Hans Christian Andersen was the profoundly imaginative writer and storyteller who revolutionized literature for children. He gave us the now standard versions of some traditional fairy tales—with an anarchic twist—but many of his most famous tales sprang directly from his imagination.

The thirty stories here range from exuberant early works such as 'The Tinderbox' and 'The Emperor's New Clothes' through poignant masterpieces such as 'The Little Mermaid' and 'The Ugly Duckling,' to more subversive later tales such as 'The Ice maiden' and 'The Wood Nymph.'

• A Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition with French flaps, rough front, and luxurious packaging

Lisbeth Zwerger is one of the world's preeminent children's book artists, and one of the most original interpreters of Hans Christian Andersen's classic fairytales. This handsome collection, originally published in 1991 now returns in celebration of Hans Christian Andersen's 200th birthday. It includes eleven favorite stories, such as 'The Princess and the Pea' and 'The Emperor's New Clothes,' as well as lesser-known but equally wonderful stories, all featuring Ms. Zwerger's distinctively elegant, witty illustrations. This superb anthology is bound to become a treasured part of every child's library.

In this collection are twenty-two tales that best represent Andersen's literary legacy, including such classics as “The Little Mermaid,” “The Ugly Duckling,” “Thumbelisa,” and “The Emperor's New Clothes,” as well as largely unfamiliar stories like “By the Outermost Sea.” Illuminating notes clarify references in the tales. And in an introductory essay, the Franks explore the writer and his times, placing the enigmatic and often bizarre figure of Andersen among his literary contemporaries, such as Charles Dickens and Søren Kierkegaard, with whom he crossed paths; and they bring to life Andersen's fascinating relationship with the United States. Illustrated with the delicate and beautiful drawings that accompanied the original Danish publication, The Stories of Hans Christian Andersen will delight readers of all ages.