonderful message. I loved it.

[Hibah · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 STARS 🌟

[Ruth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Library audio. Very distracting music throughout the audio.