Do you have a book or story from your childhood that important to you as a child? I do. Well there are a couple for me, actually, but on several occasions recently one of those tales has come to mind. The Wild Swans by Hans Christian Andersen.
I’m a Nielsen, so it’s kind of a no-brainer that my sister and I would be read Hans Christian Andersen as children. This one particular book really influenced me. Andersen’s stories helped me dream and the illustrations by Milo Winter inspired me visually. One tale and one painting in particular.
The Wild Swans illustrations by Milo Winter
To me, the princess Elise was the MOST beautiful person in the world. I can remember reading the story and then staring at this illustration for what felt like hours. She was beautiful and sad. And her beauty was not just surface. If you have never read this tale, then I encourage you to find it and read it. Mind that you read Andersen’s original and not an adapted version.
My copy is a 1928edition from Rand McNally.
It is a story of love and sacrifice. Elise endures cruel pain and threat upon her life, but even in the end when there seems to be no hope she keeps trying. It is a little unusual in that most fairy tales involve the curse being on the main character. But there is no curse upon Elise, only on her brothers.
I’m not sure exactly why this story keeps coming up, but I’m glad that it has. It bring back fond memories for me and reminds me of the moral paragon that it teaches.
Tags:fairy-tales,Hans-Christian-Andersen,Rand-McNally,The-Whistlebinkies,the-wild-swans,thistles
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This is an absolutely beautiful post, Suzy! Yes, the main character takes the place, in a sense, of the handsome prince who usually comes to the rescue.
Katy Noelle´s last [type] ..Mad Dogs- Englishman and Tom!
Maybe that’s why I like her. Even though she suffers she is empowered in a weird sort of way.