The Nutcracker of Nuremberg - Illustrated with Silhouettes Cut by Else Hasselriis
By Alexandre Dumas and Else Hasselris
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About this ebook
This wonderful story is accompanied by the beautiful silhouettes cut by Else Hasselriis.
Alexandre Dumas (1802-1870) was a famous French writer. He is best remembered for his exciting romantic sagas, including The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo. Despite making a great deal of money from his writing, Dumas was almost perpetually penniless thanks to his extravagant lifestyle. His novels have since been translated into nearly a hundred different languages, and have inspired over two hundred motion pictures.
Pook Press celebrates the great 'Golden Age of Illustration' in children's classics and fairy tales a period of unparalleled excellence in book illustration. We publish rare and vintage Golden Age illustrated books, in high-quality editions, so that the masterful artwork and story-telling can continue to delight both young and old.
Alexandre Dumas
Frequently imitated but rarely surpassed, Dumas is one of the best known French writers and a master of ripping yarns full of fearless heroes, poisonous ladies and swashbuckling adventurers. his other novels include The Three Musketeers and The Man in the Iron Mask, which have sold millions of copies and been made into countless TV and film adaptions.
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The Nutcracker of Nuremberg - Illustrated with Silhouettes Cut by Else Hasselriis - Alexandre Dumas
PREFACE
WHEREIN WE ARE TOLD BY THE AUTHOR HOW HE WAS INDUCED TO RELATE THE TALE OF THE NUTCRACKER OF NUREMBERG
There was a large children’s party at the home of my friend Count M—— and I had helped to increase the noisy and joyous assemblage by escorting my small daughter thither. I must confess that after a half hour during which I had taken part in four or five successive games of Blind Man’s Buff, Hot Cockles and Drop the Handkerchief, my head grew so weary from the din created by twenty or so charming little demons of eight to ten years, each trying to out-shout the other, that I slipped away from the salon in search of a certain small room of my acquaintance, sound-proof and well hidden. Here I hoped to resume the train of my interrupted ideas. My retreat had to be maneuvered by means of craft as well as good luck. I had to escape not only the notice of the young guests, which was not very difficult considering their concentration on the games, but also that of the parents which was quite another matter. Successfully reaching the longed-for boudoir I discovered that it had been transformed for the occasion into a refectory and that large buffets had been arranged there laden with pastries and refreshments of all kinds. However, these gastronomic preparations seemed to me only a fresh guarantee that I would not be disturbed before the supper hour. My eye happened to fall upon an enormous armchair with upholstered back and arms. It would have been called a lazy one
in Italy, that country of true idlers. I disposed myself luxuriously in it, ravished at the idea of an hour alone with my thoughts—a rare experience in the midst of this constant turmoil in which we servants of the public live.
Either through fatigue or my unusual state of wellbeing, I soon fell sound asleep. I do not know how much time passed while I was lost to all going on about me but suddenly I was awakened by loud bursts of laughter. My haggard eyes opened slowly to see above them nothing more alarming than a delightful ceiling by Boucher, strewn with cupids and doves. I attempted to get up but the effort was in vain as I found myself bound to the armchair as securely as was Gulliver on the bank of Lilliput. I saw at once the disadvantages of my position. Surprised on the enemy’s territory, I was now a prisoner of war. In my situation there was nothing for it but to play the part staunchly and negotiate amicably for my freedom.
My first proposition was to escort the conquerors on the following day to Felix the caterer and to put his entire shop at their disposal. Unfortunately the moment was ill-chosen; I was addressing an audience which listened to me, mouths stuffed with plum cake and hands full of little pastries. This suggestion was haughtily repulsed. Then I offered to bring together the whole honorable company the next day in any garden of their choice and there set off fireworks composed of any number of skyrockets and Roman candles which the spectators should agree upon. This offer gained some favor with the small boys but the girls opposed it in a body, declaring themselves horribly afraid of fireworks, their nerves unable to endure the noise of explosives, and the odor of the powder most distressing to them. I was about to offer a third suggestion when I heard a small flute-like voice murmuring these words which made me tremble, Ask Papa, who makes up tales, to tell us a fairy story.
I tried to protest but my voice was drowned out by cries of: Oh, yes, a story, a story, we want a story!
But, children,
I cried with all my might, you ask me the most difficult thing in the world—a story. How you go on! Ask me for the Iliad, the Aeneid and I should submit, but a fairy story—a plague on it! Perrault is quite a different person from Homer, Virgil or Le Tasse, and Hop-o’-my-thumb a creation as distinctly original as Achilles, Turnus or Renaud.
We do not want an epic!
cried the children in one voice. We want a story!
But, my little friends—
There is no ‘but’; we want a story! We want a story! We want a story!
All the voices spoke in chorus with an emphasis which admitted of no reply.
Very well then,
I replied, sighing, a fairy story it is.
Ah, that is good,
said my persecutors.
But I warn you of one thing. The story which I am about to tell is not by me.
What does that matter provided we like it?
I confess to a little humiliation at the lack of enthusiasm shown by my audience for an original work.
And by whom is this story, Monsieur?
said a young voice, belonging probably to an organism more inquisitive than the rest.
It is by Hoffman, Mademoiselle; do you know Hoffman?
No, Monsieur, I do not know him.
What is it called, your story?
demanded the son of the house in the confident tone of one who feels he has the right to ask.
The Nutcracker of Nuremberg,
I replied in all humility. The title pleases you, does it not, my dear Henri?
Hum! It does not promise anything, that title; but no matter, get started. If you bore us we will stop you and you will have to tell us another, and so on, I warn you, until you find one that we like.
One moment, one moment; I do not agree to that. If you were grown-ups—well and good.
Nevertheless, those are our conditions; otherwise you are a prisoner for keeps.
My dear Henri, you are a charming child, admirably brought up, and it will astound me greatly if you do not become some day a statesman of distinction. Untie me and I shall do all that you want.
Word of honor?
Word of honor!
At once I felt the many cords which held me loosen. Each child had taken a hand in liberating me and I was soon free. Then, since one’s word must always be kept, especially where children are concerned, I invited my hearers to seat themselves comfortably so that they might slip easily from listening into slumber. When the last one was settled I began as follows:
THE NUTCRACKER OF
NUREMBERG
PART I
The Story of the Nutcracker of Nuremberg
GODFATHER DROSSELMAYER
In the city of Nuremberg lived a much respected Chief Justice called President Silberhaus, which means house of silver.
He had two children, a nine-year-old boy, Fritz, and a daughter Marie who was seven and a half years old. They were both very attractive children but so different in appearance and nature that one would never have taken them for brother and sister. Fritz was a fine big boy, chubby, blustering and frolicsome, stamping his foot at the least opposition, convinced that all things in this world were created for his pleasure and whims. He would continue in this conviction until his father, irritated by the shouting and stamping, would emerge from his study and lifting the index finger of his right hand to the level of his frowning eyebrow, would remark: "Monsieur Fritz!"
Then Fritz would want to sink under the floor.
As to his mother, it goes without saying that no matter how high she raised her finger or even her hand, Fritz paid not the slightest attention.
Marie, on the other hand, was a delicate pale child, with long curling ringlets falling over her little shoulders like a moving sheaf of gold. She was modest, sweet, affable, sympathetic to all troubles even those of her dolls, obedient to the slightest sign from her mother and never gave trouble to Mademoiselle Trüdchen, the governess. Consequently, everyone loved Marie.
Now, in the year 17—came the twenty-fourth day of December. You may not know, my dears, that the twenty-fourth of December is the day before Christmas, that being the day when the Infant Jesus was born in a manger between a donkey and a cow. I must now explain one thing to you.
The most ill-informed ones among you have heard it said that each country has its customs; the best-informed ones doubtless know already that Nuremberg is a German city renowned for its toys, dolls and polichi-nelles,* which are sent in well-filled cases to all the countries of the world. The children of Nuremberg therefore should be the happiest children on earth. At least they are not like the inhabitants of Ostend who have an abundance of oysters only to see them wasted. Thus Germany, quite a different country from France, has likewise different