THE NUTCRACKER


Author:

Ernest Theodor Wilhelm Amadeus Hoffmann

First edition:

Nussknacker und Mäusekönig (The Nutcracker and The Mouse King), published in 1816

Main illustrators:

Bertall Geisseler Innocenti Kliros Sendak

In short:

Hoffman never intended the story to be for children, as his words portrayed a bleak view of humanity and relationships. His plot is centred around Marie, a German girl who lives in a loveless house. Her Godfather Drosselmeier gives her a nutcracker doll for Christmas. But at night, the Mouse King and his Soldiers appear and try to destroy her dolls. The Nutcracker comes to life but is easily beaten and Marie does her best to defend herself.
During her convalescence after the battle, Hoffman tells a story within the story: beautiful princess Pirlipat is cursed to be forever ugly by the Mouse King's mother. The only way to stop the curse and get the princess' hand in marriage is for a brave and handsome man to find the hardest nut in the world, crack it with his teeth, and deliver the kernel to the princess to eat. Many adventures take place and Hoffman returns to Marie's story.
We have a happy ending as Marie marries Drosselmeier's nephew, but the abrupt ending and change of good fortune appear to be added on to disguise all of the bitterness in previous portions of Hoffman's story.

Selection of edition:

Story of the Nutcracker, illustrated by Thea Kliros, Dover Publications, 1996.
Histoire de Casse-Noisette, illustrated by Bertall, 240 ill., s.d.
Nussknacker und Mausekönig, illustrated by Peter Carl Geissler, 1841, 10 ill.
Casse-Noisette, illustrated by Maurice Sendak, Gallimard, 1985.
Casse-Noisette, illustrated by Roberto Innocenti, Gallimard, 1996.
Casse-Noisette, illustrated by Scott Gustafson, Mango, 1996.

More about The Nutcracker:

This tale was included in The Serapion Brethren (1819-1821). But it became popular among children thanks to Alexander Dumas pere's version, which Tchaïkovsky turned into a ballet in 1893.
Marius Petipa was in charge of adapting the tale for Tchaikovsky and he decided to ignore Hoffman's story of princess Pirlipat. So in the ballet, the Nutcracker manages to defeat the Mouse King and all characters find their happy ending.

Adaptations:

Cartoon film by Piotr Kamier (1968)

On the Internet:

Read about the ballet at http://www.nutcrackerballet.net