The Fir Tree

By Hans Christian Andersen

In this moralistic tale about appreciating what you have, a young fir tree is so fixated on growing up that he does not value his life in the forest. When he is chopped down and decorated for a family's Christmas decorations, he expects this to be the beginning of a great career. Sadly, this is not to be. First published in 1844 alongside The Snow Queen.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dreamscape Media
• Release date: Aug 15, 2017
• ISBN: 9781974995424

Hans Christian Andersen

Hans Christian Andersen was born in Odense, Denmark, in 1805. He endured a lonely, impoverished childhood consoled by little more than his own imagination. He escaped to a theatre life in Copenhagen aged 14 where the support of a powerful patron enabled him to complete his scant education, and to write. His poetry, novels and travel books became hugely popular. But it was his Fairy Tales, the first children's stories of their kind, published in instalments from 1835 until the time of his death in 1875, that have immortalised him. Translated into more than 100 languages and adapted to every kind of media, they have made Andersen the most important children's writer in history.

Reviews for The Fir Tree

[beammey · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I had never read this novella before, but of course I'd heard of the author! It was so, so sad, but had a great lesson in it. The cover is absolutely gorgeous and draws you in. It's an easy read and one I think children and adults will like. I would recommend this book. 4 out of 5 stars.

[abigailadams26 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The Fir Tree, illustrated by Nancy Ekholm Burkert.Originally published in 1844, as part of Hans Christian Andersen's New Fairy Tales, The Fir Tree - like The Little Mermaid and The Snow Queen - is one of the author's original creations. The story of a young tree who is unable to appreciate present blessings, because he is always looking forward to future glories, it displays that unmistakable melancholy found in so many of Andersen's creations, and concludes with the little fir's sad demise.Nancy Ekholm Burkert's gorgeous full-color brush and ink paintings, and black and white drawings in pencil, add to the emotional weight of this retelling, emphasizing the beauty of the forest, the magic of Christmas night, and the loneliness of the tree's final days. Visually appealing, this is one I would recommend to all Hans Christian Andersen readers...

[wturnbull06 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a good example of a fairy tale even though it has a sad ending you learn a lesson when reading it that you should be happy with what you have at the time because one day it will be gone. Don’t be to egger to grow up. Characterization: the fir tree is a dynamic character because he changes from what to be old tree and to be a Christmas tree to wishing he had spent more time enjoying his time as a young tree in the forest because know that it was gone and nobody appreciated him he missed being in the forest.