Here, the sculpture (done by sculptor Edvard Eriksen) sits atop a rock in the water at Copenhagen’s famous Langelinie Promenade. If you’ve ever been to the coast of Copenhagen, Denmark, you might have spotted a familiar sight-the Little Mermaid herself, memorialized in a carefully-crafted bronze sculpture.

This is a trend we’ve seen with the works of other authors, too, like the Brothers Grimm. While the villainous sea witch gives the Mermaid a chance to kill the prince in exchange for her life back, she can’t force herself to do it and is turned into an ethereal spirit, who can earn her soul back after doing good deeds for humans.įor fans of Andersen’s prolific vault of fairytales, this dark “twist” may not be surprising-several of his stories, such as The Snow Queen, are known for being notably more serious than their modern day adaptations. In the original story, the Mermaid gives up her tail and melodious voice in exchange for a chance to find love on land-but a case of mistaken identity results in her prince marrying the wrong person. While Andersen’s original tale mirrors its movie adaptation in many ways, it does have a more serious tone. The fairytale we know-with a darker twist In today’s blog, we will be taking a look at the origins of this famous fairytale, all from the mind of Hans Christian Andersen. Beautifully written and compulsively readable, it will make you think twice about the fairy tale you heard as a child, keeping you in suspense until the very last page.When we say “Little Mermaid,” your mind probably jumps to the famous Disney princess who twirled through the water and longed for a life on land-but did you know that she was a literary fixture long before hitting the silver screen? A surprising take on the classic tale, Mermaid is the story of two women with everything to lose.

She is willing to trade her home, her voice, and even her health for legs and the chance to win his heart. Meanwhile, the mermaid princess, Lenia, longs to return to the human man she carried to safety. Sure that the mermaid brought this man to her for a reason, Margrethe devises a plan to bring peace to her kingdom.

As Margrethe nurses the handsome stranger back to health, she learns that he is not only a prince but also the son of her father's greatest rival.

By the time Margrethe reaches the shore, the mermaid has disappeared into the sea. One gloomy, windswept morning, as she stands in a convent garden overlooking the icy sea, she witnesses a miracle: a glittering mermaid emerging from the waves, a nearly drowned man in her arms. Two sheltered princesses, one wounded warrior who will live happily ever after? Princess Margrethe has been hidden away while rumors of war threaten her kingdom. This Description may be from another edition of this product.

Mermaid a twist on the classic tale