Showing results by publisher "SAGA EGMONT" in Fantasy

On the top of a cliff overlooking the sea was an oak tree that was 365 years old. It was an unimaginable age for the mayflies, tiny creatures who lived only one day. The oak only slept during the winter. The rest of the year, he remained alert. That year, like every year, he began to lose his leaves in autumn. He knew that he was about to go to sleep for the last time! - Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) was a Danish author, poet and artist.

B.J. Harrison reads one of Hans Christian Andersen’s most beloved stories, "The Snow Queen". The devil, who has taken the shape of an evil troll, has created a mirror that freezes the heart and turns everything ugly. But the mirror breaks and shard spread out throughout the world. Years later, two children named Kai and Gerda hear the story of a terrible Snow Queen. Soon Kai and Gerda are drawn into the world of the mirror and the Snow Queen, who has the power to make everyone forget all that is good.

In "MS. Found in a Bottle", one harrowing event seems to take place after another. Our narrator is a man who has become alienated from others and his country. He steps aboard a cargo ship from Batavia, which crashes into stormy conditions that send most passengers into the water. Surprisingly, the narrator stays on board, only to find himself face to face with a new disaster. During his struggles, he logs his experiences into a journal, which he casts off to sea.

In Denmark, there is an old castle called Kronborg. Situated on the coast, in summer boats come here from all over the world, but the reason for the castle’s renown is hidden in its cellars. It is a statue of Holger Danske. Everyone in Denmark knows his history and the legend says that one day, the statue will come to life.

There were two men called Claus in the town. To tell them apart, one was called Big Claus, because he had four horses and the other, Little Claus, because he only had one horse. This is their story.

Once upon a time there were five brothers who had arrived at the age where they asked themselves what they would become. Each of the brothers wanted to become "something" and each thought that their profession would be better than that of his brothers. However, whatever profession we choose, the important thing it to bring something good and useful to the world...

There was once an old house that was so dilapidated that it made the other houses in the street ashamed. But, the little boy who lived opposite liked it a lot and loved looking at it day and night. When, one day, the boy learned that the old man who owned the house was all alone, he decided to set things right. - Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) was a Danish author, poet and artist.

On the day that the emperor’s horse received his golden horseshoes as a reward for his heroic deeds, the beetle who shared his stable was very jealous. The smith refused to make shoes for his little feet and the beetle’s anger went up a notch. So, furious, he left the stable and set off to discover the world alone.

Once there was a pastor who always gave terrifying sermons. He promised that sinners would burn in hell and, in his eyes, everyone had committed sufficient wrongs to deserve this punishment. Despite his impressive speeches, the pastor’s wife did not believe that everyone could be as bad as all that. When she died, the pastor was very sad. But one night, the dead woman’s ghost appeared and took him on an adventure that led him to question everything he had previously believed.

The general’s family lived on the first floor of the house. The concierge and his wife lived in the cellar. They had a son, Georg, who was allowed to play with Emily, the general’s daughter. The general’s wife required just one thing: that Georg never touch Emily. Despite this prohibition and their difference in status, over the years they spent in the same house they became firm friends. - Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) was a Danish author, poet and artist.

There was once a poor little girl called Karen. In summer, she walked barefoot and in winter, she wore clogs that hurt her feet. She had no choice, it was all she had. Dame Shoemaker wanted to help her and sewed, as best she could, a pair of red shoes. When she wore them for the first time, Karen’s life took an unexpected turn. - Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) was a Danish author, poet and artist.

A scholar from a cold country lived in a hot country, but he found it difficult to adapt to the climate. In the daytime, his shadow became tiny: it really was too hot for him. So, he stayed at home and went out in the evening. As the temperature went down, the town came to life. One night, the scholar was woken by a mysterious and intriguing light. What was it? How could it be explained? That is what he would try to discover. - Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) was a Danish author, poet and artist.

A family of toads lived in a very deep well: it was so deep that, from the top, you could not even see the surface of the water.

In the city of Florence is a bronze statue of a boar, from who’s mouth runs the water that is collected by the people of Florence. One evening, a poor boy came to drink and found a little lettuce and a few chestnuts on the ground, which became his supper. He then fell asleep on the animal’s back, but when midnight sounded, the animal came to life. And so their adventure began! - Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) was a Danish author, poet and artist.

There was once an emperor who was only interested in one thing, his clothes. He spent all his money on his outfits and had a different one for every time of day and every occasion. One day, two thieves arrived in town pretending to be weavers who knew how to make the most beautiful and sophisticated fabrics, which had the marvellous property of only being visible to those who did their job well.. It was the perfect offer for our king, who immediately placed an order. - Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) was a Danish author, poet and artist.

Little Ida liked the student, who always had a tale to tell, a lot. So, one morning, when little Ida's flowers had all withered, she asked the student what could have happened to them.

In 1888, a young British couple are left behind in an African jungle. Seeing no other way than to make a life for themselves, they've soon built a cabin and had a son. When they die unexpectedly, their young boy ends up in the care of a she-ape, who calls him Tarzan. Growing up, Tarzan struggles with being different. But one day, he finds his parents' cabin and suddenly it all starts to make sense. 'Tarzan of the Apes' (1912) is the first in a series of twenty-four books about Tarzan, which author Edgar Rice Burroughs worked on until the 1940s.

The snowman had just been born under the eyes and joyful laughter of children. How he loved the cold! His only problem was the shiny ball in the sky that keep looking at him, without him understanding why... The young snowman still had a lot to learn! - Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) was a Danish author, poet and artist.

In the tallest and poorest house in a very narrow winding street, was an attic with a single window. Behind this window, was a bird in a cage; the state of the house and the cage were so miserable that the bird did not even have a cup for drinking: he had to make do with the neck of a bottle closed with a stopper. The bird had no problem with this and sang joyfully - as for the bottle neck, he remembered the good old days when he was still a bottle...

Gregor Samsa is a travelling salesman who wakes up one morning to realize that he been transformed from a human being to a "monstrous vermin". He reflects back on his life, his work, his relationship with his family and his employer, and he realizes that each relationship he has been a part of has been fake. He feels responsible for his family but he does not receive any gratitude from them. The alienation is unbearable and irreversible. His life will either have to change drastically or he will stay victim of his own existential anxiety.