November 20, 2023 • 10 mins
"Nutcracker and Mouse King" is a classic German Christmas story written by E. T. A. Hoffmann, first published in 1816. The tale is known for its adaptation into the popular ballet "The Nutcracker" by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.The story revolves around a young girl named Marie Stahlbaum, who receives a special wooden nutcracker doll as a Christmas gift from her godfather, Drosselmeyer. Marie's family is hosting a Christmas Eve party, and during the festivities, the nutcracker is broken by her brother Fritz. Later that night, Marie returns to the living room to check on her beloved nutcracker, and she finds herself drawn into a magical world of adventure.Marie discovers that her nutcracker has come to life, and he leads her into a fantastical realm inhabited by toys, where they must confront the nefarious Mouse King and his army of mice. With the help of the Nutcracker and other enchanting characters, including the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Snow Queen, Marie embarks on a journey to defeat the Mouse King and restore peace to the Land of Sweets.The story combines elements of fantasy, fairy tale, and Christmas magic, and it explores themes of bravery, transformation, and the power of imagination. E. T. A. Hoffmann's "Nutcracker and Mouse King" has been adapted and retold numerous times over the years, becoming a beloved holiday tradition for many, particularly through the ballet version choreographed by Marius Petipa and set to Tchaikovsky's iconic music.
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
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Episode Transcript
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(00:00):
Chapter twelve of Nutcracker and Mouse Kingby E. T. A. Hoffmann.
This LibriVox recording is in the publicdomain the Puppet Kingdom. I believe
that none of you children would havehesitated for an instant to follow the good,
honest Nutcracker, who could never havemeditated any evil. Maria consented to
(00:25):
follow him, so much the morereadily because she knew what claim she had
upon his gratitude, and because shewas convinced that he would keep his word
and show her many beautiful things.I will go with you, Master Josselmia,
she said. But it must notbe far, and it must not
be long, for as yet Ihave hardly had any sleep. I will
(00:50):
choose, then, replied Nutcracker,the nearest, though a more difficult way.
He went onward, and Maria followedhim, and till he stopped before
a large antique wardrobe which stood inthe hall. Maria perceived, to her
astonishment that the doors of this wardrobe, which were always kept locked, now
(01:12):
stood wide open, so that shecould see her father's fox furred traveling coat,
which hung in front. Nutcracker clamberedvery nimbly up by the carved figures
and ornaments, until he could graspthe large tassel, which hung down the
back of the coat and was fastenedto it by a thick cord. As
(01:34):
soon as Nutcracker pulled upon the tasseland neat little stairs of cedar wood stretched
down from the sleeve of the travelingcoat to the floor, Ascend, if
you please, dearest miss, criedNutcracker. Maria did so. But scarcely
had she gone up the sleeve,scarcely had she seen her way out at
(01:57):
the collar, when a dazzling lightbroke forth upon her, and all at
once she stood upon a sweet smellingmeadow, surrounded by millions of sparks,
which darted up like flashing jewels.We are now upon candy meadow, said
Nutcracker, But we will directly passthrough yonder gate. When Maria looked up,
(02:21):
she saw the beautiful gate which stooda few steps before them upon the
meadow. It seemed built of variegatedmarble, of white, brown and raisin
color. But when Maria came nearer, she perceived that the whole mass consisted
of sugar, almonds, and raisins, kneaded and baked together, for which
(02:44):
reason the gate, as Nutcracker assuredher. When they passed through, it
was called the Almond and Raisin Gate. Upon a gallery built over the gate,
made apparently of barley sugar. Therewere six eight in red jackets who
struck up the finest Turkish music whichwas ever heard, so that Maria scarcely
(03:07):
observed that they were walking onward andonward over a rich mosaic, which was
nothing else than a pavement of nicelyinlaid lozenges. Very soon the sweetest odors
streamed around them, which were waftedfrom a wonderful little wood that opened on
(03:28):
each side before them. There itshone and sparkled so among the dark leaves,
that the golden and silvery fruit couldplainly be seen hanging from their gaily
colored stems, while the trunks andbranches were ornamented with ribbons and nosegays.
And when the orange perfumes stirred andmoved like a soft breeze, how it
(03:53):
rustled among the boughs and leaves,and the golden fruit rocked and rattled in
merry music to which the bright dancingsparkles kept time. Ah, how delightful
it is here, cried Maria,entranced in happiness. We are in Christmas
wood, best, miss, saidNutcracker. Ah, if I could but
(04:15):
linger here, awhile, cried Maria. Oh it is too too charming.
Nutcracker clapped his hands, and somelittle shepherds and shepherdesses, and hunters and
huntresses came near, who were sodelicate and white that they seemed made of
pure sugar. They brought a daintylittle arm chair all of gold, laid
(04:40):
upon it a green cushion of candiedcitron, and invited Maria very politely to
sit down. She did so,and immediately the shepherds and shepherdesses danced a
very pretty ballet, while the huntersvery obligingly blew their horns, and then
all disappeared again in the bushes.Pardon, pardon, kindest, Miss Dalbaum,
(05:05):
said Nutcracker. The dance was miserablyperformed, But the people all belonged
to our company of wire dancers,and they can do nothing but the same
same thing. They are deficient invariety. And the hunters blew so dull
and lazily. But shall we notwalk a little farther? Ah, it
(05:28):
was all very pretty and pleased mevery much, said Maria, as she
rose and followed Nutcracker. They nowwalked along by a soft, rustling brook,
out of which all the sweet perfumesseemed to arise, which filled the
whole wood. This is the orangebrook, said Nutcracker, But its fine
(05:49):
perfume excepted, it cannot compare eitherin size or beauty with Lemonade River,
which like it empties into order.In fact, Maria very soon heard a
louder rustling and dashing, and thenbeheld the broad Lemonade River, which rolled
(06:10):
in proud, cream colored billows betweenbanks covered with bright green bushes. A
refreshing coolness arose out of its noblewaves. Not far off, a dark
yellow stream dragged itself lazily along,but it gave forth a very sweet odor,
(06:30):
and a great number of little childrensat on the shore angling for little
fish, which they ate up assoon as caught. When Maria came nearer,
she observed that these fish were shapedalmost like peanuts. At a distance,
there was a very neat little villageon the borders of this stream.
(06:50):
Houses, churches, parsonages, barnswere all dark brown, but many of
the roofs were gilded, and someof the walls were painted so strangely that
it seemed as if little sugar plumsand bits of citron were stuck upon them.
This is gingerbread Ville, said Nutcracker, which lies on Molasses River.
(07:15):
Very pretty people live in it,but they are a little ill tempered because
they suffer a good deal from thetoothache, and so we will not visit
it. At this moment, Mariaobserved a little town in which the houses
were clear and transparent and of differentcolors, which was a very pretty sight
(07:36):
to look at. Nutcracker went straightforwardtowards it. And now Maria heard a
busy merry clatter and saw a thousandtiny little figures collected around some heavily laden
wagons which had stopped in the market. These they unloaded, and what they
(07:56):
took out looked like sheets of coloredpaper and chocolate cake. We are now
in Bonbon Town, said Nutcracker.An importation has just arrived from paper Land
and from King Chocolate. The poorpeople of Bonbon Town are often terribly threatened
by the armies of Generals Fly andGnat, for which reason they fortify their
(08:20):
houses with stout materials from paper Landand throw up fortifications of the strong bulwarks
which King chocolate sends to them,but worthiest, Miss Staubaum, we will
not visit all the little towns andvillages of this land to the capital.
To the capital, Nutcracker hastened forward, and Maria followed full of curiosity.
(08:46):
It was not long before a sweetodor of roses enveloped them, and everything
around was touched with a soft rosecolored tint. Maria soon observed that this
was the reflex of the red glancinglake, which rustled and danced before them
with charming and melodious tones in littlerosy waves. Beautiful silver white swans with
(09:11):
golden collars swam over the lake,singing sweet tunes, while little diamond fish
dipped up and down in the rosywater, as if in the merriest dance.
Ah, exclaimed Maria ardently. Thisis then the lake which Godfather Josslmiah
was once going to make for me, and I myself am the maiden who
(09:35):
is to fondle and caress the dearswans. Nutcracker laughed in a scornful manner
such as Maria had never observed inhim before, and then said, Godfather
Josslemiah can never make anything like this. You you yourself rather sweetest Miss Stalban,
(09:56):
that we will not trouble our headsabout that a sail across the Rose
Lake to the capital. End ofChapter twelve.
Chapter twelve of Nutcracker and Mouse Kingby E. T. A. Hoffmann.
This LibriVox recording is in the publicdomain the Puppet Kingdom. I believe
that none of you children would havehesitated for an instant to follow the good,
honest Nutcracker, who could never havemeditated any evil. Maria consented to
(00:25):
follow him, so much the morereadily because she knew what claim she had
upon his gratitude, and because shewas convinced that he would keep his word
and show her many beautiful things.I will go with you, Master Josselmia,
she said. But it must notbe far, and it must not
be long, for as yet Ihave hardly had any sleep. I will
(00:50):
choose, then, replied Nutcracker,the nearest, though a more difficult way.
He went onward, and Maria followedhim, and till he stopped before
a large antique wardrobe which stood inthe hall. Maria perceived, to her
astonishment that the doors of this wardrobe, which were always kept locked, now
(01:12):
stood wide open, so that shecould see her father's fox furred traveling coat,
which hung in front. Nutcracker clamberedvery nimbly up by the carved figures
and ornaments, until he could graspthe large tassel, which hung down the
back of the coat and was fastenedto it by a thick cord. As
(01:34):
soon as Nutcracker pulled upon the tasseland neat little stairs of cedar wood stretched
down from the sleeve of the travelingcoat to the floor, Ascend, if
you please, dearest miss, criedNutcracker. Maria did so. But scarcely
had she gone up the sleeve,scarcely had she seen her way out at
(01:57):
the collar, when a dazzling lightbroke forth upon her, and all at
once she stood upon a sweet smellingmeadow, surrounded by millions of sparks,
which darted up like flashing jewels.We are now upon candy meadow, said
Nutcracker, But we will directly passthrough yonder gate. When Maria looked up,
(02:21):
she saw the beautiful gate which stooda few steps before them upon the
meadow. It seemed built of variegatedmarble, of white, brown and raisin
color. But when Maria came nearer, she perceived that the whole mass consisted
of sugar, almonds, and raisins, kneaded and baked together, for which
(02:44):
reason the gate, as Nutcracker assuredher. When they passed through, it
was called the Almond and Raisin Gate. Upon a gallery built over the gate,
made apparently of barley sugar. Therewere six eight in red jackets who
struck up the finest Turkish music whichwas ever heard, so that Maria scarcely
(03:07):
observed that they were walking onward andonward over a rich mosaic, which was
nothing else than a pavement of nicelyinlaid lozenges. Very soon the sweetest odors
streamed around them, which were waftedfrom a wonderful little wood that opened on
(03:28):
each side before them. There itshone and sparkled so among the dark leaves,
that the golden and silvery fruit couldplainly be seen hanging from their gaily
colored stems, while the trunks andbranches were ornamented with ribbons and nosegays.
And when the orange perfumes stirred andmoved like a soft breeze, how it
(03:53):
rustled among the boughs and leaves,and the golden fruit rocked and rattled in
merry music to which the bright dancingsparkles kept time. Ah, how delightful
it is here, cried Maria,entranced in happiness. We are in Christmas
wood, best, miss, saidNutcracker. Ah, if I could but
(04:15):
linger here, awhile, cried Maria. Oh it is too too charming.
Nutcracker clapped his hands, and somelittle shepherds and shepherdesses, and hunters and
huntresses came near, who were sodelicate and white that they seemed made of
pure sugar. They brought a daintylittle arm chair all of gold, laid
(04:40):
upon it a green cushion of candiedcitron, and invited Maria very politely to
sit down. She did so,and immediately the shepherds and shepherdesses danced a
very pretty ballet, while the huntersvery obligingly blew their horns, and then
all disappeared again in the bushes.Pardon, pardon, kindest, Miss Dalbaum,
(05:05):
said Nutcracker. The dance was miserablyperformed, But the people all belonged
to our company of wire dancers,and they can do nothing but the same
same thing. They are deficient invariety. And the hunters blew so dull
and lazily. But shall we notwalk a little farther? Ah, it
(05:28):
was all very pretty and pleased mevery much, said Maria, as she
rose and followed Nutcracker. They nowwalked along by a soft, rustling brook,
out of which all the sweet perfumesseemed to arise, which filled the
whole wood. This is the orangebrook, said Nutcracker, But its fine
(05:49):
perfume excepted, it cannot compare eitherin size or beauty with Lemonade River,
which like it empties into order.In fact, Maria very soon heard a
louder rustling and dashing, and thenbeheld the broad Lemonade River, which rolled
(06:10):
in proud, cream colored billows betweenbanks covered with bright green bushes. A
refreshing coolness arose out of its noblewaves. Not far off, a dark
yellow stream dragged itself lazily along,but it gave forth a very sweet odor,
(06:30):
and a great number of little childrensat on the shore angling for little
fish, which they ate up assoon as caught. When Maria came nearer,
she observed that these fish were shapedalmost like peanuts. At a distance,
there was a very neat little villageon the borders of this stream.
(06:50):
Houses, churches, parsonages, barnswere all dark brown, but many of
the roofs were gilded, and someof the walls were painted so strangely that
it seemed as if little sugar plumsand bits of citron were stuck upon them.
This is gingerbread Ville, said Nutcracker, which lies on Molasses River.
(07:15):
Very pretty people live in it,but they are a little ill tempered because
they suffer a good deal from thetoothache, and so we will not visit
it. At this moment, Mariaobserved a little town in which the houses
were clear and transparent and of differentcolors, which was a very pretty sight
(07:36):
to look at. Nutcracker went straightforwardtowards it. And now Maria heard a
busy merry clatter and saw a thousandtiny little figures collected around some heavily laden
wagons which had stopped in the market. These they unloaded, and what they
(07:56):
took out looked like sheets of coloredpaper and chocolate cake. We are now
in Bonbon Town, said Nutcracker.An importation has just arrived from paper Land
and from King Chocolate. The poorpeople of Bonbon Town are often terribly threatened
by the armies of Generals Fly andGnat, for which reason they fortify their
(08:20):
houses with stout materials from paper Landand throw up fortifications of the strong bulwarks
which King chocolate sends to them,but worthiest, Miss Staubaum, we will
not visit all the little towns andvillages of this land to the capital.
To the capital, Nutcracker hastened forward, and Maria followed full of curiosity.
(08:46):
It was not long before a sweetodor of roses enveloped them, and everything
around was touched with a soft rosecolored tint. Maria soon observed that this
was the reflex of the red glancinglake, which rustled and danced before them
with charming and melodious tones in littlerosy waves. Beautiful silver white swans with
(09:11):
golden collars swam over the lake,singing sweet tunes, while little diamond fish
dipped up and down in the rosywater, as if in the merriest dance.
Ah, exclaimed Maria ardently. Thisis then the lake which Godfather Josslmiah
was once going to make for me, and I myself am the maiden who
(09:35):
is to fondle and caress the dearswans. Nutcracker laughed in a scornful manner
such as Maria had never observed inhim before, and then said, Godfather
Josslemiah can never make anything like this. You you yourself rather sweetest Miss Stalban,
(09:56):
that we will not trouble our headsabout that a sail across the Rose
Lake to the capital. End ofChapter twelve.
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