"The Swineherd" is a literary fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen about a poor prince who wants to marry the Emperor's daughter and sends her two beautiful gifts, a nightingale and a rose. The princess rejects the humble gifts because they're real and natural, rather than artificial. The prince then disguises himself and applies for the position of swineherd at the palace. Once on the job, he creates a musical pot. The princess slogs through the mud to the swineherd's hut and pays ten kisses for the pot. When the swineherd follows the pot with the creation of a musical rattle, she pays one hundred kisses for it. The Emperor, disgusted that his daughter would kiss a swineherd for a toy, casts her out. The prince, having found the princess unworthy of his love, washes his face, dons his royal raiment, and spurns the princess as her father did. The princess is left outside the palace door singing dolefully.
- ISBN10 0606088857
- ISBN13 9780606088855
- Publish Date 1 January 1995
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 1 September 2015
- Publish Country US
- Imprint Demco Media Inc
- Edition Turtleback School & Library ed.
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 24
- Language English