What is it?
The Princess and the Pea
Who wrote it?
Hans Christian Andersen
(Compiled by Russell Ash and Bernard Highton
Where can it be
found?
A Classic Illustrated Edition: Tales From Hans Christian
Andersen
Adaptation?
I’m not entirely sure. It is certainly shorter than other
versions I know, but whether that is in the editing, I don’t know.
My thoughts in
exactly 10 words:
This Prince has ridiculous constructs about women.
Thin-skinned indeed!
Extended thoughts:
More so in this version than in others, I was struck by how unreasonable
the prince was in his search for a wife. She had to be a real princess (italics from the book) and every princess he met,
the world over, “wasn’t quite right”. It begs to question if he actually wanted
to marry at all, or if the whole thing was a charade to appease parents who
wanted him to marry. It gets a bit silly. And who says that such a ‘Thin-skinned’
woman maketh a real princess anyway?
Dose that imply that real royalty has never done a day’s work and has had no
opportunity get thick-skin? Is the queen equally afflicted by these
disproportional bruises? Should they see a doctor? And why, oh why, would a real princess appear on the doorstep in
the middle of a thunder storm, looking a mess and simply claiming she was a
princess? Something smells of a con job…
I do love the Edmond Dulac illustration that accompanies it
though. He has a fantastic way with perspective and sweeping angles.
Favourite Quote:
“The pea was placed in the royal museum, where it can still
be seen, unless someone has taken it.”
Moral of the story in
my own words:
(Mmm, this one is hard).
If you’re too picky in finding a partner, you might end up
with a lying, homeless person with a medical condition.
