Originally written in the early nineteenth eentury, the story of a little girl's love for an enchanted nutcracker has delighted generations of readers, while the Tehaikovsky ballet based on the tale has beeome a holiday tradition.Now young children can enjoy this beloved elassie in a specially abridged version by Bob Blaisdell. Ineluded are all the wonderful seenes and characters: Christmas Eve at the Stahlbaum house,the arrival of Godpapa Drosselmeier and the presentation of the Nutcracker, the fierce battle between the Nuteraeker and the seven-headed Mouse King, the adventures in Christmas Wood,Toyland, Marzipan Castle and much more.Printed in large easy-to-read type and enhanced with 30 new illustrations by Thea Kliros, this Christmas favorite will entertain young readers the year round.

ERNST THEODOR AMADEUS HOFFMANN (1776-1822) was one of the most prominent figures of nineteenthcentury German literature and music. After studying law at the University of Konigsberg, Hoffmann held a number of civil-service posts, but his true vocation was artistic. During his civil-service career, Hoffmann also made a name for himself in intellectual and artistic circles. His surviving musical works (many of his compositions have been lost) include ten operas,two symphonies, two masses, piano and chamber music, incidental music for plays and more.

Despite such a prolific musical output, Hoffmann is best known for his literary endeavors. His most famous works include stories such as "The Golden Flower Pot," "A New Year"s Eve Adventure" and, of course, "Nutcracker and the King of Mice," upon which The Story of the Nutcracker is based. The original story, completed in 1816, first appeared in a collection of children"s Christmas stories, Kindermarchen von C. W. Contessa, Friedrich Baron de la Motte Fouque und E. T. A. Hoffmann. Though Hoffmann did not consider it a technical success--he felt it contained too many adult elements for a true children"s story--it has become a perennial favorite with young and old alike.

CHAPTER 1

Christmas Eve

CHAPTER 2

The Christmas Presents

CHAPTER 3

Marie"s Pet and Protege

CHAPTER 4

Wonderful Events

CHAPTER 5

The Battle

CHAPTER 6

The Invalid

CHAPTER 7

The Story of the Hard Nut

CHAPTER 8

Uncle and Nephew

CHAPTER 9

Victory

CHAPTER 10

Toyland

CHAPTER 11

The City

CHAPTER 12

Conclusion