The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen was one of the first stories that Natasha read for us. It’s always been one of our favourites, but we also had a feeling that we could do it better - especially as the original had an echo on it.
This new recording with atmospheric music comes in three parts which are collected together on this page.
The text is a masterpiece by Hans Christian Andersen, full of the strange beauty of ice-cold winter, and the warmth of true love.
Kay - a little boy - has a piece of bewitched glass stuck in his heart. Everything beautiful starts to appear ugly to him. Soon after, he is kidnapped by the Snow Queen. His childhood sweetheart, Gerda, goes in search of him, and travels across a magical land scape on a journey which finishes in the frozen North.
We are using the Andrew Lang version from his Pink Fairy book of 1897. It was actually translated from the Danish by Miss Alma Alleyne. The picture, from 1924, is by the British illustrator Anne Andersen.
Read by Natasha. Duration 14.47. Parts 2 and 3 to follow.
There was once a dreadfully wicked hobgoblin. One day he was in capital spirits because he had made a looking-glass which reflected everything that was good and beautiful in such a way that it dwindled almost to nothing, but anything that was bad and ugly stood out very clearly and looked much worse. The most beautiful landscapes looked like boiled spinach, and the best people looked repulsive or seemed to stand on their heads with no bodies; their faces were so changed that they could not be recognised, and if anyone had a freckle you might be sure it would be spread over the nose and mouth.
That was the best part of it, said the hobgoblin.
But one day the looking-glass was dropped, and it broke into a million-billion and more pieces.
And now came the greatest misfortune of all, for each of the pieces was hardly as large as a grain of sand and they flew about all over the world, and if anyone had a bit in his eye there it stayed, and then he would see everything awry, or else could only see the bad sides of a case. For every tiny splinter of the glass possessed the same power that the whole glass had.
Some people got a splinter in their hearts, and that was dreadful, for then it began to turn into a lump of ice.
The hobgoblin laughed till his sides ached, but still the tiny bits of glass flew about.
And now we will hear all about it.
In a large town, where there were so many people and houses that there was not room enough for everybody to have gardens, lived two poor children. They were not brother and sister, but they loved each other just as much as if they were. Their parents lived opposite one another in two attics, and out on the leads they had put two boxes filled with flowers. There were sweet peas in it, and two rose trees, which grow beautifully, and in summer the two children were allowed to take their little chairs and sit out under the roses. Then they had splendid games.
In the winter they could not do this, but then they put hot pennies against the frozen window-panes, and made round holes to look at each other through.
His name was Kay, and hers was Gerda.
Outside it was snowing fast.
‘Those are the white bees swarming,’ said the old grandmother.
‘Have they also a queen bee?’ asked the little boy, for he knew that the real bees have one.
‘To be sure,’ said the grandmother. ‘She flies wherever they swarm the thickest. She is larger than any of them, and never stays upon the earth, but flies again up into the black clouds. Often at midnight she flies through the streets, and peeps in at all the windows, and then they freeze in such pretty patterns and look like flowers.’
‘Yes, we have seen that,’ said both children; they knew that it was true.
‘Can the Snow-queen come in here?’ asked the little girl.
‘Just let her!’ cried the boy, ‘I would put her on the stove, and melt her!’
But the grandmother stroked his hair, and told some more stories.
In the evening, when little Kay was going to bed, he jumped on the chair by the window, and looked through the little hole. A few snow-flakes were falling outside, and one of the, the largest, lay on the edge of one of the window-boxes. The snow-flake grew larger and larger till it took the form of a maiden, dressed in finest white gauze.
She was so beautiful and dainty, but all of ice, hard bright ice.
Still she was alive; her eyes glittered like two clear stars, but there was no rest or peace in them. She nodded at the window, and beckoned with her hand. The little boy was frightened, and sprang down from the chair. It seemed as if a great white bird had flown past the window.
The next day there was a harder frost than before.
Then came the spring, then the summer, when the roses grew and smelt more beautifully than ever.
Kay and Gerda were looking at one of their picture-books–the clock in the great church-tower had just struck five, when Kay exclaimed, ‘Oh! something has stung my heart, and I’ve got something in my eye!’
The little girl threw her arms round his neck; he winked hard with both his eyes; no, she could see nothing in them.
‘I think it is gone now,’ said he; but it had not gone. It was one of the tiny splinters of the glass of the magic mirror which we have heard about, that turned everything great and good reflected in it small and ugly. And poor Kay had also a splinter in his heart, and it began to change into a lump of ice. It did not hurt him at all, but the splinter was there all the same.
‘Why are you crying?’ he asked; ‘it makes you look so ugly! There’s nothing the matter with me. Just look! that rose is all slug-eaten, and this one is stunted! What ugly roses they are!’
And he began to pull them to pieces.
‘Kay, what are you doing?’ cried the little girl.
And when he saw how frightened she was, he pulled off another rose, and ran in at his window away from dear little Gerda.
When she came later on with the picture book, he said that it was only fit for babies, and when his grandmother told them stories, he was always interrupting with, ‘But–’ and then he would get behind her and put on her spectacles, and speak just as she did. This he did very well, and everybody laughed. Very soon he could imitate the way all the people in the street walked and talked.
His games were now quite different. On a winter’s day he would take a burning glass and hold it out on his blue coat and let the snow-flakes fall on it.
‘Look in the glass, Gerda! Just see how regular they are! They are much more interesting than real flowers. Each is perfect; they are all made according to rule. If only they did not melt!’
One morning Kay came out with his warm gloves on, and his little sledge hung over his shoulder. He shouted to Gerda, ‘I am going to the market-place to play with the other boys,’ and away he went.
In the market-place the boldest boys used often to fasten their sledges to the carts of the farmers, and then they got a good ride.
When they were in the middle of their games there drove into the square a large sledge, all white, and in it sat a figure dressed in a rough white fur pelisse with a white fur cap on.
The sledge drove twice round the square, and Kay fastened his little sledge behind it and drove off. It went quicker and quicker into the next street. The driver turned round, and nodded to Kay ina friendly way as if they had known each other before. Every time that Kay tried to unfasten his sledge the driver nodded again, and Kay sat still once more. Then they drove out of the town, and the snow began to fall so thickly that the little boy could not see his hand before him, and on and on they went. He quickly unfastened the cord to get loose from the big sledge, but it was of no use; his little sledge hung on fast, and it went on like the wind.
Then he cried out, but nobody heard him. He was dreadfully frightened.
The snowflakes grew larger and larger till they looked like great white birds. All at once they flew aside, the large sledge stood still, and the figure who was driving stood up. The fur cloak and cap were all of snow. It was a lady, tall and slim, and glittering. It was the Snow-queen.
‘We have come at a good rate,’ she said; ‘but you are almost frozen. Creep in under my cloak.’
And she set him close to her in the sledge and drew the cloak over him. He felt as though he were sinking into a snow-drift.
‘Are you cold now?’ she asked, and kissed his forehead. The kiss was cold as ice and reached down to his heart, which was already half a lump of ice.
‘My sledge! Don’t forget my sledge!’ He thought of that first, and it was fastened to one of the great white birds who flew behind with the sledge on its back.
The Snow-queen kissed Kay again, and then he forgot all about little Gerda, his grandmother, and everybody at home.
‘Now I must not kiss you any more,’ she said, ‘or else I should kiss you to death.’
Then away they flew over forests and lakes, over sea and land. Round them whistled the cold wind, the wolves howled, and the snow hissed; over them flew the black shrieking crows. But high up the moon shone large and bright, and thus Kay passed the long winter night. In the day he slept at the Snow-queen’s feet.
73 Comments
i looooooooo,iiiiiiiiiiiiioiui
this is great - thanks ever so much for putting this together!! merry xmas to you all out there:-)
you do a good job on the storys
and i hope you will have a good christmas
can you have birthday ones
LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
oooooooooooo
vvvvvvvvvvv
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
iiiiiiiiiiitttttttttttt
i like the story’s . i like reading this story . its a nicer one then the other version
Thanks,
Bye
Great story, great project! It’s really interesting how this old fairy tale can fit in our modern life. Its massage so universal, so appealing. It can be delivered in any format - animation, audio or theatrical show. It’s can be a new art vision. Look at these extraordinary illustrations by award winning Ukrainian artist Vladyslav Yerko: http://www.snowqueen.us
Thank u so much
this very better to me because i want improve me english
My regards
love it and it is lovely!
love it
Well done, hope to hear parts 2 & 3 very soon. Thanks for sharing!
very good
thanks for sharing
wish u a happy X mas
great story!!!
it was a beautiful story!!!
This is a good story
when I am a little girle love this story，
eventoday still think very interesting,
OH!YA!
great !
Hello! I’m Korean
This story is very interesting
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
EEEEE
IIIIIIIITTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
안녕하세요
반가워요
hi. lee
i am american.
iiiiiiiiii lllllllllllooooooooovvvvvvvvvveeeeeee
iiiiiiiiiiitttttttttttt ???????? hahaha
Ha Ha
If you laugh, thank you!
I’m korean and there’s a story in Korea
THis story is famous in Korea
Ha Ha
great job! That’s really a lovely story, it can touch anyone’s aesthetic sense.
Nooruddin
Sargodah
Pakistan
thanksssssssss very much………………..
hahahaha its a nice story. Great job!
hi
i an fain thank you
i live in cairo
بكل الحب و التقدير اشكر كل من ساهم فى اخراج هذا العمل الى النور
لكى يستنير به العالم
عصام ربيع اسحق
Egypt
بكل الحب و التقدير اشكر كل من ساهم فى اخراج هذا العمل الى النور
لكى يستنير به العالم
عصام ربيع اسحق
Egypt
this is very good story i hope to more
Essam
this is very good story i hope more from these thanks to all
this is very will thaknx for all
that was a long story but i lick it
Need to hear more.
i have never that story but know that i have i can say it is a great story!!!!!!!
i have never that story but know that i have i can say it is a really good story!!!!!!!
even i like to kiss snow queen
great story
visit my podcast here(just click below please)
http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/38744
share the link with your friends.
ssssssssssssssoooooooooooooooooo sssuuupp yyyoooo
RRRRRRRRRRRUUUUUUUUUNN
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNIIIIIIIINNNNNNNGGG
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SSHHHHHHHHYYYYYYYYY
RRRRRRRRRRRROOOOOOOO
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this book is very good
coll storie
I Really Like The Story.
i love the story of the snow queen i thought i’d heard all the fariy tales forgien and all but this one i haven’t heard it fascinating.
wors ever
I think it is great!I love the snowqueen.u rock!
nice story i like it very very much….thank you for this wonderful story
Hello, this was my FAVORITE story as a little girl then my next favorite is Hansel and Gretal. THank you so much I can now let my little girl enjoy this story
It’s so lovely…
thanks
Thank you so much. I really enjoy listening to storynory. I’m exiting to hear more from you.
The first part of the story is interesting
Its quite cool and interesting.Because the hobgoblin is a COOL name.
很喜欢，の故事，I like it very much.
woderfull work- this story is just as wonderfull as this site is
thank you
den er sjov at læse der mangler måske lidt sammenhæng til sidst..<’3
men ellers rigtig go’ og sjov..<’3
i think the story doesnt sound very good at all!!!!!!!!!!!!!
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIILLLLLLOOOOVVEE IIIIITTTTTTTT
Good words and agitivs.PS.I love it.
The music’s great !
Thank you !
Thank you very much for your stories, with audio, I ‘m from very poor country and I’m a teacher of English without books, without English practice and without speaking expirience and without enough education by the way. And your stories are helping me every minute in my job. Thank you again and my best wishes for you….. !!!
i reallllllllllllllllllllly like the story it was so cool,but in the very end it sounded very fake cause no two people can lie down on the snow n make the word ‘love’.
lol-Laugh Out Loud
iiiiiiiii like the storys.
to ozlem this story rocks and you are wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! be nicer to people around you you could hurt them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I like the story very much, my children love it too!!
This story is very special to me!
I love this Fairytale! It’s so cute! I love it. I love the Snow Queen!
I like this video and I am 9 years old and I love it! My mom has heard of this and she said it’s cool so far.
I loved it!
ok first of all i loved the story and i wanted to put up that i love this guy named harry he is so cute anyway hans great story it is my favort!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
I like this story.
I like this story.
please make more storys. i love them. im 10years old
It was very scaryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!
xxxx i love it xxxxx