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The Princess and the Pea

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By Hans Christian Andersen

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fairy story princess and the pea This little gem of a story by Hans Christian Andersen reveals the ultimate test to find out whether or not a girl is a true princess. It is short, but sweet, and an enduring favourite. The English text is the Andrew Lang version, from his Yellow Fairy book, first published in 1894.

Read by Natasha. Duration just 4.30


There was once upon a time a Prince who wanted to marry a Princess, but she must be a true Princess. So he traveled through the whole world to find one, but there was always something against each. There were plenty of Princesses, but he could not find out if they were true Princesses. In every case there was some little defect, which showed the genuine article was not yet found. So he came home again in very low spirits, for he had wanted very much to have a true Princess. One night there was a dreadful storm; it thundered and lightened and the rain streamed down in torrents. It was fearful! There was a knocking heard at the Palace gate, and the old King went to open it.

There stood a Princess outside the gate; but oh, in what a sad plight she was from the rain and the storm! The water was running down from her hair and her dress into the points of her shoes and out at the heels again. And yet she said she was a true Princess!

‘Well, we shall soon find that!’ thought the old Queen. But she said nothing, and went into the sleeping-room, took off all the bed-clothes, and laid a pea on the bottom of the bed. Then she put twenty mattresses on top of the pea, and twenty eider-down quilts on the top of the mattresses. And this was the bed in which the Princess was to sleep.

The next morning she was asked how she had slept.

‘Oh, very badly!’ said the Princess. ‘I scarcely closed my eyes all night! I am sure I don’t know what was in the bed. I laid on something so hard that my whole body is black and blue. It is dreadful!’

Now they perceived that she was a true Princess, because she had felt the pea through the twenty mattresses and the twenty eider-down quilts.

No one but a true Princess could be so sensitive.

So the Prince married her, for now he knew that at last he had got hold of a true Princess. And the pea was put into the Royal Museum, where it is still to be seen if no one has stolen it. Now this is a true story.

So Bertie says that’s how you tell a real princess. Sadie says she would never sit on a pea, but still Bertie won’t say that she’s a real princess and now she’s in a bit of a huff. I’m sure she will cheer up soon because she likes Bertie really.

xyz

Learning to play the drums is not what every student of music would want, not with the acoustic guitar available to choose from, not to mention modern electric guitars. A child is more likely to enjoy learning to play an instrument if they are actually interested in that instrument, like bass guitars instead of acoustics in some cases.

83 Comments

  1. Karlana of MommyPOD
    Posted March 10, 2006 at 9:11 pm | Permalink

    Hello! I first off wanted to tell you that I have spotlighted your podcast on my show, MommyPOD Show #9.

    Second of all, after listening to you all - I had to download all the other episodes because my daughter is now hooked in listening to the stories in the car when I plug in the iPod.

    Thanks for giving the kids something to listen to that is not only entertaining, but age appropriate!!

  2. Greg
    Posted July 1, 2006 at 12:34 am | Permalink

    No doubt! Storynory is fantastic. My boy likes the Bertie stories the best, but whatever’s the latest, he wants the “ipod story.” :-)

  3. joshua
    Posted February 16, 2007 at 1:06 am | Permalink

    thank you Natasha!

    Bye Bye!

    Hope you had a Happy Valentine’s Day!!

    joshua (5)

  4. Ben
    Posted March 14, 2007 at 11:25 am | Permalink

    waw. Next time i see a girl pretending that she is a princes i will make her sit under a pea! i am tired of hearing: I AM A PRINCES! NO I AM A PRICES! well i guess my family of 3 girls and one boy (i am the one boy) is not going to change.

    from cool greg

  5. GWEN
    Posted March 28, 2007 at 4:54 am | Permalink

    I ,

    ,,
    ,

    ,
    ,,
    ,LOVEITANDNATIA

  6. Xue Er
    Posted April 12, 2007 at 8:29 am | Permalink

    wanthefulll

  7. Yvette
    Posted August 2, 2007 at 3:02 am | Permalink

    Well one night i felt somthing horror in my bed i think my mum did that

  8. kassandra tafish
    Posted August 27, 2007 at 6:26 am | Permalink

    i love you sow match

  9. y
    Posted September 13, 2007 at 12:18 am | Permalink

    its really nice grabe ka chuy

  10. Lara
    Posted October 17, 2007 at 8:31 pm | Permalink

    Ah, these stories are so wonderful!! I was looking for a good listening practice for my lessons all over the net but finally found this place! I am absolutely amazed.
    Natasha, you have a lovely voice. :)
    Thank you!
    Lara (20) form Hungary

  11. Posted October 18, 2007 at 7:21 am | Permalink

    Lara - Super. Really glad the stories help you.

  12. angelica
    Posted October 19, 2007 at 12:20 pm | Permalink

    IT VERY GREAT WE DONT NEED TO READ THE STORY IT REALLY HELP ME TO KNOW WHAT TO ON OUR ROLEPLAYING

  13. Annie
    Posted October 30, 2007 at 6:26 pm | Permalink

    i really like this website i like listening it

  14. Zhu
    Posted December 28, 2007 at 5:06 am | Permalink

    GOOD

  15. MONIQUE
    Posted January 1, 2008 at 12:55 am | Permalink

    HI THIS IS NOT REALLY BOUT THE SITE OR THE BOOK BUT EVERY 1 OUT THERE DO U GUYS LOVE UR MOM

  16. MONIQUE BAMBI SAM
    Posted January 1, 2008 at 12:56 am | Permalink

    THEY SAID THEY LOVED AND REMEMBER IT IS ME MONIQUE AND WHEN I SAY THEY THAT MEANS THE KIDS

  17. MONIQUE BAMBI SAM
    Posted January 1, 2008 at 12:58 am | Permalink

    THIS IS FROM MONIQUE AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU NATASHA FOR TELLING STORIES KIDS ENJOY EVEN I ENJOY EM

  18. MONIQUE
    Posted January 1, 2008 at 2:14 am | Permalink

    ALL I WANT TO SAY I HAVE READ THIS STORY 2 TIMES I REALLY LOVE THIS STORY. AND FOR BERTIE AND SADIE THIS IS FOR SADIE JUST CUZ SOMEONE SAYS U R NOT A PRINCESS THAT IS NO REASON TO GET IN A HUFF EVEN IF BERTIE DOES NOT THINK U R A PRINCESS OTHER PEOPLE MIGHT THINK UR A PRINCESS THAT IS CUZ NO 1 HAS THE SAME MIND AND U R STILL BERTIE’S FRIEND EVEN IF U R MAD AT HIM MONIQUE WROTE THIS THANK YOU THAT GOES FOR EVERY 1 EVEN ME

  19. MONIQUE BAMBI SAM JEANE
    Posted January 2, 2008 at 7:15 pm | Permalink

    I LOVE THIS STORY SO MUCH AND THANK YOU NATASHA FOR READING THESE WONDERFUL STORIES THEY ARE SO GREAT WELL BYE I AM GOING TO FIND A STORY THAT I HAVEN’T READ YET MONIQUE

  20. isaac
    Posted January 7, 2008 at 7:18 pm | Permalink

    i really like this website i like listening it

    good good

  21. Isabelle
    Posted January 7, 2008 at 11:06 pm | Permalink

    How wonderfully read! I will start my children on storynories right away! Thank you.

  22. brittany
    Posted January 9, 2008 at 6:57 pm | Permalink

    i lick it

  23. killa
    Posted January 10, 2008 at 2:05 pm | Permalink

    i dont like this book

  24. Pichayanin
    Posted January 17, 2008 at 12:09 pm | Permalink

    Good

  25. Raphaello
    Posted January 22, 2008 at 8:28 pm | Permalink

    Guys, thank You so much. You take some really good things and make them available. Thanks a lt again. May God bless you!!!

  26. sujay
    Posted January 23, 2008 at 7:21 am | Permalink

    it’s a really sweet story

  27. Fecrinaa
    Posted January 29, 2008 at 12:06 pm | Permalink

    This story is perfect for my class project!

  28. lala
    Posted January 30, 2008 at 7:33 pm | Permalink

    it was ok

  29. Tom'Queeh
    Posted January 31, 2008 at 3:53 pm | Permalink

    I it a nice story

  30. taran' mom- richa.delhi
    Posted February 2, 2008 at 7:59 am | Permalink

    my son love to hear stories. I saw it Ist time. My son really love it.

    Thank you very much for making this site for kids.

  31. taran' mom- richa
    Posted February 2, 2008 at 8:03 am | Permalink

    my son love to hear stories. Thanks.

  32. lilly
    Posted February 3, 2008 at 8:30 pm | Permalink

    i love your stories thank you because i love princesses

  33. Sydney
    Posted February 7, 2008 at 4:29 pm | Permalink

    When I red “Princess And The Pea” it was the best story I have red on story nory! Thanks for puting “Princess and the Pea” on this eb page!!!

  34. krystal
    Posted February 7, 2008 at 4:34 pm | Permalink

    Princess and the Pea is a wonderful story that everybody would love to read over and over again i know i would

  35. larala
    Posted February 12, 2008 at 6:44 pm | Permalink

    nooo entiiendoo ni paaapa

  36. larala
    Posted February 12, 2008 at 6:48 pm | Permalink

    this is a fantastic history
    i think is the best of the history’s in the world!

  37. amy
    Posted February 16, 2008 at 9:15 pm | Permalink

    it is arealy good book fairy book

  38. doen
    Posted February 17, 2008 at 9:47 am | Permalink

    i love so much ur story i love u oll

  39. sara
    Posted February 20, 2008 at 7:59 am | Permalink

    love so much ur story i love u oll

  40. krizen
    Posted February 25, 2008 at 2:17 am | Permalink

    …so beautiful story..every0ne will love it!…

  41. Jemima
    Posted March 6, 2008 at 6:51 am | Permalink

    That was a great story!Natasha is a great story teller!
    I like the way storynory change the story a bit like the 20 matresses!
    great story!Storynory!

  42. Luke
    Posted March 7, 2008 at 9:57 am | Permalink

    I think this was a intaresting story

  43. Harmeet
    Posted March 7, 2008 at 2:47 pm | Permalink

    This storynory was really short but really good!!Espessally the part about the 20 mattereses and the 20 quilts!I think this is a good way to know if a real princess is standing at your door,trying hard to get inside & prove that she is a real princess or not!

  44. Alysha.T
    Posted March 8, 2008 at 3:48 am | Permalink

    I liked the adjectives and how they described where the water was going down, (e.g down her hair.) Wow! 20 mattresses and 20 quilts.The prince must LOVE the princess before he marries her !(:

  45. qadeer
    Posted March 8, 2008 at 7:41 am | Permalink

    this storynory rocks

  46. Tom
    Posted March 8, 2008 at 8:25 am | Permalink

    Short story.I wouldn’t want to marry a girl who is so fussy about such a small thing.

  47. Navya
    Posted March 9, 2008 at 7:03 am | Permalink

    I liked the story of ‘The Princess and the Pea’ a little.

    I find it strange that the princess can feel the pea under twenty mattresses and twenty quilts. I find it hard to believe that her back turns blue.

  48. Lilaine
    Posted March 9, 2008 at 2:25 pm | Permalink

    Natasha did a good job at telling the story because she made it exciting with her nice soft voice and clear words.

    On my opinion no one can really feel a pea through 20 mattresses and 20 quilts.I think the princess didn’t sleep well because it is very uncomfortable to lie on top of a very high mattres.

  49. ANGEI
    Posted March 13, 2008 at 11:24 am | Permalink

    very interesting

  50. jasmin.s
    Posted March 26, 2008 at 12:24 am | Permalink

    this is the best book I ever read.

  51. jasmin.s
    Posted March 26, 2008 at 12:25 am | Permalink

    great!

  52. HEJ SONNY
    Posted March 26, 2008 at 9:33 am | Permalink

    laver du sonny

  53. isabel
    Posted March 27, 2008 at 2:53 am | Permalink

    this a wonderful story

  54. xiao wenahnan
    Posted March 29, 2008 at 4:31 am | Permalink

    so good man !!!

  55. jørgen
    Posted April 1, 2008 at 10:20 am | Permalink

    øhh hva R’ meningen med det

  56. hej
    Posted April 2, 2008 at 8:18 am | Permalink

    ole er sej
    ):):(;:

  57. bob
    Posted April 2, 2008 at 8:26 am | Permalink

    jeg er sulten men ikke mere =)

  58. bob
    Posted April 2, 2008 at 8:26 am | Permalink

    jeg er sulten men ikke mere

  59. rasmus
    Posted April 2, 2008 at 4:52 pm | Permalink

    den er god men lidt lang tråget

  60. axl rose
    Posted April 2, 2008 at 4:54 pm | Permalink

    de er for seje i historien men er ikke sage nok til en gita

  61. xXcHoCoXz
    Posted April 6, 2008 at 4:34 am | Permalink

    good stoery

  62. cameron
    Posted April 8, 2008 at 1:38 pm | Permalink

    this is awsome

  63. $#%#%^
    Posted April 9, 2008 at 1:49 pm | Permalink

    this is a wonderful storie and short .!!!!!!!

  64. Alex
    Posted April 10, 2008 at 12:43 am | Permalink

    i love this story!!!!!!its #1!!!!!!!!!!!

  65. venus
    Posted April 11, 2008 at 12:45 am | Permalink

    I could barley keep up with natasha

  66. venus
    Posted April 11, 2008 at 12:45 am | Permalink

    I think the story is wonderful

  67. LIYANG
    Posted April 13, 2008 at 10:21 am | Permalink

    I like this story very much!!!!!It is a great story!!!!!
    I think the story is wonderful!!!!I could keep up with natasha!!!I am infante!!!My father is king!!!My monther is queen!!!ah!!ah!

  68. Odunayo
    Posted April 13, 2008 at 3:04 pm | Permalink

    I like this story it is a good story and very interesting i want to thank natasha and bertie and natasha all your stories are interesting and are good

  69. Kenydie
    Posted April 14, 2008 at 11:24 pm | Permalink

    I loved the story. it was awsome! twenty matresses!!Wow!!

  70. tongweiqi
    Posted April 19, 2008 at 7:26 am | Permalink

    I am a naughty girl! But I think this story
    is my best teacher,I like it verymuch!If you
    will have anything ,please call me ! CLASS 4
    Grade 7, cw’s deskmate!

  71. Anila Mahbub Munalika
    Posted April 25, 2008 at 3:42 am | Permalink

    chindrella

  72. Anila Mahbub Munalika
    Posted April 25, 2008 at 3:49 am | Permalink

    I am naughty girl. But i love story .

    ” My father is a King and My mother is a Queen. ”

    ” And my big sister and me Princess.” \

    ” Wow is the Wonderful FAMILY.

  73. mairl
    Posted April 25, 2008 at 5:00 am | Permalink

    wzy loves jy verymuch

  74. laylita
    Posted April 26, 2008 at 6:34 am | Permalink

    I like this story very much.

  75. Marcia
    Posted April 27, 2008 at 5:14 am | Permalink

    I liked the story teller’s voice.

  76. wzy
    Posted April 28, 2008 at 11:58 am | Permalink

    I love mairl

  77. JACK
    Posted April 29, 2008 at 11:41 am | Permalink

    THIS STORY IS VERY NICE! I LIKE IT VERY MUCH!

  78. Dawn
    Posted April 29, 2008 at 2:47 pm | Permalink

    this story is ok i won’t read it that much

  79. ben
    Posted April 29, 2008 at 5:29 pm | Permalink

    great it is

  80. Dawn
    Posted April 29, 2008 at 5:31 pm | Permalink

    Story nory

  81. ben
    Posted April 29, 2008 at 5:34 pm | Permalink

    its horible

  82. Maria
    Posted May 12, 2008 at 5:44 pm | Permalink

    I LIKE THIS STORY!!

  83. nate
    Posted May 29, 2008 at 10:54 pm | Permalink

    I PREFER fantasilical stories

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