The Little Mermaid

by Deborah Hautzig and Hans Christian Andersen

Charles Santore (Illustrator)

A little sea princess, longing to become human, trades her mermaid's tail for legs, hoping to win a prince's love and earn an immortal soul for herself.

• ISBN10: 0679887571
• ISBN13: 9780679887577
• Publish Date: 24 June 1997 (first published 1 January 1920)
• Publish Status: Out of Stock
• Out of Print: 25 March 2003
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Random House USA Inc
• Edition: New edition
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 48
• Language: English

Reviews

[Bianca]

— Finally got to read/listen to this This was so disturbing, tragic, and terrifying, but I prefer this ugly version to the Disney film; it seemed more human.

[readingwithwrin]

“At first she was overjoyed that he would be with her, but then she recalled that human people could not live under the water, and he could only visit her father's palace as a dead man.”

See reviews first on my blog

We all know the story of a mermaid who wants more, and one day she see's her chance when she saves a prince. Except she can't keep the prince, nor can she go and be with him, or so she thinks. But then she decides to go to the sea witch who will hopefully help her be able to be human, except she will have to give up so much, with little to nothing in return.

“I know what you want. It is very stupid of you, but you shall have your way, and it will bring you to sorrow, my pretty princess. - The sea witch.”

This was the first time I had ever read the Little Mermaid and I now know why it isn't on a lot of peoples favorite classics. While of course this story is darker than the movie and I expected that, I wasn't expecting the ending that happened. Ariel is such a goodhearted person and just want's to find the man she loves.. Who does not deserve her in any way at all. I mean come on this prince is supposedly so in love with her, but yet the best he can do for her is to let her sleep outside his door on a rug.. really. With those problems and so many other things as well, I just found this book to be rather depressing. I mean not only can she not talk, but she also feels like knives are stabbing her legs whenever she walks, but oh no she doesn't mind it because of how in love she is... really. Just no I can't with this book.